as to the possible consequences of failing to make such contributions is, I think, shown by the fact that during the year I have not received an application from any one of them asking for information, advice, or instruction on this subject." He says it was not so in past years.

"I am so far from having any dissatisfaction to express with regard to the effect of the new system, that I am convinced its discontinuance or curtailment would be to the last degree injurious to the public interests, and that its continuance is essential to the efficiency of the service here, and consequently I have no objections to submit."

NEWARK, N. J.-The postmaster says, "I have been entirely relieved from solicitation and pressure for office. The character and capacity of those appointed under the rules have been equal to the best in the office. Those appointed under the rules have been faithful and diligent in the fullest sense. The general effect of the new system upon the moral tone

and business has been excellent."

Solicitations for political assessments, he says, have ceased. PHILADELPHIA.-The postmaster says, "Great relief has been experienced from solicitation and pressure for office by reason of the civil service rules. The character and capacity of those appointed under them are equal to those who were appointed prior to the time the rules went into operation. Those who have been appointed appear faithful and diligent in the discharge of their duties. I do not notice any improvement in the moral tone and business efficiency of this office by reason of the operation of the civil service rules, great care having always been taken by me to appoint only such persons as I felt reasonably sure would give good service."

He thinks that the condition as to political assessments is much what it was before. He had not allowed his employés to feel under restraint before.

He says that one of the greatest benefits accruing under the civil service rules is that clerks who have been in the office a long time and were not appointed under the civil service rules feel more secure in their places and can consequently give more attention and better service than when they feared or were threatened with discharge in the case of a possible change in the head of this office.

PITTSBURGH.-The postmaster says, "I have been entirely relieved from solicitation and pressure for office. As far as I can ascertain, the character of those appointed under the rules has been very good. The capacity in some cases has been very good and in other cases it has not been up to the proper standard. All those appointed by me have been faithful and diligent in the discharge of their duties, with the exception of one who was dismissed for drunkenness. The general effect of the new system upon the moral tone and business efficiency of this office has been good."

He says he does not know of a single clerk in his office who contrib

uted money for political purposes, and that the law in that respect was fully complied with.

PROVIDENCE.-The postmaster says there has never been any great solicitation at his office for appointments, and hence there is little change under the new system.

"The character and capacity of those appointed under the rules have been generally satisfactory, and they have been faithful and diligent in the discharge of their duty. I believe that the general effect of the new system upon the moral tone and business efficiency of the office has been good."

He says he has never known of any political assessments having been made on the employés of his office, and therefore there is no change since the civil service act.

ROCHESTER.-The postmaster says, "Solicitation and pressure for office have almost wholly ceased. Appointees have shown fair capacity and good character. A faithful and diligent discharge of their duties by those appointed has been the rule. The general effect of the new system has been good. Contributions for political purposes have been voluntary and less than heretofore."

SAN FRANCISCO.-The postmaster says, "The effect of the law has been to relieve me very largely of solicitation and pressure for office. The present annoyance from this source is not one-fifth of what it was under the old system.

"The character and capacity of those appointed under the civil service rules have been better than under former workings. As a rule, those appointed to place prove faithful and diligent in the discharge of their duties. Out of nearly seventy-five appointments during the past fourteen months, not more than two or three have turned out badly.

"The general effect of the new system upon the moral tone and business efficiency of this office has been the best.

"The prohibition of political assessments," he says, "has resulted in the political independence of every employé of this office.

"Looking back over the entire field, as covered by the operation of the civil service act at this post-office, I have every reason to be pleased with its workings. It has already accomplished more than its most earnest friends hoped for when initiated in San Francisco sixteen months ago. In my judgment it is now beyond the range of experiment and entitled to the recognition and support of all citizens who desire to see reform methods take the place of the older and less responsible system." SAINT LOUIS.-The postmaster says, "The relief brought to the head of an office like this must be very great. The explanation of the working of the civil service law, which I find most applicants require, is a complete answer to their solicitation, and each interviewer is speedily disposed of equally to the satisfaction of the applicant and without the embarrassment of the postmaster.

"The character and capacity of those appointed under the rules have

been excellent and in all respects satisfactory. The fidelity and diligence of those appointed have been all that could be asked.

"It cannot be denied that this office has been largely the gainer in respect of its moral tone and business efficiency. Under the old régime undue pressure might readily result in the employment of men to whom the civil service requirements with respect to reputation, habits, and capacity would be an effective bar."

He says the effect of the prohibition of political assessments has, without doubt, been good. The employé has been made to feel independent in his action under such solicitation by the knowledge of the fact of a law for his protection. But he says it has not successfully prevented certain solicitations coming to employés as individuals from persons outside of the provisions of the law, by which some doubtless have been led in responding to them and others to follow their example.

SAINT PAUL.-The examinations were first conducted at this office in June last. The postmaster says, "I am greatly relieved of importunities for place, especially of a disagreeable kind, where worthless, incompetent, political bummers were put forward by political influence.

"The capacity and character of those appointed after competitive examinations under the rules have been fully equal to, if not better than, those appointed by the postmaster before.

