Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
A VIGOROUS DENIAL
POSITIONS IN THE PORTO RICAN
CIVIL SERVICE.
The Charges Of Discrimination Against
Natives Refuted-The Appoint
ments in the Past Year.

The civil service commission Is in re-
ceipt Of a letter from Senior Manuel del
Vale, president Of the board Of civil serv-
ice examiners in Porto Rico, containing
much matter Of interest in relation to the
civil service Of the island Senior del Vale
!ncloses with his communication some clip
pings from La Correspondence, a daily
newspaper published at San Juan. showing
controversy with regard to the integrity
of the federal civil service in Porto Rico.
The first clipping. an article by Senior
Manuel Romero Haxthausen, charges that
Porto Ricans are Disseminated against il,
appointments to the civil service. This ar
ticle is replied to by Senior del Vale. him.
self a native Porte Rican in vigorous Ian
guage. upholding the civil service commits
sion and showing that the charge of dis
elimination is without foundation.
Civil Service Appointments.
In this article Senior del Vale explains to
his countrymen the provisions Of the civil
service law. He shows that of the 1888 per-
sons who passed the examinations held in
Porto Rico last spring. when the federal
civil service Of the island was organized
over thirty, many Of whom are natives
have already been appointed, although less
than six months have elapsed since the pa
IL
it said, himself an educated native. his re-
ply viii probably have great weight in CIV
ing the people of Porto Rico better opin-
ion Of the workings Of the commission and
its administration Of the civil service of the
island. the success of which has been
largely due to his efforts.
There are two groups Of positions in the
Porto Rican civil service-those connected
with the insular government and paid out
Of the islands revenues, and those coming
within the federal service and supported
out Of the United States treasury The
positions under the insular government
have not. as yet, been classified, although
1t IL hoped that this will be done at an
early date. the experience Of the Philip
pine service having demonstrated It's de-
STABILITY.
The question Of classifying these positions
IL one Of much interest to the Porto Ricans.
and the newspapers Of the island are de-
voting q great deal Of space to its discus
sion. All parties appear to be agreed upon
the desirability- OF civil service law clas-
styling the insular positions. but there is
much diversity Of opinion as to the form the
law should take.
Federal Positions in Porto Rico.
AT the present time. It is only the federal
positions In Porto Rico which are subject
to the civil service act and rules. The civil
service commission has arranged to I'LL these
positions In the same manner as positions
in the departments In this city are filled.
There are approximately 301 federal posi-
lions In Porto Rico. Of which 152 are sub
ject to competitive educational examina-
lions and 81 subject to competitive registra-
ton tests. Twenty positions are excepted
from competitive examination under the
civil service rules and 48 are not subject to
classification.
While the merit system has been in opera
ton in Porto Rico for only few months.
the results obtained have been especially
gratifying. The natives of the island have
taken an active interest In the civil service
and have quickly adapted themselves to the
situation. The readiness with which the
natives responded when the examinations
took place last spring showed the high re-
gard which the Porto Rican has for the
official integrity OF the United States.
The article by Senior Haxthausen shows
merely temporary disaffection, which will
without doubt disappear as soon as the
facts regarding the appointment of Porto
Ricans to positions. both In the island and
in Washington, become more generally
known.