NEW YORK, February 12, 1887. Hon. JOHN JAY, President Civil Service Commission of the State of New York: SIR. The board of examiners for positions under the board of excise in the city of New York, respectfully report: That during the year 1886, forty-eight applicants for the position of inspector of excise were referred to them by your board. Of these, forty were approved as "qualified," five were rejected as "not qualified" and one was adjudged ineligible for the position by reason of his not having been a resident of this State for the two years immediately preceding his application as called for by the rules. The remaining two were laid over for further consideration. A list of these candidates, with the action taken upon them, and the respective dates of such action, accompanies this report. How many of the candidates thus approved by this board have been actually appointed by the Commissioners of Excise is unknown to us. As compared with the preceding year, a marked improvement has been observed by this board in the general character and intelligence of the candidates who have presented themselves before us, an evidence as we view it, of a higher standard set by the Commissioners of Excise for the requirements of the position. The examinations held by this board, have thus far been exclusively of the kind designated under the rules as non-competitive, each candidate standing entirely upon his individual merits. The duties of the position of inspector are such as call for the posession of sobriety, courage, good judgment, freedom from any suspicion of being subject to mercenary or other corrupt influences that might be employed to induce him to swerve from his proper course, and certain other moral qualities which cannot be determined by a written examination, but which can be judged of only by taking into account the applicant's antecedents, personal habits and his moral sense, so far as this can be judged of by the answers he makes to the several questions propounded to him, and by his general bearing, tending as it does, to inspire confidence in the man, or otherwise, as the case may be. To these qualities should be conjoined good physical condition, and a capacity for making clear, comprehensive and intelligent reports to his superior officers on the various matters referred to him. In coming to a conclusion as to the fitness of any candidate there must, therefore, be on the part of the examining board some such a faculty as would be exercised by an intelligent jury in weighing the varied and ofttimes conflicting evidence presented for their consideration. The reasons for the conclusions reached cannot always be given, nor would it be discreet to embody them in writing as they might otherwise serve as a bar to the applicants obtaining other and less responsible positions. It has been our effort in every case to impress on those passing under review a sense of their responsibility in assuming these duties, the rightful performance of which is of such great importance to the community. In conclusion this board desires to reiterate its desire to co-operate with the State Commission in carrying into effect any and every suggestion that shall be deemed by them conducive to the public good. Very respectfully submitted, S. HASTINGS GRANT, Board of Examiners. 49TH CONGRESS, 2D SESSION. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 5 REPORT No. 3997. SALARIES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS. FEBRUARY 8, 1887.- Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed. MR. MITCHELL, from the Committee on Reform in the Civil Service, submitted the following report: [To accompany bill H. R. 10222.] The Committee on Reform in the Civil Service, to whom was referred House bill 10222, in regard to the increase of the pay of the Civil Service Commissioners from $3,500 to $5,000, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report it back to the House with the recommendation that it be passed without amendment. A brief review of the facts connected with fixing these salaries at $3,500 and the labors now imposed on these commissioners is believed to be sufficient to convince any impartial mind of the justice of this measure. The act to regulate and improve the Civil Service of the United States was approved January 16, 1883, and under this act their salaries were fixed as they now stand, and they are also allowed necessary traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of duties as commissioners. At the time of the ratification of this act, the measure was regarded simply as tentative, and it was believed that the commissioners' duties would be comparatively light and would not require their presence at the capital half of their time. So far from this expectation being realized, Civil Service Reform has become one of the fixed institutions of this country, and its necessity is recognized by its opponents as well as by its advocates. All now agree that "public office is a public trust," and should be bestowed and exercised for the public good and not for private ends. Every intelligent man admits that the Civil Service of the government depends upon the qualifications of the officer for the position he fills, and not the mere political opinions he may entertain. It is