Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-15
RULES NOT AT FAULT
Why Unfit Men Are Kept in
Government Positions.
CHIEF OFFICIALS BLAMED
Authority Of the Civil Service Com
mission Restricted.
ANNUAL REPORT SUBMITTED
Policy Followed in Making Tenn
porary Appointments in
Washington.
ANNUAL REPORT SUBMITTED

The report Of the civil service commits
sion for the year ending June 80. 1909,
who has been submitted to the President
for transmittal to Congress, contradicts
the impression that unfit men are pro
tected by the rules and shows that
where such men are retained in the sery-
ice the fault Is with the head of the de-
partment or the supervising officer, and
not with the rules, since the only re-
strictions made by the rules on the power
Of removal are that like penalties shall
be imposed for like offenses, that re-
movals shall not be made except for
such cause as will promote the efficiency
Of the service, and that the cause of re-
moval shall be stated i'm writing and fled
The rule is intended to prevent removals
upon secret charges and for political or
religious reasons. The commission has
no authority under the rules to investi-
gate removals unless the procedure re-
quired has not been followed or unless
the removal was for political reli-
gious reasons
Extent of the Service.
The report shows that there are 367. 1874
civil service, 2S4. $40 subject to competitive
examinations under the civil service rules
Three and one-half per cent of the ap-
pointments were to professional, scientific
or technical positions. including those re-
curing economic training and business
ability; 391s per cent to clerical and sub
clerical positions, 40 per cent to trades
positions and 8 per cent to skilled laborer
positions. No appointments were made on
nOn-competitive examination except in
cases of promotion. transfer and REIN
statement.
Temporary Appointments.
Temporary appointments in this city
were principally made from registers Of
not be obtained in SUFFICIENT time appoint
ments of persons who had not been eX-
amined were permitted, but the latter
were required to furnish satisfactory ev-
licences of fitness. The number of tenn
pOrary appointments in some OF the serv-
ices outside OF Washington increased on
account of the growth of the various
services and their extension in many
cases to isolated sections. making 1t diff
cult for the commission to furnish eligi-
bles in all cases in sufficient. time to I'LL
vacancies as soon as required.
The heads of the various departments
were requested to impress upon appoint
ing officers the fact that temporary en-
ployes should be retained only SO long
as the needs of the service actually re-
Qulre. me spirit OF cO-OpeIdtOn HdHi-
tested by the departments and the re-
sulting decrease in the number and av-
erage duration Of temporary appoint
ments have been gratifying.
The District System.
The adoption Of the district system is
shown to have greatly facilitated the
work OF disseminating information and of
meeting the needs of the local services
and correcting abuses. Under this sys-
tenn the commission is kept in touch
with local appointing officers and the
general public through district secre-
taries, located at points of vantage. each
having jurisdiction over designated ter
ritory. and local boards of examiners
the contrx snd arous o o sS over