Year: 1871

DER L06 5uIHOf1Iy airca0y mcntlOQoQ viii De
faithfully executed; but they are not bind
ing without further legislation, on my sue
cessors. Being desirous of bringing this
subject to the attention of Congress before
the approaching recess | have not time su-
fficient to examine the accompanying report
to enable me to suggest definite Legislative
action. To insure the support which viii
be necessary in order to give a thorough
trial to the policy long needed ask for all
the strength which Congress can give me to
enable me to carry out the reforms in civil
service recommended by the Commissioners
and adopted to take effect as before stated on
Jan. /, 1872. The law which provides for
the convening of the commission to devise
rules and regulations for reforming the civil
service, authorizes, think, the permanent
organization of a Board under whose
general directions all examinations of
applicants for public Office should
be conducted. There is no appropri-
alton to continue such Board beyond
the termination of its present labors. l
therefore recommend that proper appro-
priation be made to continue the services
of the present Board for another year, and
in view of the fact that three members of
the Board hold positions in the public
service which precludes them from receiv-
ing extra compensation under existing laws,
that they receive their compensation for
extra service rendered in the performance
Of this duty. q. S. GRANT.


Executive Mansion.


Report.


The Civil Service Commissioners after
stating the act under which they were COM
mission to enter upon sketch of the poll
cy of the various administrations in the
earlier history of the government with re-
gard to appointment to civil service, and
briefly note the various efforts made from
time to time to correct evils, and then pass
to description Of the present condition Of
the civil service, which has hitherto been
sustained by common consent, setting forth
in detail the serious and threatening evils of
the present practice of treating the inferior
posts of the administration as party prizes,
and rebutting the various arguments by
which 1t is sought to be justified.
They say that if by an examination
for admission to civil service nothing were
understood but a test of mere literary pro-
fciency, it might be reasonably opposed as
unsatisfactory, for it is unquestionable that
man might be an excellent appraiser of
linen and yet know nothing of history or
accounts; but on the other hand it is equally
undeniable that an excellent appraiser of
| linen is not less excellent because of general
intelligence. OF two excellent accountants
one who has the most central knowledge is
certainly preferable, and country which
declares that where technical skill is equal
it will select the candidate for its service
| who is the better educated, is a country
which directs and practically encourages
intelligence and morality. 1t is true that
certain distinguished men in the public
service might not have passed certain
literary examination which is now required
of young men entering the same service,
but it is equally true that the older men
could have passed an examination had it in
their case been required and the proof is
their capacity of which their present distinc-
ton is the evidence.


The following are tie rules subnhed
by the Commissioners


No. l. No person shall be admitted to
any position in civil service within the sp-
pointment of the President or the heads of
departments, who is not citizen of the
| United States, who shall not have furnished
satisfactory evidence in regard to character,
health and age, and who shall not have
passed satisfactory examination in speak
ing, reading and writing the English Ian
guage.


2. An advisory Board of suitable persons
to be employed by the President under the
9th section of act, March 3, 1871, shall so
far as practicable group the positions in
each branch of the civil service accordingtO
character of duties to be per formed, and
shall grade each group from the lowest to
the highest for the purpose Of promotion
within the group. Admission to the civil
service shall always be to the lowest grade
Of any group and to such positions as can
| not be grouped or graded admission shall
be determined as provided for the lowest
grade.


| 8. A vacancy occurring in the lowest grade
| of any group of offices shall be filled, after
due notice, from all applicants who shall
present themselves and who shall have fur
nished evidences and satisfied the prelimin-
airy examination already mentioned, and who
shall havepassed public competitive exam
| ination to test their knowledge, ability and
! special qualifications for the performance of
! the duties of the office. The Board con-
| Quoting such competitive examination shall
prepare, under the supervision of the Ad-
visory Board, list Of names of applicants
| in the order Of their excellence as proved by
| such examination, beginning with the high
est, and shall then certify to the nominat-
| ing or appointing power as the case may be,
the names standing at the head Of such list,
not exceeding three, and from the names of
| these certified the appointment shall be
\ made.


! 4. A vacancy occurring in group of officers
above the lowest shall be filed by COM
| petitive examination of applicants from the
other grades of that group, and a list of
names from which the appointment is to be
made shall be prepared and certified as pro-
vided in the preceding rule; but if no such
applicants are found competent the appoint
ment shall be upon an examination of all
| applicants, conducted in accordance with
| the provision for admission to the lowest
grade.


8. Applicants certified or otherwise quail
! fled for appointment as the cashiers of Col
lectors of Customs, cashiers of Assistant
! Treasurers, cashiers Of Postmasters, super
| intendent of the money order division in
/ postoffices, and such other custodians of
! large sums of money as may be hereafter
| designated by the advisory board, and for
whose peculiarly fidelity another officer is
responsible, shall nevertheless not be ap-
pointed except with the approval of such
| officer.


@. Postmasters whose annual salary is
less than 500 may be appointed, upon writ
| ten request of the applicant, with such evi-
! dence of character and fitness as shall hs
satisfactory to the head of the department.


Z. The appointment of all persons enter
ing the civil service in accordance with
these regulations, excepting persons ap-
! pointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, ap-
/ pointments of postmasters and persons ap-
| pointed to any position in foreign country,
| shall be made for a probationary term of
! six months, during which the conduct and
| capacity Of such persons shall be tested,
and if at the end of such probationary
term satisfactory proofs of their fitness shall
have been furnished by the board of exam
/ liners to the head Of the department in
which they shall have been employed dur
| ing said term, they shall be reappomted.


s. The President will designate three
persons in each department of the public
service to serve as board of examiners,
under the supervision Of the advisory board
and under regulations to be prescribed by
it. st such times and places as it may deter