In the legislature, during the past year, the Spanish war veteran exemption bill, opposed by the Massachusetts Association, was defeated. We strongly urge the idea that, under most, if not all, of our State constitutions, the creation of special privileged classes, either for appointment or removal, violates the fundamental constitutional requirement of equality before the law and, as such, will not be upheld by our courts, if attacked, and at all events violates the American idea of equality of opportunity. On the other hand, the bills of the Massachusetts Association for extending the civil service law to county. appointive offices and higher municipal offices, failed to pass.

In New Jersey, a State Association is being formed, and a bill was passed allowing the mayors of first class cities to apply the competitive system to the fire and police departments. The Commissions appointed to conduct the examinations, besides completing their work, have recommended a general civil service bill for the State and cities.

In Illinois, the "Half Loaf Bill," covering employees in the State charitable institutions, was passed in place of the broader bill urged by the Civil Service Reform Association of that State. William B. Moulton, a member of the Council of this League, was appointed president of the Civil Service Commission under the new law. By another bill, adopted at the last session, 250 positions have been brought within the civil service law in the county service of Cook County. The Citizens' Association of Chicago and the Commission on the Harbor have just united in recommending that bridge tenders be put under civil service rules.

In Wisconsin, a State Association has been organized and a comprehensive law passed, covering the civil service of the State.

In Kansas City, on March 7, a new charter, containing excellent civil service provisions, was defeated when submitted to the people, but no civil service issue or campaign was openly made.

Civil service bills were defeated in Colorado in the upper House after passing the lower, and in Michigan,

after passing both Houses, for want of the signature of the Governor. In Colorado Springs, a Civil Service Reform Association was formed about a year ago.

As to our National League, Mr. Bonaparte, chairman of the Council since 1900, resigned upon being appointed Secretary of the Navy, and resolutions expressing the loss to the League and the gain to the country by the change were adopted and have been printed in our minutes. Mr. Richard H. Dana, of Massachusetts, was elected chairman of the Council at the meeting at which Mr. Bonaparte resigned, July 22, 1905.

Last March, Mr. Richard H. Dana, Mr. Alford W. Cooley and Mr. Elliot H. Goodwin, Secretary of the League, went to Wisconsin and made addresses in behalf of the cause in Milwaukee and in Madison. In the latter city, the legislative chamber was put at their disposal afternoon and evening, most of the members of both branches and the Governor being present; and it is believed these meetings had much to do with the passage of the civil service law soon afterwards.

The Secretary's trip to the Middle West to encourage and arrange civil service operations has been postponed, but he has recently visited Chicago and Wisconsin to advise in establishing regulations and organizing the work of the new Commissions.

The committee on municipal civil service reform has, . in conjunction with the National Municipal League, sent out circular letters to various political reform organizations inquiring of them what attention has been given to the study of reform in the civil service.

The Auxiliaries of Women, and the General Federation of Women's Clubs, have done much active work in circulating petitions and remonstrances for presentation to legislatures, and in holding numerous meetings over the country for addresses and papers on the subject of the merit system, and in circulating literature and encouraging the study of the subject in the public schools, thus doing a propaganda work in our cause to a far greater extent than was ever achieved before their co-operation. The results, direct and indirect, must be of lasting benefit,

and we feel under the greatest obligations for the encouragement and help thus afforded.

As to future work, we ought to secure, in States which have civil service laws, the extension of the merit system to some higher municipal and other positions, now exempted by law, and in Massachusetts to county positions which the statute does not include. We ought to insist on the thorough enforcement of the laws wherever they now exist and to bring about the embodiment of the merit system in the legislation of every other State in the Union. For the National Government, we hope to see the fourth class postmasters, or at least the higher grades of them, put under the merit system. This has been recommended in its recent report by the National Civil Service Commission, and the Commission's great success in the appointment of over 32,000 rural carriers within. a few years, and taking these positions out of patronage, suggests what may be done in those fourth class postoffices at least, which have higher salaries than these rural free delivery carriers. We hope to see the deputy collectors of internal revenue put under the civil service system, and the first, second and third class postmasters, United States consuls, and heads of many departments, except the cabinet officers, put under some system of promotion by merit, or otherwise taken wholly out of politics.

In general, during the past year, the progress of reform has been marked, while the encouragement for further advances and improvements in the near future has never been so great. The League, we believe, is awake to its responsibilities and opportunities, and the public is listening.

Respectfully submitted,

RICHARD HENRY DANA,
Chairman.

Report of the Special Committee upon Removals in the Civil Service.

TO THE COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE REFORM LEAGUE:

THE

HE time intervening since the appointment and organization of this committee has been much too short to permit of a thorough consideration of all phases of the extremely important question of the advisability of restricting the power of removal. Such restrictions as now exist by virtue of the laws regulating the administration. of the civil service of the United States and of various States and cities differ widely in character; the results of each system and its effect upon administration and discipline should be thoroughly canvassed and compared before a final judgment should be entered. In view, however, of the President's recent order and the widespread interest and discussion of the subject which it has aroused, the committee has felt that it was incumbent upon it to report such conclusions as it has been able to reach to the League at its coming annual meeting. This report can then serve as a basis for discussion and for a further and more exhaustive study of the subject. At the same time the committee suggests to the Council the advisability of the continuance of this committee or the appointment of a new Committee on Removals during the coming year.

The rule governing removals in the Federal service prior to its amendment in accordance with the President's order of October 17, read as follows:

I. In making removals or reductions, and in other punishment, penalties like in character shall be imposed for like offenses.

2. No person shall be removed from a competitive position, except for such cause as will promote the efficiency of the public service, and for reasons given in writing, and the person whose removal is sought shall have notice and be furnished a copy thereof, and be allowed a reasonable time for personally answering the same in writing; but no examination of witnesses nor any trial or hearing shall be required, except in the discretion of

the officer making the removal. Copy of such reasons, notice, and answer, and of the order of removal shall be made a part of the records of the proper department or office, as shall also the reasons for any change in rank or compensation, and the Commission shall upon request be furnished with copies or the originals thereof.

3. Any person in the executive civil service who shall wilfully violate any of the provisions of the civil service act or of these rules, shall be removed from the service.

On October 17th President Roosevelt issued the following executive order:

When the President or head of an executive department is satisfied that an officer or employee in the classified service is inefficient or incapable, and that the public service will be materially improved by his removal, such removal will be made without hearing; but the cause of removal shall be stated in writing and filed. When misconduct is committed, in the view and presence of the President or head of executive department, removal may be made summarily without notice.

Since then the Civil Service Commission has redrafted its rules governing removals to conform with the President's order. The rule as it stands to-day reads:

1. In making removals or reductions, and in other punishment, penalties like in character shall be imposed for like offenses.

2. No person shall be removed from a competitive position, except for such cause as will promote the efficiency of the service. When the President or head of an executive department is satisfied that an officer or employee in the classified service is inefficient or incapable and that the public service will be materially improved by his removal, such removal may be made without notice to such officer or employee, but the cause of removal shall be stated in writing and filed. When misconduct is committed in the view and presence of the President or head of an executive department, removal may be made summarily, and no statement of reason need be filed.

3. Where a recommendation for removal or reduction in grade or compensation of an officer or employee is made to the head of an executive department by a bureau chief or other subordinate officer, the said head of department may, in his discretion, require that the person sought to be removed be furnished with a statement in writing of the reasons for such action, and be allowed a reasonable time for personally answering the same.

4. The Civil Service Commission shall have no jurisdiction to investigate any removal unless it is alleged that the procedure required by Section 2 of Rule XII has not been followed, or that the removal was made for political or religious reasons.

The committee understands that certain further