The Washington times., 1904-01-27
GOOD YEAR FOR
THE CIVIL SERVICE
Commissions Annual Re
port Has Optimistic Tone.
WOULD RECLASSIFY CLERKS
Recommends Also Annuitics for Super
ANIMATED Clerks Provided by De-
ducticrs From Salaries.

The Civil Service Commission has
transmitted TO the President it's annual
report for the fiscal year ended June 30.
1913 The report calls attention u the
spirit Of hearty cooperation on the part
Of public officers in the enforcement OF
the civil service law and rules. and
states that the advantages of the merit
system in promoting efficiency and
economy in the service continue to be
shown in official reports. indicating
large increases in The work Of Offices
without core spending additions TO the
force of employees.
Among the more important topics
touched upon in the report are the re-
vision of the rules in April last, the OBJ
scrvGnce CT the law and rules, statistics
Of examinations and appointments. the
consolidation of local boards OF exam
iucrs for certain districts. the power Of
removal and approximation in the SER
vice.
Interesting Violations OF Law.
The commission reports continued i'm
provement in the observance Of the
civil service act and rules. which is
shown not only in the marked decrease
in the number OF complaints Of violations
of the act but in the fact that but few
complaints appeared 10 be well founded.
while the number Of serious offenses has
been materially reduced.
The report calls attention 20 the more
important Investigations made during
the year. as a result OF which an in
ternal-revenue collector and a deputy
collector in Kentucky were each fined
$500 and costs. and an employee of the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad was
fined 500 and costs for soliciting and
receiving political assessments.
A member OF the Massachusetts Leg
islature and three other persons were
sentenced to two months IN Jail each
for impersonating applicants in exami-
nations for the Boston postoffice.
Postofice Cases.
Five employees improperly removed
from the Philadelphia mint We're rein
stated. and several appointments Were
required to be made in that Office from
/ a special examination to I'll classified
/ positions TO which unclassifed employees
were assigned. Upon the report of the
commission the President directed that
three carriers in the Philadelphia post
/ Office be restored 10 the routes from
which they had apparently been trans
/ ferred for political reasons, although II
was not shown that the postmaster was
! guilty of any Intentional wronEdoing.
Civil Service Skirts Clean.
! in referring TO the inquiry into the
/ business of the Postofice Department
] the commission remarks;
"As a result Of the investigation into
/ the conduct OF business in the Postoffice
! Department, made under the supervision
Of the Fourth Assistant Postmaster
i General. q number of officers and en-
ployes of that Department have been
/ indicted. An inspection of the COM
missions records shows that none OF
those indicted entered the service
through competitive examination.
( This should be gratifying TO the ad-
vocates of tho merit system. who hold
that employees secured through fair open
competition are more likely TO nave Q
greater degree OF integrity as well as
deficiency than employees appointed
under the patronage system. The one
only upon merit and look forward 60 .
career in the public service. while the
other class appointed through favor.
! usually employ the same means in secur-
/ ing promotions and important assign
mcnts. and thus regarding their posi-
I tons from the selfish standpoint Of per-
| sonal gain, they cannot have the same
! interest in their work or the success OK
/ the service as those appointed upon
merit"
Scheme of Retirement for Age.
The commission refers TO the vari-
/ Gus bills looking to the retirement of
/ Government employees the practice in
European countries in regard 10 the re-
/ fremont OF employees. the increasing
practice in the United States among
1 busi-iess institutions TO provide some
method OF retirement. and repeats the
following suggestion from rs last re-
port: