The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-02
OUR CIVIL SERVICE.
lis Condition as Shown by tue FIJI
teenth Annual Report of Commission


teenth Annual Report of Commission
/ WASHINGTON, May Tho fifteenth
annual report OF the civil Service Com
mission. under date of November :, is9S,
has been presented TO the President. Inc
report shows a larger number or appoint
ments through examinations than ever
before I'm the history Of the commission.
Considerable space is devoted 70 re,
| view OF the action OF the Department on
| Justice IN regard 90 appointments 10 inc
| places OF Office deputy marshals and
clerks 70 United states attorneys anc 10
tho Treasury Departments atttuae III
the matter Of the appointment Oh deputy
| collectors OF internal revenue. Ih'ie is
also a discussion Of the general princi-
pies which should govern appointments
| To the civil positions In our newly acquired
territory.
In opening its report. the commission
| calls attention 90 the elimination OF
| Spanish misrule In Cuba Porto hlco anu
| the Philippines during the year, Nnleh
| most strongly emphasizes the Vaiue OF
strict adherence 20 merit system IN gov
! ernmcntal administration. Inc case or
Spain presents a most striking example
| Of the legitimate fruit Of the pauohase
system in the selection OF cover h,"'
officers and employees. The losl'al ISSUE
OF such a system OF appointments must
inevitably be- corruptlon and misrule un-
der any form of government butl"s 'l''
year the classification Of the entire Gus.
toms service has bren accomplished aua
many postonices brought within me pro-
visions of the civil Service Jaw and rules
by tho extension OF the free delivery ser
vice. II Is gratifying 20 note, also thae
tho various state and municipal govern
ments have made a corresponding degree
of advance"
The total number OF persons examined
during the year was 40 7i2. of whom llHN
passed. This was a decrease or 4oo5 IN
~. number examined and % decrease oi
59s5 On the number who did not pass as
compared with the previous year ln lhe
departmental branch Of the service 2l"
persons were appointed through educa-
tonal examination and 2.3S6 through me
non-cducatonal or registration eNamlna-
ti0ns Two hundred and two persons
were appointed In the custom houses. l'e'
I'm the poef0Gices 229 I'm the internal reFe-
nue. onicos ana 225 in the government
printing office Tho commissioner also
issued certificates for the reinstatement
Of f127 persons during the year
on the subject Of promotions the com
mission says.
"The adoption or suitable rules 90 rogu-
large measure. prevent the ming or
responsible positions bv suDerannuated
employees FOR when position ana salary
are determined solely by reference TO IT.
ness. responsible positions with large
salaries viii mo- longer be filled by persons
who havo been rendered inefficient hy
age physical disability or other cause.
When such regulations. which are requir-
ed ay the civil service law. are To sue
cossful operation. the question OF life
tenure viii have become "a dead issue
I'm discussing appointments DO our re-
Gently acquired territory the report says.
"It win Doe seen that spain has lost her
colonies through an application of The
PATRONAGE system of government, and bY
contrasting her misg0yernmcnt with the
excellent government OF Holland and
Great Britain. $40 VIII sec that one IS ov-
pensiye and forces the home government
10 maintain large armies TO keep in sub-
lection the natives while In the other the
government is economically administered
the people are conteuted and only o small
military force ls necessary For instance
Spain. with $4,000 men, Was not enabled
10 keep In subsection the island of cuba
with a population OF a. million and half.
while England in Jamaica has quIeted
b. good government, a more turbulent
population and only keeps in the Im-
pOrtant earris0ns of that island less than
four hundred British soldiers ~ Che
positions in our recently acquired torri
tory are given as a. reward for political
service no home we may expect dlsDon-
font. misrule and expensive admirIstra-
ton.
"lf on the contrary. men are selected
because OF their ability as administrators.
and the service is put upon basis OF
ascertalnod fitness for the duties % Doe
performed. and tenure and promotion are
made dependent upon efficiency and
honest service then we may expect our
administration 90 De n boon to these
islands, and we wil have eause to Ne
proud of orr share in supplantnr The
msruie of Spain with q government m
accord with the aspirations Of modern
civilization"