class gained office. The phrases "merit service" and "merit system" have reference to the means by which persons have gained office as opposed to the spoils system. The civil service is five times more extensive in numbers than the whole force of the Army and Navy combined, as authorized by existing laws. Of the nearly 200,000 officers and employés within the civil service employed in the public offices in discharge of the public business throughout the United States, 69,000 are postmasters, 40,000 serve in other capacities in the postal service, and 22,000 are laborers or workmen. The remaining number are employed in a great diversity of duties in the legislative, executive, and judicial departments of Government. Of this entire service about one-fourth in point of numbers and more than onehalf in importance and in salaries are classified for the purpose of the examinations under the civil-service act and rules. The purpose of the civil-service act, as declared in its title, is "to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States." It provides for the appointment of three Commissioners, a chief examiner, a secretary, and other employés, and makes it the duty of the Commission to aid the President as he may request in preparing suitable rules for carrying the act into effect; to make regulations for and control the examinations provided for, and supervise and control the records of the same, and to make investigations and report upon all matters touching the enforcement and effect of the rules and regulations. The service classified under the act, to which it and the rules apply, and for which examinations are required, is divided into five distinct branches: (1) The departmental service at Washington; (2) the customs service; (3) the postal service; (4) the railway mail service; and, (5) the Indian service. Certain of the places within the classified service are excepted from examination by the civil-service rules and may be filled, in the discretion of the appointing officers, without examination. A few other places may be filled by noncompetitive examination, the appointing officer nominating the person to be examined, the Commission determining the character of and conducting the examination, but the great mass of the places are filled by competitive examination. In the act of March 3, 1853, it was provided that "the clerks in the Departments of the Treasury, War, Navy, Interior, and Post-Office shall be arranged in four classes;" the act of March 3, 1855, added to this list the State Department. Under the Revised Statutes of 1874 (Title IV), the compensation of these four classes was fixed at $1,200 per annum for class one, $1,400 for class two, $1,600 for class three, and $1,800 for class four. Under later appropriation bills, the new grades of $900 and $1,000 clerkships have been created. The "Agricultural Department" is not included among those mentioned in the acts of 1853 and 1855. This classification, existing under the Revised Statutes, was made the basis of the various departmental classifications under the civil-service act of 1883. In the civil-service act of 1883, the Secretary of the Treasury was directed, "in as near conformity as may be to the classification now existing under the one hundred and sixty-third section of the Revised Statutes, to arrange in classes the several clerks and persons employed by the collector, naval officer, surveyor, and appraisers, or either of them, or being in the public service, at their respective offices, in each customs district where the whole number of said clerks and persons shall be all together as many as fifty." A similar classification was made incumbent upon the Postmaster-General, in all post-offices "where the whole number of persons employed amounts to fifty." A new classification uniform for all the Departments at Washington was made by direction of the President on June 29, 1888, and is the one now in force. The classifications in detail are shown in the following pages. About 3,000 postmasters and 1,500 others are of that class which are required by law and by the Constitution to be confirmed by the Senate. By the Constitution and the acts of Congress passed in pursuance of the authority granted by the Constitution, the appointment of all the other officers is vested in the heads of Departments or in the courts of law. The number actually authorized to be appointed by the courts of law is very small, extending no further than to the officers of the several courts. The secretaries and heads of the Executive Departments usually select their immediate subordinates, and hold the power of rejection or of confirmation over nominations by local officers. Generally in the civil service removals are unrestrained by the Constitution and the laws, except that under the civil-service act and rules a removal may not be made for a refusal to pay a political assessment, to perform a political service, or to be coerced in political action. 1. THE DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE. The classified departmental service includes the eight Executive Departments, the Civil Service Commission, the Department of Labor, and the Fish Commission, and embraces all the officers, clerks, and other employés in these Departments and Commissions, except those appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and those employed merely as messengers, watchmen, workmen, or laborers. The places within this service are at Washington, except that the classification of the War Department embraces the offices of the several depot quartermasters; that of the Post-Office Department, post-office inspectors, and the agents and employés at postal note, postage stamp, postal card, and envelope agencies; that of the Interior Department, pension examiners; that of the Department of Agriculture, the observers in the weather service; that of the Navy Department, the assistants at branch hydrographic offices, that of the Fish Commission, fish-culturists and other employés at stations, and that of the Department of Labor, special agents. CLASSIFICATIONS: The existing classification of each of the Departments was made on June 29, 1888, and is as follows: By direction of the President of the United States, and in accordance with the third clause of section 6 of the act entitled "An act to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States," approved January 16, 1883. It is