The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-04
Reorganization Of the Civil servIce-Mr.
Jenckes' Bill.
from the Tfmes.

The only objection we have seen urged against
Mr.. Jenckes' bill for the reorganization OF the
civil service is predcated upon the alleged cen
tralizing tendencies of the scheme. owe shall
have more bureaus, it is said "more commits
sioners, more consolidation of authority" No
objection could be offered less Justly applicable
to.the case. In all that pertains to the appoint
ment of those who are known as inferior Off
GERS, :" the present system is the ne Plus ultra of
Capitalization. Practically the whole appoint
ing power is welded by the Executive, who
exercises it arbitrarily, without a pretense of
responsibility, and with habltual indifference
to the requirements OF the public service, or the
qualifications tor efficiency OF the persons ap-
pointed.
There can be no greater Capitalization than
this--none more demoralizng in It's influence,
or more likely to insure the prostitution OF the
Government patronage TO party ends. Under
the plan proposed, the appointing power will
remain in the hands OF the Executive, and to
this extent, it may be argued, the evil OF con-
soldated authority VIII continue. But the
present temptation TO an abuse OF the authority
will no longer exist. There will be no induce
ment TO remove the army of subordinate Office
holders because they are politically obnoxious,
when their successors must be chosen from n
class selected with exclusive reference to the
qualifications of ability and character, regard
less of party attinlties. For ali partisan pur-
| poses the appointing power will be destroyed.
1t will be restricted to vacancies arising lCgtl-
maiely, and will be confined within such mar
| row limits that the partisan use OF patronage
! Will cease.
And what new danger to free government
can be traced in the creation of Board OF three
| Commis sioners, charged with the duty OF pro-
| nOunCing judgment upon the relative capacity
! and fitness OF those who may desire TO enter the
| Government service? "MOre bureausn is the
cry. But the constant growth OF the business
Of the Government consequent upon the mar
vellOus development OF the Country's greatness,
governmental labor In the days OF Jefferson,
the heads of the Departments might have found
time to constitute themselves a Board of EE-
aminers, and in this character might have sCru-
tnized the merits of applicants for office. The
idea would now be preposterous
And as the eXigenCies OF the service have
necessltated special commissions OF inquiry
concerning the revenue. so now they necessltatG
the formation of a Board to provide the means
Of reforming the personnel of the Departments.
BY what other agency would it be possible 10
conduct the examination proposed! Ii none
else be possible without withdrawing the auen-
ton OF the departmental heads from urgent and
every day duties, 1t follows that we must either
accept the means provided by Mr.. Jenckes' bill,
or abandon the scheme OF competitive eXamina-
tiOns and the selection Of appOintees from lists
OF properly qualified individuals. The alterna.
tive will not be entertained save by those who
make the creation OF new Board preteXt for
opposing the vast retolm that lies beyond.
Except within defined limits, the new Board
VIII be powelless. They will be able neither to
dismiss nor TO appoint Their jurisdiction will
extend no further than the Arrangement of the
subjects over which the examination for the
various grades will range, and the issuing GER
tlrcates TO those who may prove themselves
worthy of official employment. The task is not
easy, nor the responsibility tritlng. But GER
tainly there is nothing in it that should frighten
honest advocates OF the decentralizing theory.
MIR. Herbert Spencer would hardly object to a
change intended to purge the Departments from
partisanship, and secure the appointment OF
capable trustworthy men to Office.
The reform is not one that may be effected
without hard labor, we are aware. Party virtue
has not attained 10 the STANDARD of sublime self
sacrifice which in ordinary circumstances
would be implied by the passage OF this mea
sure. Ordinarily, moreover, it would be almost
impossible tor any party TO leelslate with we"
10 the wholesale purNcatiOn OF the civil service
system, in manner that would not incur al
imputatiOn OF sinister motives. Whatever the
purpose, it would be charged that the enact
| ment OF tests OF fitness was simply an excuse tOl
the removal of partisan adversaries. Now, how
ever, the state OF political and party affairs is
peculiarly favorable 10 the consideration OF the
subject on its merits. Removals and appoint
! ments form one OF the grounds Of CiherenCe be
tween the President and Congress- The autho
rity of the Capitol finds itself at issue with the
authority OF the White House and the Depart
/ ments on this very subject.
Here. then, is method by which this particu
lar difference may be overcome, not only withou
lust cause of ohense TO either side, but VIII
manifest advantage to the country. IL canno
De alleged Inul lucIS - an III '"9iO VI OLS
dents authOrity-all that is proposed is tn,
restraining of its exercise ia the interest OF tn
public. On this basis, combination OF parte
! seems feasible, since neither is asked to max
an immediate surrender of power or profit. Th
: Republican majority az any rate, owe thls II
a form to the country, and should no longe
. delay its passage With a single stroke, the
Il may prevent the continuance of abuses an
e grievances of which they complain, dlVest Gov
i ernment employment OF the dlscredn tht
attaches to it, and establish system Whlc
r VIII combine large reduction OF eXpendltuI
q with degree of efficiency at present unknow
a. to any branch of the civil service.
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