"Those appointed under the law have proved competent, and have been faithful and diligent in their duties thus far. No action has occurred requiring their discharge, or even serious discipline.

"The effect upon the moral tone and business efficiency of the office has unquestionably been good; so also has it been upon the public whom they serve. The letter-carriers who secured their places by open, competitive examinations are better received by the public than are those appointed simply by the will of others."

He says that since 1875 letter-carriers and clerks at his office have, by the discipline of the office, been relieved from political assessments, and there has been no marked change under the new law in that respect.

He says that on coming to his office in 1875 he became satisfied that no competent service could be secured under the old system of appointments, and he required all appointees to enter at the lower grades, the higher being gained only by promotion. Those in his office now occupying the highest places entered at the lowest, and for ten years the incentive for promotion has been kept before the working force of his office and its effects have been admirable.

WASHINGTON.-The postmaster says that upon the expiration of the six months probationary period he has made the appointments permanent, and in some cases has already promoted civil service clerks to higher grades.

"On the whole satisfactory results have been obtained."

COLLECTORS, NAVAL OFFICERS, APPRAISERS, AND SURVEYORS.

BALTIMORE.-1. THE COLLECTOR says he sees no reason to change the opinion which he expressed in his letter of a year ago, when he said, "One beneficial effect has been very apparent. The time of the collector is no longer largely occupied by applicants for office and their friends, and the legitimate duties of his office receive his attention, an agreeable change to him as well as to importers and others having business relations with him.

"In all, nine probationary appointments under the law have been made in my office; of these, six have completed their probation and have been permanently appointed, one having resigned previous to the expiration of his probation to accept a more remunerative position, and two still remaining on probation.

"The character and capacity of those permanently appointed are fully equal to those of other efficient officers and clerks in faithfulness and diligence in the discharge of their official duties. Those who have been appointed under competitive examination have been fully up to the best official standard."

He says that the general efficiency of the clerks in his office has for some time been good, and for that reason, he sees no very noticeable change, except that the additional security of tenure afforded by the new system has increased the efficiency of those holding places under him and is a fresh incentive to faithful services.

He says the payment of assessments at his office had formerly been considered obligatory. That he had not before the passage of the act permitted them to be enforced, and that since the act he has taken special pains to have it understood that his subordinates would not be in anywise prejudiced if they did not pay assessments. The law has caused the clerks to give better attention to their official duties.

He expresses the opinion that it would be better not to have the limitation of forty-five years of age for entering the customs service.

2. THE NAVAL OFFICER says he has only six clerks and there has been no vacancy in his office. He says that "when it was supposed that the naval officer had the power of appointment there were more than six hundred applicants for the six clerkships in this office. Since that impression has been removed there have been less than a dozen applicants for the same office."

3. THE SURVEYOR says, "This office has been very greatly relieved from the annoyance of solicitation and pressure for office by both applicants and their friends, who, in most cases, had been very solicitous in their importunities, taking up much valuable time which should have been bestowed upon the details of business.

"The character and capacity of those appointed under the civil service rules, so far as my observation extends, have been fully equal to

those hitherto appointed, and, with rare exceptions, they have been faithful and diligent in the discharge of their duties.

"The general effect of the new system upon the moral tone and business efficiency of this office has been very good."

Concerning political assessments, he says that no change has taken place, as no such assessments have been countenanced since his entry upon the duties of his office, either before or since the passage of the act.

"The indications are that the enforcement of the new system cannot fail to meet the highest expectations of every patriotic supporter of a reformed civil service."

BOSTON.-1. THE COLLECTOR says, "I have been entirely relieved from solicitation and pressure for offices within the classified service.

"The character and capacity of those appointed under the rules appear to be good, although the length of service has hardly been sufficient to afford a conclusive test. All those appointed have been faithful and diligent in the discharge of their duties.

"The general effect of the new system upon the moral tone and business efficiency of this office has undoubtedly been good. The system has, however, wrought no marked change in this respect, since it has been understood from the beginning of my administration that every official who was honest, competent, and efficient in his duty was as secure in his place as he could possibly be under any civil service system." He says he has no knowledge of the effect of the prohibition of political assessments.

2. THE APPRAISERS say, "We have been relieved wholly, we may say, from solicitation and pressure for office since the law went into effect, and we can say that the character and capacity of those appointed under the rules have been good and acceptable, and they have been faithful and diligent in the discharge of their duties. The effect of moral tone of the new system upon the business efficiency of the office has been good." The prohibition of political assessments, they say, has had the desired effect, for they know of no contribution for political purposes since the date of the act.

"We take pleasure in expressing our unqualified satisfaction and approval of the working and effect of this beneficent law."

BURLINGTON, VT.—THE COLLECTOR says, "I have been greatly relieved from solicitation for office. The character and capacity

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of those appointed under said rules in this district have been satisfactory, as such appointees have been faithful and diligent in the discharge of their duties, and, in my judgment, the general effects of such appointments have been beneficial to the customs service."

He says he is not aware of any violation of the law against political assessments.

CHICAGO. THE COLLECTOR says, "Solicitation and pressure for ap pointments for office have been greatly diminished.