The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-30
PHILIPPINE CIVIL SERVICE.
Features OF the Law PROMULGATED by
l the Taft Commission.

creatures OF the Law PROMULGATED by
the Taft Commission.
The Taft Commission in the Philippines
enacted its new civil service law. sitting
as legislative body. and the United
States Civil Service Commission claims
that it will have the same force as the
enactments Of the legislative council CT
the Territory of Orleans under President
Jefferson. some of which still remain In
force in Louisiana. In the main 1t fol-
lows the line OF the Federal civil SER
vice law. but some Of it's features which
are not in our law are these:
1.-THE civil service board has power to
administer oaths. summon witnesses. and
] require the production Of official books
| and records 81
When the board finds that person Is
| uniawfully in the service. it Is to inform
the disbursing and auditing officers. and
| II thereafter this person receives salary
or wages. the payment Is to be void. and
the disbursing officer not credited with 1t.
while the auditing officer authorizing the
payment will be liable on his Official bond
for the loss resulting to the government.
Laborers are classified in a special class.
There is no way of filling vacancies ty
promotion except by competitive exami-
nation. not even in the case of profess
sional and technical positions. The ques-
tion Of removals is not touched upon.
"Appointees from the United States to
positions in the Philippine service will
have to pass examinations in the regular
way at the hands of the United States
Civil Service Commission. Both here and
in the Philippines rigid physical exami
nation will be required Of all applicants.
who will not be eligible to the lowest
rank IL less than eighteen or more than
forty years of age: and in case Of these
persons already in the service in the
Philippines an examination may be held
In a personal letter to President Proc
ter. of the United States Civil Service
Judge Taft says of himself.
and his colleagues:
I've are a unit on the policy which we
must pursue. and that is. that we are to
bring within the classification Of strict
civil service law every position, from the
lowest clerk to the heads of bureaus and
the under secretaries of departments. and
that we must, in order to make the service
attractive. provide a system of promotions
by examination which shall enable a man
entering the service as clerk, by faithful
work, to become the head Of bureau or
the under-secretary of a department
In order to satisfy the growing demand
I'd to our colonial public service. the Uni
versity Of Pennsylvania has arranged a
special course, in which. in addition to the
languages taught in the regular course,
students are instructed in government Of
colonies and dependencies. public admin
stration. constitutional law. race traits
md distribution Of races. physical and eco
,omical geography. geography of COM
nerce. political economy public finance
Industrial history, industrial resources Of
he United States, and American COM
nerce.
President Proctor is now making ar
angements with several colleges for the
rec instruction in the higher branches OF
hose Filipinos who are selected by the
aft commission for public work. and they
will be given free transportation to this
ountry. II other means of conveyance are
acking they will be brought over on army