Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1884 — CIVIL SERVICE. [ARTICLE]

CIVIL SERVICE.

Extracts from the, Voluminous Report of the Civil-Service Commission. Die Evils of the Spoils System Set Forth and a Good Word Spoken for the Common Schools. The following- message was sent to Congross on the 29th ult.: To the Senate and House of Representatives: In compliance with an act of Congress approved Jan. 16. 1883, entitled “An act to regulate and improve the civil service of the United Sta es,“ the Civil Service Commission has made to the President its first annual report. That report ig herewith transmitted, together with a communication from the heads of the several executive departments of the Government respee ing the practical working of the law under which the commission lias been acting. Upon the good results which that law has Already accomplished I congratulate Congress and the people, and I avow my conviction that it will henceforth prove to be of still more signal benefit to the public service. I heartily commend the zeal and fidelity of the Commissioners and thc-ir suggestions for mrther legislation, and I advise the making of such appropriation as shall be adequate for their needs. Chester A. Arthur. Executive Mansion, Feb. 29,1884. The report makies a volume of sixty-seven closely printed pages. It states that the several results which appear to be the more direct objects of tho law and (civil service rules, as understood by the commission, are: —l. That official authority and influence must no longer be used to impair the freedom of elections, or coerce the political action of cltl- ! zens. j 2. Extortion from those in public service, | whether under the form of political assessments | or otherwise) for the purpose of paying- the ex- | penses of parties or candidates, must come to an end. ; 3. Selections for executive sjrvice on the basis of official favor and partisan influence must be suppressed by requiring examinations aai other adequate tests of character and capacity as conditions for entering this service. 4. Tlie true responsiblity and independence of the Legislative and Executive Departments under the Constitution must be restored aud preserved. Upon the subject of political assessments the report says thero have been several violations of the law, but only trifling sums cured, and the illegal practice ceased upon public attention being called to it. The amount collected from Federal officers since the act went into effect is not more than onehalf or one-fourth as much as formerly. The evils of the spoils system are set forth at gTeat length, ana the benefits derived lrom competitive examinations fully' described. The difficulty- attending the classification of eivd service is dwelt upon at length, and the statement made that at large offices tho power aud opportunity for intrigue and selfish influence are dangerously great. In the throe branches of tho classified service the number of- places to be filled on the basis ot competitive examinations is, in the aggregate, 13,924. Tho increase since made In the classified service carries the number above -TLOuO. The opinion is expressed that a sal-, utary effect would follow the selection of chiefs of bureaus, postmasters, and collectors at the larger offices from among subordinates who would bring business experience rather than partisan activity to those positions. Tho report states that soldiers and sailors honorably discharged by reason of disutility, if capable, are allowed preference, and nowhere )s thord any favor or advantage allowed by reason of sex. The commission hold that the powor of removal and its exercise for just reasons are essent.al both to the discipline and efficiency of the-put,lie service. A life tenure would be indefensible. It is still possible, says the roport, to promise the spoils of 100,000 offices as rewards for party vietory.in a national canvass. It is still possible to remove every person in tho classified service once In four ydars or once in four months, but the vacancies can be tilled only- by those who, irrespective of party, demonstrate superiority in a free and open competition of character and capacity. It appears from the statistics presented with the report that 05 per cent, of all those who entered the service through competitive examinations were educated iu the common schools alone, and the commission considered it unquestionable that tho nation by bestowing its offices upon the most moritoriousiof those whom the States have educated at public expense will greatly honor and stimulate the public school system of tho country. The report gives extracts from a large number I of letters received from Postmasters and Collectors, showing great benefit has accrued to the public service by tho enforcement of tho civil service rules. It Is suggested that party test should be no longer applied in the selection of Collectors and Postmasters, and that every corrupt exercise of power, nomination, promotion, transfer, or confirmation, even though the corrupt consideration may not be thing of value,” should be an offense under the bribery laws. The commission, in conclusion, declare the ■ civil service act a success, and do not doubt that the- most difficult point has passed.