The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-08

renewed effort to prevent the loss of life
and limb upon the railroads of the coun-
try, particularly to employees, is apparent.
For the inspection of water craft and the
Life-Saving Service upon the water the
Congress has built up an elaborate body
Of protective legislation and a thorough
method of inspection and is annually
spending large sums of money 1t is en-
couraging to observe that the Congress
is alive to the interests of those who are
employed upon our wonderful arteries of
Lcommerce-the railroads-who so safely
transport millions of passengers and bill
lions of tons of freight. The Federal in
spection OF safety appliances. for which
the Congress is now making appropria-
TONS is a service analogous to that which
the government has upheld &c generations
IN regard to vessels, and it is believed
will prove of great practical benefit, both
to railroad employees and the travelling
public. AS the greater part of commerce
ls interstate and exclusively under the
control of the Congress the needed safety
and uniformity must be secured by ma
tional legislation.
PENSIONS.
70 other class of our citizens, deserves
so well of the nation as those to whom
the nation owes it's very being the vet
Grams of the Civil War. Special attention
is asked to the excellent work of the Pen
sion Bureau in eXpediting and disposlng
Of pension claims. During the fiscal year
ending July t. 1903, the Bureau settled
Isl $50 claims, an average of S25 claims
Tor each working day of the year. The
number Of settlements since July 1, 1903,
has been in excess of last years average,
approaching 1000 claims for each work
ing day, and it is believed that the work
of the Bureau will be current at the
close of the present fiscal year.
EXTENSION OF CIVIL SERVICE RULES
During the year ended June 80 last 25,-
566 persons were appointed through com
petitive examinations under the civil ser
vice rules. This was 1852 more than
during the preceding year, and 40 per cent
of those who passed the examinations.
This abnormal growth was largely oc-
cas- oned by the extension OF classified
ton to the rural free delivery service
and the appointment last year of over
! 5000 rural carriers. A revision of the
civil service rules took effect on April
Is last, which has greatly improved their
operation The completion of the reform
Of the civil service is recognized by good
citizens everywhere as matter of the
highest public Importance, and the sue
cess of the merit system largely depends
upon the effectiveness of the rules and
the machinery provided for their enforce
ment very gratifying spirit of friendly
cooperation exists il all the departments
of the government in the enforcement
and uniform observance of both the let
ter and spirit Of the civil service act.
Executive orders Of July 8, 1902; March
rs, 1903 and July s, 1903. require that
appointments OF all unclassifed laborers,
both in the departments at Washington
and in the field service, shall be made
with the assistance of the United States
Civil Service Commission, under a sys-
tenn of registration to test the relative
fitness of applicants for appointment or
employment. This system is competitive,
and is open to all citizens of the United
States qualified in respect to age, physical
ability moral character industry and
Iadaptability for manual labor; except that
in case of veterans of the Civil War the
element of age is omitted. This system
OF appointment is distinct from the clas-
sifed service and does not classify posi-
tons of mere laborer under the civil SER
vice act and rules. Regulations in aid
thereof have been put In operation IN
several of the departments and art being
gradually extended in other parts of the
service. The results have been very sat
sfactory, as extravaganza has been
checked by decreasing the lumber of I'M
necessary positions and by increasing the
efficiency of the employees remaining.
REPORTS OF BOARD OF CHARITIES
FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The Congress. as the result of a
thorough investigation of the charities
and reformatory institutions in the Dis