Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-12-10


upon the railroads of the country. par
ncuiar'y to employees. is apparent. For
Inc Inspection of water craft and the
iic-saving service upon the water con
sress has built up an elaborate body
OF protective legislation and thor
ough method of inspection and is an
nuaily spending large sums of money
IL is encouraging to observe that the
congress Is alive to the interests of
those who are employed upon our won
deriul arteries of commerce-the rail-
roads-who so safely transport mil
lions OF passengers and billions of
tons of freight The federal inspec-
tloh oi safety appliances, for which
the congress is now making appropria-
lions, ls service analogous to that
which the government has upheld for
generations in regard to vessels. and
II Is believed Will prove OF great prac.
ucai benefit, both TO railroad employ
es and the travelling public AS the
greater part Of commerce is inter
state and exclusively under The control
OF the congress the needed safety and
uniformity must be secured by nation
al legislation
Pensions.
No other class of our citizens de-
serves so well of the nation as those
10 whom the nation owes iis very be
ing, the veterans of the civil war
special attention is asked to the ex-
cellent work of the pension bureau in
expediting and disposing of pension
n - h..
July /. 1903, the bureau settled 25l,-
9S2 claims, an average OF 1926 claims
for each working day OF the year The
number OF settlements since July l..
1908, has been in excess of last years S
average, approaching 1000 claims for
each working day, and it is believed
that the work of the bureau will be
current at the close of the present fis-
cal year.
Extension of Civil Service Rules.
During the year ended June 80 last
25.566 persons were appointed through
eompetitiye examinations under the
civil service rules. This was 12,672
more than during the preceding year,
and 40 per cent of those who passed
the examinations. This abnormal
growth was largely occasioned by the
extension of classification to the rural
Tree delivery service and the appoint
menl last year of over 5000 rural car
riers. A revision of the civil service
rules took effect on April 10 last.
which has greatly improved their op-
Grafton. The completion of the re-
TORN of the civil service is recognized
by good citizens everywhere as a mat
ier of the highest public Importance,
and the success of the merit system
largely depends upon the effectiveness
of the rules and the machinery pro-
yided for their enforcement. A very
gratifying spirit of friendly co-opera-
lion exists In all the departments of
The government in the enforcement
and uniform observance OF both the
letter aud spirit of the civil service
act. Executive orders of July 3. 1902;
March 90. 1908. and July s. 1903, re-
Quire that appointments of Ell unclass-
fled lahorers, both in the departments
1t Washington ana in the field service.
shall be made with the assistance of
The United States civil service com
| lion to test the relative fitness of ap-
plicants for appointment or employ
ment. This system is competitive,
| and is open TO al citizens of the Unit
ed States qualified in respect to age.
| physical ability. moral character, in
| dustry and adaptability for manual Ia
Dor. except that in case of veterans of
The civil war the element of age is
omitted. The system of appointment
Is distinct from the classified service
and does not classify positions OF mere
laborer under the civil service act and
rules. Regulations in aid thereof
have been put in operation in several
of the departments and are being gra-
| dually extended in other parts of the
service. The results have been very
satisfactory, as extravaganza has been
checked by deere jing the number OF
unnecessary positions by Increasing
the efficiency of the employees remain
ing
Reports OF Board OF Charities for Dis
| trict of Col ,ia.
| The congress, as the result of a
| thorough investigation of The chari-
| lies and reformatory Institutions in
| the District of Columbia. by joint
select committee of the two houses
which made It's report in March, 1898,
created in the act approved June 6,
1900, a board of charities for the Dis
irict of Columbia, to consist 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 term of three years,
10 serve without compensation Pres
ldent Mckinley appointed five men
who had been active and prominent in
the public charities of Washington
all OF whom upon taking Office July /
1900, resigned from the different char
tiles with which they had been con
nected The members of the board
have been reappointed in successive
yoars, The board serves under the
commissioners OF the District of Co
'umbia. The board gave its first year
20 a careful and impartial study of the
special problems before II. and has
continued that study every year in the
light of the best practice in public
charities elsewhere. Its recommends