The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-22
WORK OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
MUCH INTERESTING INFORMATION
IN sIXTEENTB ANNUAL REPORT.
Question of Political Assessments Is
Discussed and Power to ipvesti"
gate Under Oath IL Asked.

Washington January 21.-The sixteenth
annual report of the United States civil
service commission has been submitted
to the president. The report contains much
information Of value concerning the oper
ations of the commission during the year
and deals with number of subjects OF
general public interest The commission
draws attention to the Importance Of i
merit system in our colonial possessions;
the need OF making some disposition of
superannuated employees the improve
ment shown in the reduction OF the per-
centage OF removals throughout the ser
vice resulting from the requirements Ct
the law and the order OF the president OF
July 81, 1897, looking to its enforcement
and the advantages gained by the cassi-
hcation of the force OF the library of con-
gress and the municipa service of the
District of Columbia deserve special at
tention.
The report states that there are appar
entity 1900 classified and 107 900 unclassi-
fed positions. OF the latter 7l,UVI are
occupied by fourthclass postmasters This
commission states tnat the expenditures
Tor salaries for the entire service. ciassl-
S1ui, 600, 900 per annum, large increase
having resulted from the war with SPAN,
During the year a $40 persons We're ex-
amined for all branches of the service, an
increase of 1924 over last year. or this
number 80, $50 passed and l2,274 failed.
Reference is made to the results OF the
COMMISSIONS Investigations of charges OF
political assessments. in which connec-
ton attention is called to extracts in the
appendix of the heport of debates In con-
gress at the time of the passage of the
civil service law. az tending to show that
it was the intention of congress to prevent
solicitations. either in person or in writ
ling, of persons in the public service and
also 10 prevent members of either house
of congress and persons in the public SER
vice from soliciting other persons in the
public service directly or indirectly The
commission asks congress for power TO ad
minister oaths and to compel the presence
of witnesses. This authority Is not grant
ed by the civil service law, and the. com
mission has been unjustly criticised be-
cause OF its lack OF power in this respect
| in conducting its Investigations when
/ the fault is in the law itself.
I Attention Is called TO the need of promo
ton regulations throughout the service
and the Importance OF preventing outside
influence or inside favoritism from decd-
/ ing promotions. The commission also dis-
! cusses the question OF providing a retire
ment fund for superannuated employees.
| Gratifying progress IL shown In the re-
markedly small per cent OF removals nov
made from the CLASSIFIED service. The
I civil service law requires that removals
from positions subject TO examinations
shall not be made for political or religion.
reasons. but the order Of the president o.
/ July 27 1898. prohibiting removals from
competitive positions except for just eaus,
and requiring that the reasons FOR remov
al shall be given in writing and made par
of the records OF the office. has had 4;
most samtary ertect. Only 9l9 per cen
OF those appointed through the commits
soin's examinations have been removed
from departmental service during the Las
sixteen years. or little over 40 Of pc
cent
The commission dwells at length on th,
question OF the merit system for the civi
service OF our colonial possessions II 4
urged that the Spanish method OF makinl
arr intments for political or personal
reason without due regard to the qualif
cations OF appontees be avoided