not intended to interfere with or destroy parties, which are believed to be essential to the faithful and honest administration of government. One party is necessary to look after and criticise the short-comings of the other. But parties should be based on principle, and not the cohesive power of public plunder. A public servant should be held to a faithful discharge of his public duty, and not held as the henchman to do dirty work. For a candidate to pay money for his election is confessedly bribery, and to purchase his preferment by the promise of office is in every sense political bribery. It is not expected nor desired that the party in power should not reward its adherents. It is but the popular decree issued at the ballot-box. The appointing power and the responsibility for selection should be left where the laws have placed it, and those in authority should not be harassed by intermediaries urging the appointment of their henchmen and partisans. No reformer will dispense with political parties, nor with their efficient organization for all legitimate purposes. It is a false assumption to claim that they have no higher aim or object than the mere fruits of office. The British Civil Service has been freed from partisan control, and yet no more bitter, active, or unrelenting political contest has been witnessed in that kingdom than was seen in their last election. The Civil Service law existed in this country during our last presidential election, and yet for bitterness, unscruplousness, and personal detraction its like had not theretofore been seen. That the public service has been purified and elevated by the efforts of the Civil Service Commissioners, aided and sustained as they have been by the president, cannot be successfully denied. That the clerical service is being rendered more and more efficient is sincerely believed to be true. To accomplish this, the whole time of the Commissioners is required in the discharge of their unpleasant duties- unpleasant because they are compelled to resist the importunities and complaints of friends, the mistrust and cavils. of their opponents, and the denunciations of the many who may fail to secure positions. The Civil Service law is the great breakwater to many politicians, who employ it as an excuse for failure to secure positions for friends, and sometimes unjustly attack the law and those who execute it. The duties of the Commissioners extend throughout the thirtyeight States and Territories of the Union. They have to supervise the examination and employment of about 15,000 employees, which requires the exercise of mind, tact and energy. They are the hardest worked and most poorly paid of any officers of the government, when their responsibilities and duties are considered. As this reform has come to stay, it is highly important that the best talent should be placed at the command of the president in order to secure the services of such men as are willing to fill the office for a reasonable compensation, and not accept the position merely through the hope of filling it temporarily as a stepping-stone to future preferment; for the character of the Commissioner, the ability and disinterestedness with which he discharges his duty, and the ardor with which he may enlist in the cause will go far towards elevating the service, and render it more efficient by the knowledge derived from experience which contented and faithful service alone can render. APPENDIX F. CIVIL SERVICE STATUTES, AMENDED RULES, REGULATIONS, ETC.-STATE ACT, RULES, REGULATIONS, ETC. ORGANIZATION OF THE NEW YORK CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. Commissioners.-John Jay, New York; Augustus Schoonmaker, Kingston; Henry A. Richmond, Buffalo. Officers, etc. President, John Jay; Chief Examiner, James E. Morrison; Secretary, Clarence B. Angle; Stenographer, Clerk, John C. Birdseye. General office in Capitol, Albany. General Board of Examiners at Albany. - Hiram E. Sickels, Chairman; Charles W. Cole, Willis E. Merriman, Richard G. Milks, Charles V. Hooper, Secretary. THE CIVIL SERVICE STATUTES. AN ACT to regulate and improve the Civil Service of the State of New York (chap. 354), passed May 4, 1883, as amended by chapter 357, passed May 24, 1884, and chapter 410, passed May 29, 1884. SECTION 1. The governor is authorized to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, three persons, not more than two of whom shall be adherents of the same party, as Civil Service Commissioners, and said three commissioners shall constitute the New York Civil Service Commission. They shall hold no other official place under the State of New York. The governor may remove any commissioner; and any vacancy in the position of commissioner shall be so filled by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, as to conform to said conditions for the first selection of commissioners. The three commissioners shall each receive a salary of two thousand dollars a year. And each of said commissioners shall be paid his necessary traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of his duty as a commissioner. 2. It shall be the duty of said commission: First. To aid the governor, as he may request, in preparing suitable rules for carrying this act into effect; and when said rules |