Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-26
THE CIVIL SERVICE
One of the First Creations of
Philippine Commission.
SYSTEMS GOOD WORK
FEW GOVERNMENT SCANDALS
CHARGEABLE TO IT.
Humiliation Caused by the Defalca-
lions of Americans-Excelle Effect
of Prompt Punishment.
BY WIN. E. CURTIS.

BY WIN. E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
MANILA, June "a, 1904.
The civil government Of the Philippine
Islands was organized in 1900. and one of
the first acts of the commission was to
pass a law for the establishment and
maintenance Of an effective and honest
civil service by appointments and promo
lions according to merit" This law went
into effect at the moment of its passage.
The civil service commission was the first
bureau of the government to be organized.
Forty other bureaus have been organized
since. and every of the appointees
under them has passed through its gates.
1t has been the only port of entry into the
civil service of the government. and the
biography and record of every officer and
employee can be found upon its files. DR.. W.
s. Washburn, chairman of the board.
speaking to me OF its work, said:
Operation of the Law.
More than three years and a half have
elapsed since the civil service law became
operative. There all told 1000
officers and employees in the Philippine civil
service. insular, provincial and municipal.
not including the enlisted men in the con-
stabuary and unskiled laborers, all of
whom Flipinos. More than half of the
1900 are natives. Efficiency in the person
mel has increased with the growth and de-
velopment of the classified service and the
results of the application of the merit sys
tenn are most gratifying. The total num-
Der of persons presenting themselves for
examination last year WIS 5,2lj. and we
have examined more than 1900 applicants
for office since organize ton. Appli-
cants can take examinations In either Eng
fish Or Spanish exclusively. or in both, as
they select. The proportion of those who
pass in English is greater than those who
pass in Spanish. Last year Si7 English
speaking eligibles. some of whom were
tives. were appointed. and 49, Spanish
speaking eligibles. all of them Fipinos
Reliance is rarely placed upon scholastic
tests alone. Examiners required to OBJ
serve applicants closely. All subjects of
inquiry are legitimate long as they affect
an applicants fitness for the public serv-
Ice. His personal habits. physical condi-
ton, morality and other considerations are
weighed as carefully his mental training
and intellectual capacity. Physical disabil-
ity is just as demora LIKING as mental. in
competence. Under rules applicants
unfit for the public service, morally men,
tally or physically, are found to be ineli-
gible and rejected, and those best fitted
placed highest on the registers, so that
they shall have the first chance of appoint
ment.
During the past year there has been
decided increase in the number of ap-
plic2nts. which is due to the greater num-
Der of Fflipinos examined. The statistics
show that not only more Filipinos en-
terfng examinations, but that the pro-
portion of those securing eligibility is much
greater than heretofore. The examinations
held during the past year have developed
the fact that many Filipinos have secured
sufficient knowledge of the English lam
guage to take examinations in English.
Appointment of Filipinos.
More Fiipinos than America MS have been
appointed from the boards registers of
eligibles. Filipinos are appointed prnci-
pally to the grade of clerk, in which they
do good work. They excel in penmanship
and are rapidly becoming proficient in type
writing. Many however. have been ap-
pointed to positions in other grades, such
copyist Of drawings junior drafts
man, Junior composttor. bookbinder, press
man, interpreter. translator, sanitary in
spector. forestry ranger, policeman, fire.
man, etc. The examination system provd-
Ing a method of entrance into the civil
service has greatly stimulated the Filipinos
to avail themselves of the educa tional ad-
vantages offered in the public schools.
With better general education and a
knowledge of the English language, they
will be fitted for many government posi-
lions now filled by Americans. In meas
ure, the duties Of an American appointee
are those Of an instructor through whom
the Filipino Is learning how to perform
government work. Americans are appoint
ed principally to expert clerical positions
or to positions the duties of which are
technical. professional, scientific or admin
kStrative in character"
The civil service board has charge not
only OF the nsular service and the munic-
ipal service of the city of Manila. but
also in the provincial service. There are
also in the provinces a variety of positions
connected with education, the post office,
customs and immigration. forestry and the
courts.
Control Of Promotions.
The merit SYSTEM" continued Dr. Wash
burn. lis applied not only for original en-
trance to the service, but also affords the
basis for making promotions. Promotions
are not based On examinations alone but
consideration Is given to quantity and quail
ity of work. physical condition, habits. char
acter. conduct. aptitude and adaptability
punctuality and attendance. A record is
kept in each office showing the relative eff
cheney of employees. The character of an
employees record becomes extremely i'm
portant to him, the making of which is
largely in his own hands.
While capability and fidelity are recog-
nized and rewarded by promotion on the
other hand. lack of industry or proper |
conduct results in reduction dismissal. |
Discourtesy to the public. to private indi-
viduals or to government officials or en- |
ployes, drunkenness, dishonesty, chronic |
or fragrant neglect of duty, VIGOROUSLY dis |
graceful immoral conduct pursuit of |
private business enterprise to the detri- |
ment of official duties incompetency are |
considered reasons for removal Any Off |
cial who knowingly continues in the public |
service a person guilty of any of the above !
named derelictions shall thereby render |
himself liable to removal"
Preference Given to Natives.
There is little demand for Americans for |
clerical or other positions which natives
of the islands are competent to fill. Prefer
ence is always given to natives, all other
things being equal. The civil service act |
requires that when the names of natives |
and of honorably discharged soldiers SAIL
ors and marines of the United States are
certified for appointment the appointing |
officer, when other qualifications are equal, |
shall prefer natives. but the names of per- |
sons of either of these classes cannot be
certified out of the order of their regular |
standing on the registers. Last year only |
ed oft