The Washington herald., 1908-02-03
337. .OOO Civu EmpIOyeS.

| S,lf are Presidential appointees. 63li OF
whom are first, second, or third class
/ postmasters.
There are. in addition 53,35 fourth-class
( postmasters. l0.00e clerks in post-ofices
without free delivery service. Z2.T0i minor
employees ou the Isthmian Canal work,
and $4,000 more unskiIled lab0rers
! throughout the United States who are
outside the classified service.
Attention is called To various executive
orders issued during the year, classifying
/ 1880 different positions, and also TO other
/ executive orders waving the rules for
special reasons IN individual cases. and
permitting the appointment or Teinstate-
ment Of 6S persons.
These cases averaged only one i'm 600
appointments The reasons for such eN-
ceptiou will. as usual De published in
/ the appendix 10 the annual report uf the
/ commission.
/ During the year I361gS persons We're
! examined, 90 26 passed. and iG.Il2 were
appointed, AS compared with the pre-
vi0us year this is an increase Of l-.04 ln
/ the number examined. 4.326 in the number
/ that passed and 4>25 in the number ap-
pointed
Public Service Not Attractive.
/ The commission states that while the
number of persons examined was about
three times as great as the number ap-
/ pointed there have been insufficient
eUgibIes for number or positions. Cspe-
ciaIIv stenographers and typewriters.
F b0okkecpers. craftsmen. computers. civi.
engineers. patent examiners, pOst-ofiice
and railway mail clerks I'm certain local.
/ ties and for various positions in the In
I dian service.
The lack OF eHglbles is believed TO be
due TO better pay or opportunity for ad-
yancement in commercial employment
The regulations governing the appoint
ment of laborers issued by the President
are working satisfactorily. The commits
sion states that these regulations have
now been in operation three years and
( are resulting la the appointment Of per
sons with better qualifications for mere
/ labOy.ug work than those who were APP
pointed prior to tie adoption OF the Tegu-
/ latious.
/ Such appointments were then made
with little regard "a the applicants fiji
ness for hard manual labor. As a con-
/ sequence, they had TO be utilized I'm some
clerical or other capacity. for which they
were not. as q rule qualified by eduCa-
( ton.
Under the present practice applicants
are given physical tests before appoint
meut The commission states that ap-
pointing officers are no longer hampered
/ by having 10 assign 10 heavy work those
| physically unable 20 perform it,
Partisan Activity Lesscued.
Attention is called to Investigations dur
ing the year, involving partisan activity.
/ the soliciting of political contributions by
ohiCeEolders. ana frauds in examinations.
Two convictions were secured for ylu-
lations Of the civil service act relating 10
/ political assessments, and several remov-
ais We're made for pernicious political
activity There were also other cases OF
conviction for frauds in examinations.
In one case the guilty party was SEN
fenced TO nine months in prison. In other
cases fines were imposed ranging from
500 10 500 and costs.
The commission dweLs at some length
on the matter of political activity of en-
plOyes, and states that the civil service
law has greatly lesseued abuses of this
kind
Attention is called 10 the distinction
drawn between the action of classified
and unclassihed employees, as indicated in
the rule adopted by the President on
June Is, lg0I which provides that per
sons who by the provisions of these rules
are in the competitive classified service,
while retaining the right 10 vote as they
YI -aTr- 1,afv
opinions on all political subjects. shall
take no active part in political manage
ment or IN political campaigns"
Highest Possible Standard.
The commission states that it is thus
given power to investigate all cases Of
political activity by employees in the COM
petiuve service, and that the standard
now set seems the highest practicable at
this time
Commissioner McIlhenny visited the
South in the spring Of last year, and ex-
planned the operation OF the law and
rules and the nOnpaTtisan basis upon
which appointments are made He found
that through a lack Of information on
this subject most desirable class of per
sons who would render excellent service
were entering private employment Of va
rious kinds rather than seek govern
ment positions
Temporary AppOintmentx.
To appears that 12.g16 temporary ap-
pOintments were made in various branches
Of the service during the year, many for
emergency service; 2.305 from the regis
ters OF the commission Owing 10 the
nature of the work to be done and the
lack OF eHgibles on some Of the registers.
the remaining appointments We're made
without examination
The commission urges the reclassfca-
ton OF employees as recommended by the
Keep Commission, so that the salaries
Of employees may be based upon the grade
Of work done and uniformity of compen-
satiOn thus effected.
Attention Is called to the increasing
practice of TeappOinting fourth-class
postmasters where they are found sat
isfactory. and OF removals for cause
only. The commission invites attention in
this respect TO the Presidents last an
nuaI message. in which be earnestly rec
commended that Congress enact a law pro-
viding fer the classification of these posi-
tiOns.
The report refers to the progress made
in developing the merit system in the
Philippine Islands.
Attention is also called to the new civil
service law passed last year by the legis-