The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-08
SAFETY APPLIANCES,
PENSIONS, CIVIL SERVICE.

In my last annual message the attention
of the Congress was called to the neces-
sity Of charging the safety-appliance law,
and it is gratifying to note that this law
was amended in important respects. With
the increasing railway mileage of the coun-
try, the greater number OF men employed,
and the use OF larger and heavier equip
ment. the urgency for renewed effort TO
prevent the loss OF life and limb upon the
railroads OF the country. particularly to en-
ployes, Is apparent For the inspection OF
water craft and the life-saving service upon
the water the Congress has built up an
q thorough method OF inspection and is an
nually spending large sums OF money 1t Is
encourasing to observe that the Congress Is
ployed upon our wonderful arteries or. COM
merce-the railroads-who safely trans
port millions OF passengers ana plnl,ons s,o Oh
OF safety appliances, for which the Con-
gress is now making appropriations, Is
service analogous TO that which the gov
eminent has upheld for generations in re-
gard to vessels. and IL is believed Will prove
OF great practical benefit, both to railroad
employees and the travelling public. As the
exclusively under the control of the Con-
gress the needed safety and uniformity
must be secured by national legislation.
Work of the Pension Bureau.
No other class OF our citizens deserves
so well of the Nation as those to whom the
Nation owes its very being, the veterans of
the civil war. Special attention Is asked
20 the excellent work of the Pension Blu
reau In expediting and dispOsfng OF pen
sion ella ms. During the fiscal year end
ing July l. 1903. the bureau settled 1.9S2
claims an average of SIS claims for each
working day OF the year. The number of
settlements since July /. 1903. has been In
of 1acf H.
ing 1000 claims for each working day, and
Mt is believed that the work of the bureau
will be current at the close or the present
fiscal year.
Extension of CiviI-Service Rules.
During the year ended June 80 last 25.-
sec persons were appointed through COM
petitive examinations under the civil-serv-
ice 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 occasioned
by the extension OF classification to the rural
free delivery service and the appointment
last year OF over 1890 rural carriers. A re-
vision OF the civil-service rules took effect
on April 10 last. which has greatly i'm
proved their operation The completion OF
the reform of the civil service is recog-
niZed by good citizens everywhere as a
matter OF the highest public Importance.
and the success of the merit system largely
depends upon the effectiveness or the rules
and the machinery provided for their en-
forcement- A very gratifying spirit OF
friendly cooperation exists in all the de-
partments of the government in the en-
forcement and uniform observance of both
the letter and spirit of the civil-service act
Executive orders OF July 3. 1902, March 26
1903 and July s. 1893. require that appoint
ments OF all uncassified laborers, both in
the departments at Washington and in the
field service shall be made with the assist
ance OF the United States Civil-seTvice
Commission, under system OF registra-
ton to test the relative fitness of appli-
cants 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 char
acter industry and adaptability for man
ual 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 classified service and
does not classify positions of mere laborer
under the civil-service act and rules. Regu-
lations I'm aid thereof have been put in OPP
Grafton in several OF the departments and
are being gradually extended in other parts
of the service. The results have been very
satisfactory. as extravaganza has been
checked by decreasing the number of un-
efficiency of the employees remaining.
District of Columbia Charities.
The Congress. as the result of thorough
Investigation OF the charities and reform
atory institutions in the District OF Column
bia. by joint select committee of the two
Houses which made it's report in March,
1SSs. created in the act approved June o.
1900 a board OF charities for the District
OF Columbia. 10 consist OF five residents
OF the district. appointed by the President
OF the United States, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate, each for term
of three years. 10 serve without comDcnsa-
ton President Mckinley appointed five
men who had been active and prominent in
the public charities OF Washington. all OF
whom upon taking. Office July i. $780, re-
signed from the different charities with
which they had been connected. The men,
beers OF the board have been rea2pointed in