ordered, That the officers, clerks, and other employés of this Department be, and they are hereby arranged, in the following classes, viz: Class A, all persons receiving an annual salary of less than $720, or a compensation at the rate of less than $720 per annum. Class B, all persons receiving an annual salary of $720 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $720 or more, but less than $840 per annum. Class C, all persons receiving an annual salary of $840 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $840 or more, but less than $900 per annum. Class D, all persons receiving an annual salary of $900 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $900 or more, but less than $1,000 per annum. Class E, all persons receiving an annual salary of $1,000 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,000 or more, but less than $1,200 per annum. Class 1, all persons receiving an annual salary of $1,200 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,200 or more, but less than $1,400 per annum. Class 2, all persons receiving an annual salary of $1,400 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,400 or more, but less than $1,600 per annum. Class 3, all persons receiving an annual salary of $1,600 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,600 or more, but less than $1,800 per annum. Class 4, all persons receiving an annual salary of $1,800 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,800 or more, but less than $2,000 per annum. Class 5, all persons receiving an annual salary of $2,000 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $2,000 or more per annum. It is provided, That no person who may be appointed to an office by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and that no person who may be employed merely as a messenger, laborer, workman, or watchman (not including any person designated as a skilled laborer or workman), shall be considered as within this classification, and no person so employed shall, without examination under the civil-service rules, be assigned to clerical duty. It is also ordered, That no person shall be admitted into any place not excepted from examination by the civil-service rules, in any of the classes above designated, until he shall have passed an appropriate examination prepared by the United States Civil Service Commission and his eligibility has been certified to this Department by said Commission. In the War Department, in the second paragraph, after the word "Department," are added the words, "including those employed in the offices of the several depot quartermasters," and in the post-office classification, in the same place, are added the words "including post-office inspectors and the agents and employés at postalnote, postage-stamp, postal-card, and envelope agencies." In the Department of Agriculture, the order of classification was amended by the Secretary of Agriculture on January 4, 1893, by direction of the President, to take effect as soon as an eligible list can be procured from which to select, not later than February 1, 1893, by inserting after the word "Department" in the second clause the words "including those of the Weather Bureau, employed elsewhere than at Washington." EXCEPTED PLACES:-IN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS: Book-binders and elevator conductors. [Places excepted from examination under Departmental Rule II, clause 3, are printed in brevier and those under Special Departmental Rule No. I in nonpareil.] STATE DEPARTMENT. The chief clerk of the Department. The chiefs of the six following divisions: The diplomatic, consular, indexes and archives, statistics, rolls and library, translation. One disbursing clerk, chief of the bureau of accounts, who gives bond. One confidential clerk, who is stenographer to the Secretary of State. One confidential clerk to each of the assistant secretaries of state and to the Solicitor. Lithographer. TREASURY DEPARTMENT. Secretary's office: One clerk to Secretary, two private secretaries to assistant secretaries, one chief clerk, ten chiefs of division, two disbursing clerks, one assistant superintendent, one clerk in the office of the disbursing clerk. Supervising Architect's office: Nine chiefs of division. Secret Service office: One chief, one chief clerk; one clerk, class 4; one clerk, class 2; one clerk, class 1; one clerk, class $1,000; one attendant, ten operatives, twenty assistant operatives. First Auditor's office: Four chiefs of division, one confidential clerk. Second Auditor's office: Six chiefs of division, one disbursing clerk, one confidential clerk. Third Auditor's office: Seven chiefs of division, one confidential clerk. Sixth Auditor's office: One chief clerk, one disbursing clerk, ten chiefs of division, one confidential clerk. First Comptroller's office: Four chiefs of division, one confidential clerk. Comptroller of the Currency: One deputy comptroller, three chiefs of division, one confidential clerk, one teller, one superintendent national currency division, one chief clerk. Commissioner of Customs: Two chiefs of division, one confidential clerk. Internal Revenue: One deputy commissioner, seven chiefs of division, one confidential clerk. Treasurer: One cashier, one assistant cashier, one chief clerk, one vault clerk, five chiefs of division, two tellers, two assistant tellers, one coin clerk, one superintendent of national bank redemption agency, one teller (national bank redemption agency), one assistant teller (national bank redemption agency). Register's office: Four chiefs of division, one confidential clerk. Light-House Board: One chief clerk. Life-Saving Service: One assistant superintendent, one confidential clerk. Steamboat Inspection Service: One chief clerk. Coast and Geodetic Survey: One chief of division of library and archives. In the office of the Secretary: Government actuary, inspector of furniture, clerk in the office of the disbursing clerk, custodian of dies, rolls, and plates at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, two sub-custodians, keeper of the vault, distributer of stock, foreman of laborers, skilled laborers, elevator conductors, foreman of cabinet shop, and cabinet-makers. In the office of the Comptroller of the Currency: Bond clerk. In the office of the Supervising Architect: Supervising Architect, assistant and chief clerk, confidential clerk to Supervising Architect, and