The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-19
Few Position. Under the Government
Left for Persons Who Do Not
Pass Examinations.
FoULKE CLOSE TO THE THRONE
IN TOUCH WITH THE PRESIDENT
AND CARRYING OUT HIS VIEWS.
Civil Service No Longer Regarded by
Politicians as a Jest-Recent
Changes I'm Rules.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. April 1s.-When Theo-
Acre Roosevelt quit the Civil-service Com
mission some years ago TO take place on
the New York Police Board the reform
movement I'm Washington lost its most ar
Gent and Jealous spokesman. During the
period between his retirement from the
commission and his elevation TO the pres
idency there was conspicuously absent any
strong and aggressive advocate OF the merit
urincfple Civil-seryice reformers there
were apIenty. but none that could command
the attention or respect that was accorded
the young and energetic New Yorker. The
law was enforced conscientiously, but vio-
iations Of IL were more frequent than IN the
days when Roosevelt refused TO be bluhed
by the "spoilsmen." When Mr.. Roosevelt
left the commission IL was completely or
Ranized, and all that remained for 1t to do
was TO carry out the law. But with Roose-
welt out of the way technical violations or
the rules and regulations were frequent,
and this condition of affairs was winked at
In high places. For years the commission
existed without the principle for which II
stands now making any pronounced step
forward.
Now the Roosevelt influence is again APP
parent. and new order Of things prevails.
The former civil-service commissioner, men,
Der OF the New York Police Board, assistant
secretary OF the navy, leader Of the Rough
Riders, Governor of New York, and after
ward Vice President. is in the White House.
He has placed on the commission a man
who will carry out the civil-service law as
Mr. Roosevelt thinks 1t should be enforced.
William Dudley Foulke is recognized here
as a man who stands close to the throne.
Since his appointment the Civil-service
Commission has taken on new life. II has
become live organiZation-one that must
be reckoned with by every politician in the
department. and il is no longer the jest of
the irreverent.
The act which created the Civil-service
Commission gave it jurisdiction over APP
pointments in the executive departments
IN Washington and in customs houses and
postoffices having more than fifty en-
pioyes. It Is estimated that the civil serv-
ice OF the United States embraces about
10000 people At the beginning the COM
mission covered about 1900 of them. To-
day 1t has jurisdiction over 10000. Its rules
do not Apply to laborers, postmasters. pres
idential appointees, the diplomatic and con-
sular service, or the municipal government
or the District OF Columbia.
CLASSIFICATION OF SERVICE.
The classification OF the service is de-
scribed in the rules recently issued as fol-
lows:
'The classified service shall include all
officers and employees in the executive
civil service of the United States hereto
fore or hereafter appointed or employed
IN positions now existing or hereafter TO
be created, Of whatever function or desig-
nation, whether compensated by fixed
salary or otherwise, except persons en-
ployed merely as laborers and persons
whose appointments are subject to con-
drmation by the Senate; but no right of
classification shall accrue TO persons whose
appointment or assignment TO classified
duties Is in violation OF the civil-service
rules"
William Dudley Foulke and his asso-
ciates on the commission. as we'll as other
civil-service reformers, believe that the
classified service should be further ex-
tended. They contend that it should en-
brace all the postmasters in the United
States. and believe that the time is not far
distant when such will be the case. The
tendency certainly appears to be in that
direction Not long ago Postmaster Gem
eral Payne issued an order which provides
that fourth-class postmasters shall not be
disturbed as long as their services are
REORGANIZATION OF the diplomatic and con-
srlar service on a basis OF merit. They
urge that appointees should be subjected
10 severe competitive examinations, and
are inclined to be skeptical as to the
thoroughness OF the test now prescribed for
candidates for United States consulships
They point out that these tests are nom
competitive and that a man must have a
stated that only one man has ever called
TO pass the departmental examination 1T
Is matter Of great psychological interest
how that man happened TO fall" said
Carl Schurz, for years one OF the most
active civil-service reformers
Under the Roosevelt administration the
Civil-service Commission has widely en-
larged its jurisdiction. The merit principle
has been extended 10 the rural free deliv-
cry system, embracing nearly 10000 en-
2loyes. TO considerable portion of the
field service of the War Department. TO
the employees rendered necessary because
OF the increased work incident to the war
with Spain and TO the clerks and other en-
ployes OF the Census Bureau II is he
heved :aat before President Roosevelt re-
tires from the White House the civil-serv-
ACc VIII DC thrown over fourth
class postmasters.
POLITICS AND RELIGION.
The revised rules recently issued by the
commission are more clear. concise and ex-
plicit than those which they displaced.
The chapters dealing with politics and re-
iigion are of particular interest. They are
as follows:
No person in the executive civil service
shall use his official authority or influence
for the purpose OF interfering with an
election or affecting the result thereof
No question in any form OF application
or In any examination shall be so framed
as 10 elicit information Concerning the
pofitical or religious opinions or Affiliations
OF any applicant, nor shall any inquiry he
made concerning such opinions or affilfa-
lions, and all disclosures thereof shall he
oiscountenanced No discrimination shall
be exercised. threatened or promised ~
any person in the executive civil seryics
>agalnst or In favor OF an annIicsnt
eligible. or employe in the CLASSIFIED ssrv
ice because OF his political or reli9ious
opinions or Affiliations si0uS
NO recommendation OF an anDIica,.
e1s7Dle. or employe in the competitive ssrx.
ice involving a disclosure OF his relisio,,s
or poitucal opinions or affiliations shall he
considered by the commission or nv -,
o1cer concerned In making appointments
or promotions"
An effort Is being made by the commission
10 eliminate from examinations ou.s,,o,.
which are regarded by the public as ,r,-
practicable. The criticisms IN THE -.