THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ין NITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. JANUARY 16, 1885, TO JANUARY 16, 1886. EXECUTIVE MANSION, To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith the report of the Civil Service Commission for the year ended on the 16th day of January last. The exhibit thus made of the operations of the Commission, and the account thus presented of the results following the execution of the Civil Service law, cannot fail to demonstrate its usefulness and strengthen the conviction that this scheme for a reform in the methods of administering the Government is no longer an experiment. Wherever this reform has gained a foothold, it has steadily advanced in the esteem of those charged with public administrative duties, while the people who desire good government have constantly been confirmed in their high estimate of its value and efficiency. With the benefits it has already secured to the public service plainly apparent, and with its promise of increased usefulness easily appreci ated, this cause is commended to the liberal care and jealous protection of the Congress. 2 GROVER CLEVELAND. UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, SIR: We have the honor to submit herewith the third annual report of the United States Civil Service Commission, which covers the year from January 16, 1885, to January 16, 1886. A. P. EDGERTON, Commissioners. The PRESIDENT. 3 Numbers examined for the departmental service Appointments to the departmental service Appointments after probation, &c., in the departmental service A criticism of competitive examinations considered Number of applicants for examination. Dropping applicants from the records. Time and place of holding examinations Promotions and other exceptions from the examinations The Commission has no patronage. When Commission investigates causes of removal Results of enforcing the new system Attitude and views of the President and heads of Departments Who are hostile to the merit system Partisan activity on the part of officers The merit system defeats bureaucracy Public estimate of official life.. APPENDICES. 10r INDEX. Abuses... Page. 16-21 Ages of those examined and appointed, Appendix No. 6, pages 107-115, and . 8,56,66 Branches of the service defined, Appendix No.2, Rule 5, page 80, and. Bureaucracy and monopoly................. Canada and Australia, Civil service reform in Certification and apportionment Classified service, meaning of ............. Commission needs a larger force, &c Competitive examinations, meaning of .......... Conditions of successfully enforcing the law Departmental examinations Discrimination, none on party grounds, Rule 8, page 81, and. Dropping from records .... Education as affected by the civil service law. 37 .14, 15, 107, 116 10, 101 67 .12-14, 27, 30, 32, 34, 102, 103 Education of those examined..... Examinations and appointments in the postal and customs service Examinations, kind and number of ..... Examinations, number of and where held Examiners, number and duties... General examinations..... 7, 8, 107 43, 98, 100 . 12, 13, 107, 108 Grades and subjects of examination, Appendix No. 2, Rule 7, page 80, and... Residence of those examined, Appendix No. 6, Tables 4 and 5, pages 110, 111, and 51 Results reached .24, 57-60 |