Civil Service Reform

The depth and brea'lth of tiio proposcd civil service reform was illufltratcd in tho professions of the Prosident's special message to Cougress. Today tbey are fulfilled in tho slight cxtent thoy cover by orders issuod by hini to the old cotnmigsion requesting theiu to i-eassomble hero ncxt week asan ad vi.-iory board to supervise and regúlate all exauiinations for appointmcnts to the civil servico. In aceordaiioe with. tho suggestion of the commission the President will also appoint as a íegular cxainining boanl thrro persons froni each of thi departments of the govennnent, who will personally conduct all examinations of applicants, being governed in their actions by such regulatious as may be froni time to time established by the advisory board, It is probable that the duties of tho la tter board willnot uc uvii as to require a coutinuous session. but that it will only be nnnonnnry for them to uiect at stated seasons. Tho proposed reform, it will thus be seen, is entirely prospectivo, and does not apply, except in filling vacancies and in promotion, to the present condition of the service. For instance, it cannot work a single reform in the New York or New Orleans Custonihouses. Secretary Boutwell issued a circular letter to-day to collectors of customs, requiring them to select a board to examine all applicants for future appointments in accordance with the rules provided by the Civil Service Commission ; but all such examinations in detail or result are to be subniitted for approval to tho Secretary. Other Cabinet officnrs will probably issue similar orders in a day or two. There is no telling, however, where all tho exccptions to tho application of these rules will end. The wholo detective force of the secret servico of the Treasury, it was decided to-day, need not come within the rules. One of the rules prepared by the Civil Service Commission and adopted by tho President requires that all postmasters hereafter appointed, whose salaries may ainount to $200 per annum or over, shall be subject to test of competitivo examination. A list has now been completed in the Post Offioo Department showing that the total nümber of such offices is 5,109. When vacancies occur in the larger offices the rule of promotion is to be applied if any subordínate thurein is found to bo fitted after examination. In case of failure to pass oxamination, or absence of subordinatcs desiring promotion, tho office will be open for publie oompetition. In addition to this class of offices t.lic books of the department show that there are about twenty-five thousand postmasters whose salaries do not amount to two hundred dollars per annum. Thoso appointments will continue to bo made upon simple applications supjiorted by testimoniáis of character satisfactory to the Postmaster-General. A lare proportion of the places are being held merely for the accommodation of the people. About one Jialf of the total number of Ipostmasters receive a compensation not