Year: 1871

Of the Civil Service; the people demand IT, Congress mas
authorized it, and the President who has no policy to
enforce against the will Of the people has provided the
machinery special commission, with the Hon George
William Curtis its head, and embracing the men best
informed needs Of the service in this city holds
its first session this week Just what its duties are 10
be- yet clear the law under which these gentlemen
are appointed being very explicit and the commissions
issued to them by the President falling TO specify their
particular work The law authorizes the President to
prescribe such rules and regulations for the admission OF
persons into the Civil Service Of the United States as
will best promote the efficiency thereof, and ascertain
the fitness of each candidate in respect TO age, health
character knowledge, and ability for the branch OF the
service into which he seeks TO enter and for this pr-
pose the President is also authorized to employ suit
able persons to conduct such inquiries, to pre-
scribe their duties and to establish regulations for
the conduct Of persons who may receive appointments
in the civil service The President, by appointing this
Commission before he has prescribed the " rules and
regulations" evidently proposes to make It simply an
advisory board assist him in establishing his rules
and regulations" though members of the Commits
sion believe that they to be the suitable persons
whom the President is authorized by the latter portion OF
the law to employ conduct the inquiries concerning the
public servants prescribe the duties and establish regua-
tions the conduct Of persons seeking to enter tho
service of the United States.


TERMS OF THE LAW.


The terms OF the law admit also, of very broad appca





ernmen officials here in Washington expect this proposed
reform extend only to the departments and TO apply
merely to the clerks employed in them. In other words,
they suppose the intention TO be TO perfect the system OF
examinations already established in the departments.
But careful reading Of the law and the fact that such
Civil Service Reformers Messrs. Curtis and Medil
have been appointed the Board must convince one
that more thorough and widespread reform is contem
plated The "rues and regulations" 10 be for the
admission OF persons into the Civil Service, and the
qualifications OF the candidate for the branch OF the
service into which he seeks TO enter" TO be ascer
tanned


Under this law a complete revolution in the system OF
civil appointments throughout the country may be made
standards of intelligence and ability may be established
for every Federal office in the country and Board OF
Examiners" may be sent home to the district OF any
Member Congress TO ascertain the age health char
acter knowledge, and ability for the branch Of the ser
vice" to which he recommends his friends for appoint
ment; they may examine the Hon John Smiths Cross
Roads postmaster to his ability to read his oath OF
Office and 10 write his withouta "mark" and they


NAV search records Of the courts and the prsonros
for the names Of the Hon Peter Joness welghers
and deputy collectors But what the Commission
viii do what instructions the President may give them,
or how they will interpret the law cannot now be
eoniectured. That there will be wide difference Of
opinion among the Commissioners themselves and that
OF the first questions to arise will be what we
and what we 10 do :" II Is safe 10 predict.


NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS.


There is a very erroneous idea prevalent 10 the
manner which cerkships obtained in the Depart
ments here People often met here who believe that
nothing necessary but for the applicant have done
service for the party In power 10 De backed by
a sufficiently strong array OF Congress Inducements In
obtain the first vacant cerkshp and TO succeed
to comfortable desk with living salary and six hours
lOungng day. They have idea that clerk is re
quired have any qualifications" other than political
ones The fact is, however that every clerk who ap
plies position In the Departments ia obliged pass
an examination less rigid. The law requiring
this was approved March s. 1853, and ia as follows:


"No clerk shall he appointed In either OF the four
classes until after he has been examined and found
auahed by Board-to consist Of three examiners, one


them 10 be the Chief OF the Bureau or office into which
he IL to appointed and the others be selected
by the head Of the Department 10 which the said clerk
will be assigned"


This law 10 nominally enforced AL Of the Depart