t secure the best men, and often not
even fit men, for public place. The elevation and purification
of the civil service of the Government will be hailed with
approval by the whole people of the United States.

Congress accordingly passed the act approved March 3, 1871, "to
regulate the civil service of the United States and promote the
efficiency thereof," giving the necessary authority to the Executive
to inaugurate a civil-service reform.

Acting under this statute, which was interpreted as intended to secure
a system of just and effectual examinations under uniform supervision,
a number of eminently competent persons were selected for the purpose,
who entered with zeal upon the discharge of their duties, prepared
with an intelligent appreciation of the requirements of the service
the regulations contemplated, and took charge of the examinations, and
who in their capacity as a board have been known as the "Civil Service
Commission." Congress for two years appropriated the money needed for
the compensation and for the expense of carrying on the work of the
Commission.

It appears from the report of the Commission submitted to the
President in April, 1874, that examinations had been held in various
sections of the country, and that an appropriation of about $25,000
would be required to meet the annual expenses, including salaries,
involved in discharging the duties of the Commission. The report was
transmitted to Congress by special message of April 18, 1874, with the
following favorable comment upon the labors of the Commission:

If sustained by Congress, I have no doubt the rules can, after
the experience gained, be so improved and enforced as to still
more materially benefit the public service and relieve the
Executive, members of Congress, and the heads of Departments
from influences prejudicial to good administration. The
rules, as they have hitherto been enforced, have resulted
beneficially, as is shown by the opinions of the members of
the Cabinet and their subordinates in the Departments, and in
that opinion I concur.

And in the annual message of December of the same year similar views
are expressed and an appropriation for continuing the work of the
Commission again advised.

The appropriation was not made, and as a consequence the active work
of the Commission was suspended, leaving the Commission itself still
in existence. Without the means, therefore, of causing qualific