MESSAGE

FROM THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

TRANSMITTING

The fourth annual report of the Civil-Service Commission.

JULY 23, 1888.-Read and referred to the Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment and ordered to be printed.

To the Congress of the United States:

Pursuant to the second section of chapter twenty-seven of the laws of 1883, entitled "An act to regulate and improve the Civil-Service of the United States," I herewith transmit the fourth report of the United States Civil-Service Commission, covering the period between the sixteenth day of January, 1886, and the first day of July, 1887.

While this report has especial reference to the operations of the Commission during the period above mentioned, it contains, with its accompanying appendices, much valuable information concerning the inception of civil-service reform and its growth and progress which can not fail to be interesting and instructive to all who desire improvement in administrative methods.

During the time covered by the report fifteen thousand eight hundred and fifty-two persons were examined for admission in the classified civil-service of the Government in all its branches; of whom ten thousand seven hundred and forty-six passed the examination, and five thousand one hundred and six failed. Of those who passed the examination, two thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven were applicants for admission to the departmental service at Washington, twenty-five hundred and forty-seven were examined for admission to the customs service, and five thousand two hundred and twenty two for admission to the postal service. During the same period five hundred and fortyseven appointments were made from the eligible lists to the departmental service, six hundred and forty-one to the customs service, and three thousand two hundred and fifty-four to the postal service.

Concerning separations from the classified service, the report only informs us of such as have occurred among employés in the public serv