The San Francisco call., 1903-12-08

persons were Appointed through competitive
examinations under the civil service rules.
This was 12.6I2 more than during the preced-
ing year. and 40 per cent of those who passed
the examinations This abnormal growth was
Iargeiy occasioned by the extension OF classih-
cation 70 the rural free delivery service and
the appointment last year of over 1000 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
cess OF the merit system largely depends upon
the effectiveness Of the rules and the ma
chinery provided for their enforcement.
very gratifying spirit Of friendly cooperation
exists in all the deuartments Of the Govern
ment in the enforcement and Uniform observ-
ance OF both the letter and spirit Of the civil
service act. Executive orders Of July g. 1902.
March 26 1905. and July s. 1903 require that
appointments OF all unclassfed laborers both
in the deDa rtnents at Washington ard in the
field service, shall be made with the assistance
Of the United States Civil Service Commission,
under a system Of registration 10 test the
relative fitness Of applicants for appointment
employment. This system is c. clnDetitiVe.
and IS open TO all citizens o. the United States
quallned IN respect 10 age, physical ablllty
moral character, industry and adaptabliity for
manual labor: except that in case OF veterans
OF the civil War the element OF age is omitted
This system OF appointment distinct from
the classified service and does not classify
positions Of amere laborer under the civil
thereof have been put in operation IN several
Of the departments and are being gradually
results have been very satisfactory.
trsvagance has been checked by decreasing
the number OF unnecessary positions and by
increasing the efficiency Of the employees re-
naming.
The Congress- as the result OF a thorough
investigation OF the charities and reformatory
institutions in the District OF Columbia. by -
Joint select committee OF the two houses.
which made its report in March fseS. created
in the act approved June s. 1900 board OF
charities for the District OF Columbia to con-
sist 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 4 term OF three years. TO without
pensstion. President Mckinley appointed
FIVE men who had been active and prominent in
the public charities OF Washington. all of
whom upon taking office July 1. 1900. resigned
from the different charities with which they
had been connected. The members OF the board
have been reappointed In successive years The
District OF Columbia. The board gave its first
year TO a careful and impartial study of tho
special problems before il. and has continued
that study every year IN the light OF the best
practice in public charities elsewhere Its
recommendation in it's annual reports to the
Congress through the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia for the economical and
efficient administration OF the charities and re-
forrnatories of the District OF Columbia" as
based upon the principles commended by the
Joint select committee Of the Congress in its
report OF March. 1898. and approved by the
best administrators OF public charities. and
make for the desired systematization and i'm
provement Of the affairs under its supervision.
They are worthy Of favorable consideration by
the Congress.