Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-09
The Classified Service.

The Classified Service.
1.-The number Of Americans and Filipinos
connected with the central departmental
service and the municipal service of Manila
are about equal The positions Of judge
and justice of the peace and a few posi-
lions, confidential or professional are ex-
cepted from examination and certif1cation
by the civil service board. All other civil
positions, except that of teacher, are in the
classified civil service of the Philippine Is
lands.
Although the Philippine commission be-
gan the work Of civil government in 1900.
yet properly speaking, civil government in
the Philippine Islands was not fully estab-
lished until July 4, 1901 when Governor
William H. Taft, president, took the oath
Of office as civil governor. On September
1, 1901, three Filipino members, viz, Senior
D. Benito Legarda, Senior D. Jose Luzuri-
aga and Senior D. T. H. Pardo de Tavera,
were added to the commission. New bu-
reaus have been organized from time to
time until now there are about thirty, all
attached to the four executive departments,
except the Office of the executive secretary,
the bureau of the insular purchasing agent
and the Philippine civil service board. which
are under the executive control Of the civil
governor.
1.-The legislative body is composed Of the
members Of the Philippine commission, Of
which the civil governor is president.
1.-The judiciary Is vested In q supreme
court of seven judges, courts of first In
stance presided over by a judge, one for
each of the twelve judicial districts into
nicipal courts Of the city of Manila. pre-
sided over by two municipal judges. JUS
tees of the peace are appointed for each
municipality throughout the islands.
THE spirit and form of the government
organization is intended to operate in the
interests Of the Filipinos. 1t is a govern
ment distinctly for the Filipinos. Not only
are they invited to participate In govern
Apol- l,1;-
fully guarded by laws intended to protect
them from those whose greed for gain
might infringe upon their personal rights or
property interests
Distinctive characteristics
Several distinctive and characteristic
features Of the Philippine civil service act
differentiate 1t from the United States civil
service act. The municipal service Of the
city Of Manila Is classified, and vacancies
occurring in the heads of Offices and of
superintendent and in subordinate posi-
lions are filled In accordance with the pro-
visions of the civil service act. The alb
sence Of the corrupting influences of pol
tiles from municipal affairs in Manila rem
ders business administration possible. II
Is enough to say that there is probably no
city in the United States, with the excep-
tion of Washington, D. c., where municipal
administration is so free from scandal ana
corruption as is that of the city of Manila"
The statement then shows how selections
are made from the list of eligibles and
what the examination includes. Preference Is
given first to F1fpinoS and then to honor
ably discharged soldiers, sailors and ma
rines. The law not only requires those who
enter the governmental service to pass an
examination. but it has required all those
who come into the service before the law
became operative to take the examination
as well. Summed up, the statement says:
Gains Noted.
"By the operation Of the civil service law
many distinct gains to the service are evil
dent, among which the following may b,
noted:
II. There is freedom from the cankering
and corroding evils Of political, religious
and personal influences.
20. The executive and the legislative
body are relieved from Importantly and are
thus unhindered in the performance of IKE
important and responsible duties of thair
high offices.
co-extensive with the civil service of the
Philippine Islands, appointments to which
are based solely on merit as the vitalizing
predominating influence. The law provides
for filing by promotion vacancies In all
the higher grades, including nearly all the
heads of bureaus and offices. This opens
wide the door of opportunity and is an
incentive to well-equipped young men to
seek to enter the public service in the same
spirit as one enters profession, with a
view to making it a life work and of reach
ing the highest and most responsible Of
fetal positions by deserved promotion.
4. The establishment and maintenance of
an efficient and honest civil service is not
merely an ideal to be hoped for. It is an
accomplished fact. an actuality, realiza-
ton. in all the executive branches of the
government of the Philippine Islands, CEN
trail, departmental and provincial, and in
the city of Manila.
g. 1t furnishes a practical demonstration
of the beneicent and exalted purposes of
the United States government, teaching
the Filipinos the true principles of and en-
couragdng their participation in that form
Of government which brings the greatest