photographer. In the Bureau of the Mint: Assayer, examiner, computer of bullion, and adjuster of accounts. In the Bureau of Navigation: Clerk of class four, acting as deputy commissioner. In the office of construction of standard weights and measures: Adjuster and mechanician. In the Bureau of Engraving and Printing: Chief of the Bureau, assistant chief of Bureau, engrav. ers, plate-printers, plate-cleaners, transferrers, hardeners, provers, pressmen, machinists, plumbers, carpenters, and blacksmiths. In the Coast and Geodetic Survey: Superintendent, confidential clerk to superintendent, clerk to act as confidential clerk and cashier to the disbursing officer, the normal or field force, assistant in charge of office and topography, general office assistant, confidential clerk to assistant in charge of office and topography, engravers and contract engravers, electrotypist and photographer, electrotypist's helper, apprentice to electrotypist and photographer, copper-plate printers, plate-printers. helpers, and mechanicians. In the office of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue: Superintendent of stamp vault. In the Life-Saving Service: Topographer and hydrographer. In the Bureau of Statistics: One confidential clerk to the Chief of the Bureau. WAR DEPARTMENT. Office of the Secretary of War: One chief clerk, one disbursing clerk, three chiefs of division, one private secretary or confidential clerk. Office of the Adjutant-General: One chief clerk. Office of the Judge-Advocate-General: One chief clerk. Office of the Quartermaster-General: One chief clerk. Office of the Commissary-General of Subsistence: One chief clerk. Office of the Surgeon-General: One chief clerk. Office of the Paymaster-General: One chief clerk. Office of the Chief of Engineers: One chief clerk, one clerk, class 3, who acts as disbursing clerk. Office of the Chief of Ordnance: One chief clerk. Office of the Chief Signal Officer: One clerk, class 4, designated as chief clerk and confidential clerk. NAVY DEPARTMENT. Chief clerk of the Navy Department. Private secretary or confidential clerk to the Secretary of the Navy. Private secretary or confidential clerk to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Disbursing clerk of the Navy Department. Chief clerks of the Bureaus of Yards and Docks, Steam Engineering, Navigation, Ordnance, Provisions and Clothing, Equipment and Recruiting, Construction and Repairs, Medicine and Surgery. Chief clerk in the office of the Judge-Advocate-General. In the Hydrographic Office: Engravers, copper-plate printers, and printers' apprentices. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. Office of the Secretary: One private secretary to Secretary, one confidential clerk to First Assistant Secretary, one confidential clerk to Assistant Secretary, one disbursing clerk, one chief clerk of the Department, six chiefs of division (including one census clerk). Pension Office: One confidential clerk to Commissioner, one chief clerk, twelve chiefs of division. Patent Office: One confidential clerk to Commissioner, one chief clerk, three chiefs of division. General Land Office: One confidential clerk to Commissioner, one chief clerk, eight chiefs of division. Indian Affairs: One confidential clerk to Commissioner, one chief of division, three clerks of class 4 acting as chiefs of division, one financial clerk. Office of Commissioner of Railroads: One confidential clerk to Commissioner. Office of Education: One confidential clerk to Commissioner, one chief clerk. Geological Survey: Permanent force: one confidential clerk to Director, one chief disbursing officer, one chief clerk. Temporary force: one disbursing clerk. In the office of the Secretary: Superintendent of documents, clerk of class 3 as custodian, clerk to sign land patents, and telephone operator. In the office of the Assistant Attorney-General: Law clerks: one at $2,750 per annum, one at $2,500 per annum, one at $2,250 per annum, thirteen at $2,000 per annum, and one reporter of land decisions at $2,250 per annum. In the Patent Office: Financial clerk, examiner of interferences, and two law clerks. In the General Land Office: Two law clerks, two law examiners, clerk of class 4 acting as receiving clerk, and ten principal examiners of land claims and contests. In the Bureau of Pensions: Assistant chief clerk, medical referee, assistant medical referee, and law clerk. In the Bureau of Indian Affairs: Principal bookkeeper. In the office of the Commissioner of Railroads: Railroad engineer. In the Bureau of Education: Collector and compiler of statistics and statistician. In the Geological Survey: General assistant, executive officer, photographer, editor, all scientific employés of the Geological Survey officially designated as follows: Chief geologist, geologist, assistant geologist, chief paleontologist, paleontologist, assistant paleontologist, chief photographer, chief chemist, chemist, assistant chemist, chief physicist, physicist, assistant physicist, chief geographer, geographer, assistant geographer, chief topographer, topographer, assistant topographer, chief hydrographer, hydrographer, assistant hydrographer, supervising engineer, engineer, assistant engineer, paleontologic draftsman, chief mechanician, mechanician, assistant mechanician, assistant hydraulic engineer, chief engraver, six engravers, map-printer. POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. One private secretary to the Postmaster-General, one private secretary to each of the four Assistant Postmasters-General, one disbursing clerk, who is also superintendent of the post-office buildings, one chief inspector, twelve division inspectors, one chief clerk Post-Office Department, one chief clerk to each of the three Assistant Postmasters-General, one chief clerk money-order system, one chief clerk foreign mails, one chief clerk mail depredations division, one chief clerk dead-letter office, one superintendent of the money-order system, one superintendent of foreign mails, one topographer, one superintendent of the dead-letter office, one superintendent division of post-office supplies, one superintendent of free delivery, one superintendent of railway adjustments, one chief of salary and allowance division, one chief of appointment division, one chief of bond division, one chief of inspection division, one chief of mail-equipment division, one chief of division of postage |