The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-12-26
Necessity OF IA Change ~ tlio Mode of APP
pUiEluCat-.

pOiEluCafS.
A rr-o~a pressure NJ olc.-sa,hcrs ls luw l.-
ing brought 10 lc.g iu W-s. IagtA u favor Of tie
principle of "rote;.ou" - ugicc' We hope Guat i
will not succcod--uus because We greatly admire
tho ability Of the present officials, but because VIC
hopeless Of any change Icing i,r the icacr
There never was les reason ior the ad.pb.n Il the
dcmoraz,ng practice of 'r,tDsioa 90 Office" than
at The present time. Ia The inst place il is hsrl 10
scc how Nj. LrNcoLS can @ induced 10 dcpyto exc
s,iug office holders hc benefits - the on,.-rl tatou
Ir,ncplr upon which he was reelected to tho
Presidency. Uo cannot thus "turn biz back upon
himself" aud upon bis dependents, 80 whom be
Il DO greatly indebted Tor his uow lease Of power
The primo argument that has always been
advanced In favor II 'ro,suon" does uos now
apply. There is no change q President and
policy that would require the appointment Of
new set Of officials In sympathy with the admins
tratou. Everything viii Fo on in nearly the same
old grooves only, as We hope, With a Little more
| force aud encrgy -and tho Lands now working
'fho mschinc" have the advlnia' Il hCin traiuol
10 Their duty They are at least more competent
than any new swarm that could lee packed out.
| Besides, our finances are really too much exhaust,
ed just now to bear the additional strain Of new
10, Of hungry officials. Tie prcfon, od.cc holders
have probably made nearly al they want and Il
not, the deficiency is slight IA comparison with the
sum that would be required 10 satisfy the new
comers at thc public crib, For those and other
obvious reasons We hope that no change will be
made.
Rut there arc othrr higher grounds sgslus the
application II the rotation" principle, either at
this any other tuo. Il has contributed more
than all other causos combined to thc dcmoraliza-
ton OF our politics and government. Il has intro
duccd other tcss for office than tho legitimate ones
u efficiency, loyalty and honesty. No applicant
for Office now thinks Of producing the Testimonials
required by GroGGE WAauNGroS Tho only re,
quiroments office those which operate to OK
clue all chance Of securing really competent uiA-
clss. It is absurd aud ruinous for the govern
ment to pcrsls, in system that would bankrupt
the most prosperous firm In New York within
year. Politics upon the principle Of rotation nrt
more looked after than business three or four mcI
t are required TO perform tho work which could b,
e more properly and exPcitiously DISCHARGED by
q single well trained person. Really competent ex
{ ocutiyo men aro seldom found in tho public ser
+ vice, and 1t has almost come to be rcproach /,
- hold an Office under the Government.
Il All this should DO changed, and tho time is nov
/. suitable for ei'ccting reform System shout
e he inauguratod making mcri. the only test Tor az
II polntmont aud securing Offices during the zoo
e behavior o. the incumbent This course must p
N adopted sooner or later II we hope to reform
l. existing abuses. The grand problem is to procur
y "the right man for the right place" and retail
10 him when found This can auly he accomplish
10 10y the system OF competitive examinations bolul
a board compose q impartial and competent g.
N Aminers. reform Of this ld can be accoulp ali,
at The present time without irjustco to any polit
IL cal party. Let Congress pass q law, or fail!n
ls ths let the President inaucuratc system requir
50 ing all applicants for subordinate ofl,cs to subm
" to an examination as to competency aud oharsct
er before committee, and give any vacant place
g. the mos. capable person. Make ali the olcia
st. now IN the service VI u Government submit