The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-22
MERIT SYSTEM PRAISED
Sixteenth Annual Report of the
Civil Service Commission.
The Aggregate Number of Positions
About 10000, the Annual Salaries
Amounting TO sIO4,OoO,OoO Pro-
VISION for Aged EmpIoycs-idnpt-
ed TO the Island Dependencies.

%
States Civil Service Commission has been
submitted to the President. While the
report contains much information Of value
concerning the operations Of the Commits
sion during the year. it also deals with a
number of subjects of general public in
terest
The remarks OF the Commission on the
importance of a merit system in our newly
acquired island possessions are timely and
suggestive. The need of making some dis
position of aged and superannuated en-
poyes is also discussed, as is the improve
ment shown in the reduction OF the per-
centage of removals throughout the service,
resulting from the requirements of the
law and the order of the President, OF
July q, 1897, looking TO its enforcement
and the advantages TO be gained by the
classification of the force of the Library
of Congress and the municipal service Of
the District of Columbia.
1 The report opens with a preliminary
statement in regard to the extent of the
classified and unclassified service, from
which 1t appears that there are approNi-
mately $4,000 classified posiu- rs and 10000
unclassifed positions; of the latter 1907
are occupied by fourth-class postmasters.
service in the District of Columbia, and
more than 10000 distributed among the
States and Territories. The Commission
| states that the expenditures for salaries
for the entire service, classified and IN
| classified, is approximately 500, DOC, 600
per annum, large increase having re-
| suited from the war with Spain.
| During the year 1886 persons were ex-
amined for all branches Of the service, an
| increase of 2,24i over last year or this
number 35,6S2 passed and 12274 failed.
| The number examined for the depart
mental service in and outside the Dis
! trict of Columbia, was 29,26l; for the
! Government printing service, 63l; post
/ office service, 1859; customs service.
/ 6,l21; internal revenue service, 657, while
| 527 were examined for promotion, 145 for
transfer and los for the municipal service
of the District of Columbia. on tho request
of the District Commissioners.
The Commission for the first time dis
cusses the question of providing a retire.
ment fund for superannuated employees. II
refers TO the report of the joint commission
of Congress in 1898. appointed to enquire
into the organization of the executive de-
partments in Washington, in which 1t was
shown that of 1903 employees, LAG were
sixty years of age or over, 2ss seventy
years or over. and 40 eighty years or over.
Reference is also made TO the action of
the Secretary of the Treasury in 1897, who.
recognizing the difficulties under which
the Treasury Department labored with aged
and incapacitated employees hindering the
proper performance of the work, created
an honorable-service roll" which action
was questioned in Congress, and a provi-
sion adopted prohibiting the establishment
Of such roll OF a civil pension roll. The
Commission says:
1T is suggested that the question OF en-
acting a law providing for a retirement
fund for incapacitated employees, such fund |
TO be created and maintained by withhold |
ing certain percentage Of the salaries Of
employees. is worthy Of the serious atten-
ton of Congress. Such law would not be /
open TO the objection of establishing civil /
pension list, and IL it should be enacted the |
Government would be the chief gamer as |
the employees placed upon the retired list |
because of their inefficieney would be sue
ceeded by active and energetic persons in
the prime Of life
Gratifying progress is shown in the re-
markedly small per cent Of removals now
made from the classified service The civil
service law requires that removals from po-
sitions subject to examination shall not be
made for political or religious reasons, but
the order OF the President OF July %, 1897,
prohibiting removals from competitive po-
sitions except for Just cause and requiring
that the reasons for removals shall be
given In writing and made a part OF the
records of the Office has had most salu-
tary effect. Only 9.19 per cent Of those ap-
pointed through the Commissions exami
nations have been removed from the de-
partmental service during the last sixteen
years. or a little over seyen-teDths of per
cent year.
no 70 ,f fhnw hau :
been a gradual reduction in the per cent of
removals from the carrier service and the
mail service for several years.
Last year only POS out of a force of "A, 256
carriers were removed, or i.43 per cent
while only 1876 out Of s,3ss railway mail
clerks were removed. or 1.G2 per cent
These services have almost reached the
point in stability and efficiency. ,
The Commission dwells al length on the
question Of merit system for the civil :
service OF our colonial possessions. II Is ,
urged that the Spanish method of making ,
appointments for political or personal rea-
sons, without due regard TO the qualifca- !,
tons Of appointees, be avoided. Reference !
Is made to the last report OF the Secretary ,
Of War in which he states: :
Wherever it is necessary TO employ :
Americans, except in the chief Offices, a ;
system of civil service examination should
be provided under which requests from
he Governor of Porto Rico for suitable
PERSONS 10 be appointed may be filled. ,
The full report which will be presented
~ the Philippine Commission renders I'M
Necessary any extended statement by me
IN the subject Of government IN those Y
Stands" h
The Commission recommends the extern a
zion of the classified service to the force
n the Library of Congress. in order 10
secure its stability, and states:
The Commission has been very success
ul in securing competent persons by means :,
If its examination for similar positions in !,
he libraries of the departments and the y
classification of the force Of the library :
II Congress, besides assuring a good class
II future appOintees would result in per- 7
0ns from every part of the country having :,
,qual opportunity to compete T.
The Commission calls attention TO the :.
epeated recommendations OF the Gem +
nlssioners Of the District Of Columbia that =
he municipal service of the District OF \
Columbia be put under the protection of :,
he civil service law, and recommends in :,
fusion OF that service by Executive order. -
{ it is found that this can be done under a
be provisions OF the Civil Service act; If 4,
lot. 81 is recommended that proper legsla- ~
ion be enacted to this effect a.