East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-03-15
TAFT PRAISES CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION
PRESIDENT MAKES ANNUAL
REPORT TO CONGRESS
Declares Commission Is Indispensable
to Economy and Efficiency in Gov
ornamental Affairs.

mas transmitted " COiBiSSS Nv
twenty-seventh annual report of the
civil service commission. The report
states that the increasing effectiveness
of the merit system has strengthed
the public conviction that it is indis-
pensable to economy and efficiency in
governmental affairs. 1t is shown
that the examination system tends to
lessen the number of employees re-
duired under similar conditions by
raising the standard Of efficiency and
at the same time facilitates the extern
sion Of governmental activities to new
fields by furnishing the best practi-
cable means Of testing qualifications
for scientific, technical and profess
sional work.
A better spirit Of cooperation on
the part of administrative officers
and the public is noted, thus render
ing civil service administration more
effective. Economies have been eff
fected in the use Of registers, fewer
persons being examined although
more were appointed than in the pre-
vious year.
ne ItDplA EllDNs DofH'oD
in the executive civil service, 222,17S
of whom are in the competitive clas-
sified service. The number Of COM
| petitive classified positions, which
does not include mechanics and la
| borers at navy yards, is shown to have
increased by 54SS. on the other hand
an opinion of the attorney general
rendered during the year, that me-
chanics and laborers at navy yards
are not classified though they have
been so regarded. gives an apparent
decrease by taking them from the
figures Of the year. The commission
urges the classification by executive
! order of these navy-yard employees,
! showing that the classification of sim
| liar positions in other parts of the
service Is beneficial, and that the ma
vy-yard mechanics are performing
duties whose classification was con-
~templated by the rules.
Army Of Appointces.
Including transfers, promotions and
reinstatements, there We're. according
to the report, 43 5S5 persons appoint
ed through examination in the fed
eral service during the year, while
transfers M reinstatements without
examination to the Philippine service
and to unskilled laborer positions
brings the number up to as, 2O2.
1t is shown that the large number
Of clerks in washington required for
the recent census were readily sup
piled through the examination sys-
TEN.
The recent classification by execu'
tive order of assistant postmasters anC
OF clerks in certain first-class post
offices is noted with satisfaction, il
being shown that other like positions
have been advantageously treated al
classified.
The report calls attention to the
pronounced tendency to fill the higher
federal positions through promotion
of persons in the service and further
shows remarkable progress in the
general application Of the merit sys'
TEN and the acceptance of this meth
cd of selection of the personnel o
government organizations which ha'
been adopted by more than w hun
;, Legislation Desired.
dred cities and six state governments
The commission joins with TIL
president and the postmaster genera
in recommending legislation to permi
the classification of first, second ant
third class postmasters and support
earnestly the presidents recommends
ton to congress that he be given pow
er to classify local officers whose az
pointments are now subject to CON
firmation by the senate, favoring tn
classification of all except those re
sponsible for the policy of the admin
istration.
The commission urges Legislation
looking to increased efficiency in Z.
service, especially a reclassificatlo
of salaries in accordance with tn
Q work performed, with enough grade
to insure frequent promotions, som
provision for retirement, n promo
ton on merit to the higher positions
In its argument for a reclassifica
ton of salaries the commissro
states that the present classificatio
was adopted in 1853 under dii
ferent conditions and shows the II
equalities resulting at the preser
time. Such a Redistribution 6
that recommended by the Keep con
mission, which was reported favo'
ably to the house Of representative
by the committee or departmei
methods, is favored by the commissrc
and is considered prerequisite to II
establishment of any uniform plan
promotion on merit. After such a r.
. classification the commission favo
20 promotions in the service on the has
of efficiency records kept and ha
10 monized by a supervisory body.
z Satisfaction is expressed with q
results of the application Of the mel
20 system to the diplomatic and consul
20 services by presidential order and Il
20 commission is heartily in accord wi
President Taft in his desire, expires
ed in his recent message, that I
system be adopted by law.
The portion of the report dealt
- with political activity of employ
shows an increase in the number
cases investigated by the commlsslc
most of them Of a minor charact
which it ascribes to increased fact
ties for detecting violations. fuller
operation of the departments, a
greater public sympathy, rather tn
a growth in actual number. 1t rc
: ommends the extension of the restr