The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-16
Civil Service Reform.

the conduct of government
business is, we believe, imperfectly
realized by most citizens. The pre-
vailing idea is that the civil service,
while nominally largely under what is
called the merit system, or free and
open competition with selection and
preferment depending on merit solely,
politician with a pull.
We will not say that this idea is
wholly incorrect nor dispute that the
chairman of the committee on appro-
priatons, for example, If so inclined
could get pretty much what he wanted
In patronage regardless of nominal
civil service regulations. But the day
Of the pull is fast disappearing. The
pull has to be bigger and stronger ev-
cry year, to succeed in opposition to
civil service rules. Slowly but surely
the elected representative of the people
is being stripped of his one-time pre-
rogative of recommendation for EN-
ployment in the federal civil service
and the service put more and more on
the basis of tenure during efficiency
and good behavior and less and less on
an openly avowed "spoils" basis.
Some figures recently compiled by
Secretary Doyle of the Civil Service
commission are instructive in this con-
nection. "The total number OF positions
at present in the executive civil service
is about $685." writes Mr.. Doyle, in
the current issue, of Good Government.
"Of this number. -111,140 are classified
competitive, 11,166 classified excepted,
and 113,420 unclassified. In the DEPART
ments proper and the Independent Of
fees in Washington there are about 20,-
07S positions, of which 16,423 are classi-
fled competitive positions, 2S6 classified
excepted, 391 unclassifed presidential,
and 2.97S below classification. About
2l6,24S positions are in branches of the
service outside of Washington, of
which 94,717 are classified competitive,
11.4SO classified excepted, I'LL unclassi-
fled presidential and 1OS,940 below
classification.
1.-THE 765 officials of the consular SER
vice are not included in the above fig
ures. The 9S positions excepted in the
navy department In Washington are
terror department, II are private secre-
taries, 20 are attorneys and assistant
attorneys. 60 are special agents, inspec-
tors, ETC., in the land office, and are
special pension examiners; of the 20
positions excepted in the department
of justice, are private secretaries, Q
are examiners and is are attorneys: Of
the "a excepted positions in the depart
ment of agriculture are private secre-
taries, 4 are student assistants and the
remaining 2S are special agents, ex-
perts, Investigators, etc. The excepted
positions in the other departments and
offices in Washington are all, or nearly
all, private secretaries or confidential
clerks.
"Of the 2,554 excepted positions out
side of Washington under the treasury
department. $50 are cashiers, deputy
collectors, deputy naval officers. deputy
surveyors of customs, private secre-
taries and positions in Alaska. etc, In
the customs service; 4S are interpre-
ters. ETC., in the immigration service;
40 are chief clerks or private secre-
taries in the mint and assay service;
20 are shipping commissioners; and
1856 are deputy collectors and store
keepers and gaugers In the internal
revenue service; and 2 are in the force
engaged upon the construction of pub
lie buildings.
"Paymasters' clerks and certain en-
ployes in military parks occupy the
greater number of the 80 excepted po-
sitions under the war department OUT
eide of Washington. OF the 42O except-
ed positions under the navy depart
ment outside of Washington nearly all
are those OF craftsmen, and special
mechanics and civilian assistant in