The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-19

900 positions were In the classified SER
vice, while $1,000, including 5000 presi-
Dental officers, several thousand labor
ers, and other miscellaneous classes.
and the great army Of fourth-class
postmasters, remained unclasslfed.
It might naturally have been expect-
ed that proper compliance with the
law and recognition of its principles, on
the part of both congress and the heads
of departments, would, at this stage,
have secured through competition or
almost all the greater number required
for service in offices and positions OF
the sort, that are classified. The COM
mittee. however, from the data IT mas
at hand. reports surprisingly different
results. During the first year follow
ing the order of May 20, 1899. that end
ed on June 1 last. the appointments
made within these classes were as fol-
lows:
THROUGH COMPETITIVE TESTS
Appointments from competitive eligible
HstS .....!...........' s''''''''''''''''' '''''
WITHOUT COMPETITIVE TESTS.
Appointments TO excepted positions. not
subject to examination ...............'. -oi
Appointments to excepted positions. sub
icct to "non'' competitive examination. 500
Appointments under Temporary certih-
Gates ....,.,.,....,... ................ '2,.4e
"Tcmpurarv" appointments made perinah'
cht without examination ................ o'3
Reinstatcmcnts without examination .... l'iIo
Transfers oi unevamincd persons within
the service .......................'.. W.
Unexamined persons having Especial quail
hcations' .............. ......'....''.''
Appointments to clerical positions in the
departments under the war appropriation
acts Observation-Disclosures. ...''.'''.'', i'.oo
Appointments to clerical positions IN tue
census Office ............................ 2,iW
Total NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ............ "l55
Full returns for last month ot ls0o lacking.
These figures. the committee con-
tends, show that the exceptions from
the requirements of the civi-service
law. whether brought about through
executive legislative action. have been,
during the year they cover. almost
twice as numerous as appointments
made in the manner the law intended.
The committee gives the following
summary Of the general course Of the
administration and Of the present con-
sress in relation to the civil service:
Presidential Appointments.
!. So far as the committee has been able to
learn, appointments Of the local federal officers
Of the presidential class have been controlled al.
most exclusively by senators and representatives.
or unofficial political leaders. whose selections
the president has ratified. Willie potd men are
not infrequently secured through this system, in
the majority of cases those appointed are active
local politicians, whose disposition to provide
places for their adherents furnishes a serious OBJ
stacle to the satisfactory administration OF tho
civil service rules at the outset. Among presI.
dental officers in the general branches Including
business officers strictly. and not those that are
properly politcal-the changes have been aImo.:
universal. In the consular service. for instance.
more than 90 per cent. Of the saarcd offices
were reflcd during the first year OF the admin
islration. and in the Indian service. during the
same period, 62 per cent Of the agents
Changes in Excepted" Positions.
H. Positions in the classified service excepted
classified, for removals may be made from then,
without restraint, and appointments abso.
Mtely at the will of the appointing officer T!r
number OF these positions has been greatly in.
erased. On March 3. 1897, at the clos, OF the
preceding administration, there were, all told.
only sGG, OF which number so were Of assistant
pcstmasters On July 81. 1897, President Nc
Kinley added 533. deputies and others in the GUS
tens and internal revenue services, previously
subject to competitive examination, and on May
90, 1899, approximately 1000 more. in addition
to the number removed absolutely from The cassi.
fed service at that time.
III. As the classified service has grown. it has