Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-25

pressed BY many Of the departmental Of
icials, and it Is believed that the operation
OF the revision will facilitate and simplify
the workings OF the system.
The Work Of Simplification.
When asked in regard to the effect Of
the new rules, Civil Service Commissioner
Fouike spoke at some length.
''In the first place." he said, 1--WE struck
out a series of definitions. The words de-
fined were 50 plain that these were not
needed In the next place there was long
list OF the places included in the classified
service arranged in particular branches:
The departmental service, the custom house
service. the post office service, the govern
ment printing service and the internal rev.
enue service. This division into separate
branches was no longer necessary. The
commission itself can arrange its work in
such manner as seems most convenient
without burdening the public and the rules
with long statement as to how this Is
done. Then 1t was no longer necessary to
have list of the places included. A few
very simple words in the new rules accom-
pliSh this result:
The classified service shall include all
officers and employees in the executive civil
service of the United States. heretofore or
hereafter appointed or employed, in posi-
tions now existing or hereafter to be ere
ated. of whatever function or designation,
whether compensated by fixed salary or
otherwise, except persons employed merely
as laborers. and persons whose appoint
ments are subject to confirmation by the
Senate; but no right of classification shall
accrue to persons whose appointment or
assignment to classified duties is in viola
ton Of the civil service rules
The Exceptions From Examination.
THAT brings in everything which the law
authorizes us to classify, and then we ex-
-cept from examination places to which ex-
animation does not appear to be applicable.
These exceptions are all embraced in a
schedule attached to the rules. In the old
rules there were two classes Of exceptions,
one called excepted places and the other
excluded places There was practically no
difference between them. We have thrown
them all together in our schedule. No very
radical changes have been made. however,
in respect to these exceptions.
Omitted From New Rules.
Then. we have left out the table provid-
ing for the ages Of admission to the classi-
fed service. That will be arranged between
the commission and the departments affect
ed by means Of regulation or mutual agree
ment. Then. we have left out the list Of
classes according to salaries; we found that
we had no use for this list as part of the
rules-it is provided for elsewhere. We
have, moreover, greatly condensed and SIM
plif1ed the phraseology. Many OF the old
rules were complicated and 1t was hard to
understand them. I believe that they have
been greatly improved in this respect.
I'VE have also left out the long sec
ton providing for the appointment to
positions requiring peculi lar qualifications In
respect to knowledge and ability and such
scientific or special attainmerts, profess
sional or technical as are not ordinarily
acquired in the service of the United States.
Persons appointed in this manner had to be
nominated and approved by the President,
Dd.if PRESIDENT
make a special exception to the rules in
such cases as 1t was for him to approve the
nomination Of persons thus specially select
ed There was no need of this rule. 1t has
hardly ever been used and we have omitted
1t.
New Provisions of the Code.
: what are the new provisions contained
In your new code?'
They are pretty fully set forth in
statement just issued by the commission.
Non-competitive examinations have been
generally stricken out Of the rules except
for transfers and promotions, some places
In the Indian service and as inspector of
safety appliances under the interstate COM
merce commission. In the latter case the
labor organizations interested in the appli-
cation of these safety appliances believed
that they could secure 1t more effectually
by appointments outside OF the rules. and
we require examinations to test the quail
also are now insisting upon examinations
for reinstatement Of people who have not
previously been examined
Insular Residents Eligible.
Another change in the rules admits to
the examinations not only citizens, but all
persons who owe allegiance to the United
States. This brings in the Inhabitants Of
Porto Rico and the Philippines without
question. We also provide that examination
may be refused to those who are dishonest,
immoral, or mentally unfit, and that any
deception in securing examination or certi-
fication or the habitual use Of Intoxicating
beverages to excess shall also prevent
man from being examined. We also pro-
vide that a probationer who has been sepa-
rated from the service without delinquency
or misconduct may be restored to the regis
ter OF eligibles.
Temporary Appointments.
What about the restriction of temporary
appointments"
1.-THE matter of temporary appointments
is greatly simplifled. Whenever an emer-
gency requires a vacancy to be filed a re-
quest for certifcation must first be made
and then the appointing officer may fill the
vacancy by an emergency appointment.
This appointment shall not continue for
more than thirty days without the prior
approval of the commission, and in any case
4 onc hNyH tot oV ~.--&