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It has been stated that $8.60 is the estimated cost to the Government of obtaining an employee through the method provided by the civil-service law. If in all the period of his service for the Government he saves more than this amount in increased efficiency over the man who would have been appointed through the patronage system, the existence of the law is justified. It is seen, further, that the cost of the commission is but one-tenth of 1 per cent of the total annual appropriation for salaries of competitive classified employees. The maintenance of the commission becomes almost negligible when compared with the actual saving resulting from the greater and better output of the employees, as above illustrated with figures for a service constituting but 7 per cent of the entire competitive classified service. From the foregoing it would seem easily to follow that the competitive-examination system is distinctly promotive of practical economy in the Government service.

CONCLUSION.

It is fitting here to express appreciation of the continued zeal and fidelity manifested by employees assigned under the supervision of the chief examiner, including those in the district offices as well as those assigned by the various departments and offices to assist in examining work as members of boards of examiners and otherwise. G. R. WALES,

Chief Examiner.

APPENDIX.

43

CIVIL-SERVICE ACT.1

AN ACT To regulate and improve the civil service of the United
States. (Act of Jan. 16, 1883, 22 Stat., 403.)

commissioners.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is authorized to appoint, by and with of opponent the advice and consent of the Senate, three persons, not more than two of whom shall be adherents of the same party, as Civil Service Commissioners, and said three commissioners shall constitute the United States Civil Service Commission. Said commissioners shall hold no other official place under the United States.

any

The President may remove any commissioner; and vacancy in the position of commissioner shall be so filled by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, as to conform to said conditions for the first selection of commissioners.

Removal of commissioners.

and traveling ex

The commissioners shall each receive a salary of three Salaries thousand five hundred dollars a year. And each of said penses. commissioners shall be paid his necessary traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of his duty as a commissioner.

* * "By the executive departments, when that term is used in the Federal Statutes, is properly understood only those departments specified in section 158 of the Revised Statutes, to which has since been added by subsequent legislation the Department of Agriculture [and the Department of Commerce and Labor]. * * * The Civil Service Commission * * * is not attached in anywise to any of the executive departments, nor is it subject in anywise to the control of any of

the heads of those departments. There is nothing in the act constituting the commission which makes it subject to any regulation or control except that of the President himself." * *(Opinion, Atty. Gen., May 4, 1898, 22 Op., 62).

*

Through subsequent legislation the salary of the president of the commission is now $4,500 and that of the other commissioners $4,000 each. (Act of May 22, 1908, 35 Stat., 197.)

SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of said commissioners: First. To aid the President, as he may request, in preparing suitable rules for carrying this act into effect, and

Duties of com-
Rules.

missioners.

1 Definition. Civil service is defined as the executive branch of the public service as distinguished from military, naval, legislative, and judicial.—(Century Dictionary.)

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