Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-20
Work Of the Civil Service Commission.

has been submitted to President Nc
Kinley, and the facts and figures which
it presents make very interesting
reading.
During the year 46,1G5 persons We're
examined, of whom 35,O25 passed. OF
the number who passed S4.4S7 were for
original appointment to the service.
of which number 1859 were appointed.
the largest number ever appointed to
the classified service through eXamina-
ton in any single year.
The report says:
In this connection the commission
desires to call attention 10 the fact
that for the past three years. begin
ming July 80, 1900 q 1916 persons have
obtained their appointments through
the examinations provided for by the
civil service rules. while for the period
beginning July l6 1883. the date when
the civil service act became operative.
and terminating June so. 1900. total of
1871 persons have been thus appoint
ed
The commissioners refer with evident
pride to the fact that of the persons
thus appointed to positions in the pub
lie service the removals for all causes
have been less Than siXty-eiSht one
hundredthS of one per cent. per annum.
The report calls attention to the
large number of positions in the inter-
which 81
ed from the provisions of the civil ser
vice rules. and expresses the belief that
the hest interests of the service re-
uuire that at least all deputy collect
ors serving at the headquarters of the
district with the exception perhaps of
the chief deputy. and also all deputies
who have practically permanent loca-
tions at different points in the district.
should be returned to the competitive
classified service. The report says:
Ii is believed that the branch of the
government charged with the import
ant duties of the collection Of revenue
should be placed upon the same bust
ness basis as prevails in the railway
mail service as q result of a rigid and
conscientious observation OF the ci>il
service law and rules.
As to Investigations, it is stated that
lowing to the inadequate force of the
commission and appropriation for the
purpose it has not been possible to
satisfactorily make investigation and
inspection in many cases requiring the
same in order to secure a full observ-
ance of the law" Special mention is
alleged violations of the provisions of
the law against political assessments
during the Ohio state campaign of 1899.
which investigation continued over
from the previous year. The commits
sion laid before the attorney general
the facts which it found and raised
two questions for the consideration OF
the department of justice ID whether
the Sact of membership Of the political
committee which makes solicitations
from government officers constitutes a
solicitation within the meaning of the
civil service act and (2) whether the
sending of letters of solicitation into a
federal building constitutes a solicita-
ton in a federal building within tho
meaning of the civil service act. The
report states: The commission deem
ed it particularly important and de-
s:rable that a judicial determination
be secured of this second question. ant
hoped the same might be had from this
case" The facts are given in the case
Of Wallace l.. Turney. which was in
vestigated by the commission and re-
ported to the department of justice
and Turney was indicted and convicted
for violation Of the provisions of law
political purposes.
After reciting the circumstance
which led up to the passage of thu
civil service act and setting forth tfp
provisions of that act for open com
petitive examinations for testing tn
fitness of applicants for the public
service and for filling positions in tn
service by selection from those grade,
highest as a result of such competitiv
examinations, the report says:
Under these provisions open competi
tive examinations have continued t
grow more and more varied and com
plicated as the classification has eX
banded. until now practically ever
character of ability required in the ad
ministration of the government is oh
tanned by this means. The number {
appointments from the examination
as shown by the statistical matter i
the appendix. has kept pace with til
extension of the classification until f,
this report year nearly ten thOusan
persons whose capacity and abilit
have been previously demonstrate
We're added to the ranks of governmer
employees. The aggregate salaries of II
positions now in the classified servi,
numbering about $4,000. and to
reached only through competitive e,
aminations. approximate 5000, 900 p
arnum, while the salaries of all uncla
Sified positions in the executive brant
of the government probably numbe