Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-20
CIVIL SERVICE.
No Need for Commission In Porto
Rico.

klCO.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
SAN JUAN. Pr. March II. 1905
The United States civil service commits.
sion has been turned down by the executive
council Of Porto Rico and the federal civil
service will not be- extended to Porto Rico
this year. "A local civil service system win,
however, probably be established. The bill,
which was drafted In Washington and sent
to Governor Hunt, was introduced in the
executive council by Secretary Hartzell.
The council then had before It bill intro
duced by DR.. Jose Brioso, a native member,
providing for an elaborate civil service bri-
reau with three commissioners at s., 400 q
year and other expensive accessories. Both
bills were referred to the judiciary commit
tee Of the council, which recommended their
indefinite postponement, but saidi
''In bringing in an adverse report on these
measures the judiciary committee does not
wish to be understood as being opposed to
the principles Of civil service. On the con-
trary, the members Of the committee are
not only heartily in favor of civil service
ideas, but are in favor Of their application
to the civil. service of Porto Rico. Your
committee has, however, taken occasion to
ascertain the number Of changes made
either by designations, removals or addj-
tions to the insular civil service during the
last fiscal year and from July 1, 1902, to
date From the reports made by the sew
eral departments 1t appears that from July
1, 1901, to the LIST of March, 1902 there have
been only about 162 changes and additions
in the personnel Of the service. OF these
etghty-six were changes arising from resig-
nations or dismissals, while seventy-six
were additions by reasons Of the creation
Of new offices. AS the public service win
be increased very little, II at all, by the ap-
preparation bill for the coming fiscal year
1t is likely that the changes In its personnel
during the coming year will be very few In
number. And to create an elaborate bureau
Of commission for the regulation and en-.
forcement of civil service rules In connec.
ton with appointments, attended by a large
annual expense, seems to be an unwise and
unnecessary expenditure Of public funds at
this time in view of the fact that the ESSEN
tial end intended by the bill can be OBJ,
tanned by simple and much less expensive
yet equally efficient plan"
The committee then advised the passage
of the following resolution, which was suhS
sequently introduced and promptly passed:
Resolved. That for the purpose Of estab-
fishing civil service system for the execu-
tive branches Of the government of Porto
Rico, and for maintaining and regulating
the efficiency thereof, the president Of the
executive council is hereby authorized to
appoint a committee Of three from the
council (of which committee the president
Of the council shall be charm an) who shall
confer with the governor, and thereafter
report rules and regulations which shall
control appointments and promotions In the
civil service according to merit, and which
shall effectually provide for the cassifica-
ton of offices and employments. the selec-
ton of employees, promotions, periods OF
probation, competitive examinations, trans
fers and reinstatements, and such other re-
quirements as may seem proper to and
which will more efficiently secure the en-
forcement Of the purposes OF this resolu-
tion, and when such rules and regulations
are reported, If the same are approved BY
the council and the governor, they shall
be promulgated, and. thereafter shall govern
the matters embraced therein.
The legislative assembly will adjourn this
week and the governor and special COM
mittee will then doubtless deal as soon as
possible with the civil service question.