New-York tribune., 1910-02-14
CIVIL SERVICE WORK
ABUSES CORRECTED.
Commissions Report Shoes
Notable .4drances


Washington. Feb. >5S.--The tventy-sixth
annual report OF the United States Civil
Service Commission, which has heen sub
mitted TO President Tan TO be transmitted
&c Congress. shows that the year ended
June go 1902 was one of marked activity
for the commission. as Is shown by the in
PRODUCTION to the report. which Is as fol-
lows:
The year ended on June 80 last was a
period OF marked advance in the work Of
moi merely by the statistics herewith pre-
sented. but also by a diminution in the
abuses which the civil Service act and
rules are intended to remedy. and an in
crcasing complexity and variety of work
needed 10 meet the more exact'ng require
ments of the public sesVGe i,,o,s due to 1t. It's
regarded as impossible of classification
have been classified or otherwise with
drawn from patronage: examinations an, have
been applied with a greater measure OF
success to positions recurring a high de-
gree of professional. scientific or technl-
cal qualifications; political activity on the
part OF employees occupying competitive po
sitions has met with increased corrective
action political assessments cers Hsfe wers eI in
creasingly relieved from opportunities Tor
place.
these and other administrative reforms the
commission desires to express its gratinca-
ton with the practical WORKINGS ,,t ot me .he
Civil Service act and rules, ana Win the
sympathy and support of the President
and appointing officers.
The advances in it's work have made Sc
we're demands the force OF the colnnnis-
sion, and compel more urgent ara en-
phatic appeal for increase in It's appro-
priationS, especially for suitable once
building in which 10 do It's work
The report goes on to show that the
rumber of posts for which examinations
h,- wi
more exacting requirements in appoint
ments increased the compexity and variety
OF the work. Investigations of minor viola
tions of the rules were also more numer-
GUS probably due to the fact that the pro-
visions of the rules are becoming more
widely known and that minor violations
which formerly would have been passed
unnoticed are now reported. The Pres-
DENTAL campaign resulted III more VIOLA
tions against the rule of public ACTIVITY
than usually occur in year, ana greater
severity in punishment has been 'mposed.
The commission obtained one conviction
in the courts for violation of the law lor-
bidding the solicitation of political assess
;nents of federal employees on government
premises. A number Of other cases or po-
,litical activity. Of political assessments or
of discrimination for political reasons We're
Investigated, and appropriate disciplinary
action was enforced by the departments III
thirty-six cases. Other cases are pending
The report shows that there are 3eI.lsi
officers and employees in the executive CIVIL
Service 2S4, ,a4o Of whom are subject to COM
netitive examination under the Civil Ser
vice rules. The number Of original ap-
pointments through competitive exan1ina-
ton as shown was 3saoJ, When promo
tions transfers and Fenstatements are
added the number is Increased 10 1905, and
sppointments to the Philippine service and
those of unsl<illed laborers appointed
through examination under the labor regu-
Iations increase the number to 1890 Three
and one-haf per cent of the appointments
were to professional, scientific or technical
offices. including those requiring economic
training and business ability; Ssls per cent
to clerical and sub-clerical posts, 4s per cent
tc, trades places and per cent to skilled
laborers No appointments were made on
Don-conlpetitive examination except IN
cases of promotion transfer and relnstate-
ment.
Temporary appointments III ~ aShmgtoh'
according TO the report were prlncifaiS
made from registers of eligible persoHs-r In
cases where those eligible could not be cp-
tanned in sufficient time appointments OF
persons
permitted. but the latter were required 70
furnish satisfactory evidences of fitness.
The number OF temporary appointments in
some of the services outside of Washington
Increased on account of the growth of the
various services and their extension i'll
many cases 10 isolated sections, making it
difficult for the commission to furnish eigi-
BILE persons in all cases in sufficient time to
fill as required.
The report saws that the census act pro-
vides for a special test examination, open to
all applicants without regard to political
affiliations to be prescribed by the director
and conducted by the commission. Exam
nations have been held and appointments
are now being made.
The regulations for the appointment of
fourth class postmasters in the fourteen
states affected by the Presidents order
making them subject to examination are in
force and working satisfactorily. Two ex-
anina tons are prescribed, the first for
those offices paying moro than $500 a year,
the second where less than that amount is
paid.
The statement relative to the new regl-
latons for promotion in the customs service
a. New York shows that they were adopted
to meet existing conditions. They provide
for keeping efficiency records aud for pro-
motion of clerks from class TO class in or
der of seniority.
The regulations governing the appoint
ment of unskiIed laborers are shown TO
have continued to operate satisfactorily, re-
ducing the number of cases where persons
appointed as mere unskilled Iaborefs were
improperly assigned 70 classified duties
Reports summarized from states and
which Hp nlRr
show that the movement is spreading.
STRENUOUS WEEK OF PRACTICE,