Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1889 — A VIGOROUS DOCUMENT. [ARTICLE]

A VIGOROUS DOCUMENT.

Civil-Service Commissioners Asking for More Money to Carry on the Work. The annual report of the civil service commission for the fiscal year, which closed June 30 last is likely tobe a vigorous document. It will make a strong argument for a competitive system, and , will present the issue squarely whether the law shall be upheld and sustained, or whether it shall oe repealed. The commissioners intend to request of Congress an appropriation adequate to do the work required of them by law and by rules. The appropriation authorized for the present year is only $35,000, but the commissioners will ask that the amount be more than doubled. The clerical work is constantly running behind, and the commissioners are doing the work that ought to be done by subordinates, and more money is imperatively required if the board is not to die of starvation. Additional money is needed, not only to carry on the work of the commission here in Washington, but to give some compensation to the secretaries of local boards who are kept constantly busy registering applications for places and giving information about taking examinations. Neither Gov. Thomson nor Mr. Roosevelt is satisfied with the rule permitting transfers from the ranks of laborers to classified service. They share President Cleveland’s apprehension that the rule may be abused for the purpose of promoting political friends who can not stand out of examination. The rule is a dangerous one, and early next year it will probably be dropped. This matter, however, will not call for treatment in the report, but will merely require the action of the commission and the approval of the President.