Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-12-28
The Civil Service.

The committee appointed By the Presi-
dent under act of Congress approved
March 3rd 1871 to devise rules and regu-
laiions for The purpose of reforming the
Civil service, has made its report, and
submitted the following rules:
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
The Civil Service Commissioners, af-
ter citing the act under which they were
constituted a commission enter lpon a
sketch of the policy of the various admin
istialions in the earlier history Of the
Government, with regard to appoint
nr:nts to the civil service, and briefly
note the various efforts made from time
TO time to correct evils, and then pass to
description Of he present condition of
the civil service which has heretofore
been sustained by common consent, set
ting forth in detail serious and threaten
ing evils of the present practice of treat
ing inieiior posts of the administration as
party prizes and answering various argu-
mcn,s by which il it is sought to be justi
fietl. They say that il by examination for
admission TO the civil service nothing
We're understood bat to test the mere PFC
iiciency, ii might be reasonably opposed
as unsatisfactory, for il is unques,iunablc
that man Iniah be an excellent apprais-
er ut linen and yet know nothing of his
tory or accounts, but on the other hand it
is equally undeniable that an excellent ap-
praiscr of linen is not less excellent be-
cause OF general intelligence of two excel
lent accounts. The one who has the
most general knowledge is certainly pre-
icraDie and Il country which declares that
where technical skill is equal, it will Sc
lect candidate for its service Vino is the
| better educated than Il country which di
rect.y and practically encourages intelli
gence ard morality. ii is true that Ger
tain distinguished men in The public ser
vice might not have passed a certain lii.
erary examination which is now required
OF young men entering the same sefvice
bait ii Is equally true that the older meI
could have passed an examination mad it
IN 'heir case, been required; and The
proof Is their capacity, of which theil
present distinction is the evidence. III,
commissioners say in concluding their re
port:
| We do not indeed suppose that tn,
4 4
adoption OF any rules, however skillfully
iralned, would at once remedy the evil
III the civil service, hich are universally
ackno" ledsed, and the experiment viii
doubtless show how every method of r,
form may be improved. But those evil
Will Certainly not be Ienedied without al
eiIoTt. those vino are Content to demant
civil service refolm, bat who oppose an,
prac,l"al attempt 10 promote it, must b
suspected OF having but little real hostili
ty to the system which they decry. For
tunatcly, however, public altention wa
nevei more resoluteis turned to the sub
Ject, and there was never more favorabl
moment 10 Degin reform. The party is
sues Of the last few years are gradually
disappearing. The p,rilous questions o
the fundamental policy have been deter
mined, and the param ,unt interests OF th
country are now those of the Administra
ton. The honesty and efficiency of tn
Administration 10 settle the national pol
icy i'll now be the chief demand of ev
cry party. But now how can purpos
be shown SO plainly as the reformation O
civil service so as to secure integrity, ef
ficiency and economy.
| After extracts from the recent speech o
AIR Gladstone to show that similar re
fern has been made, and has succeede,
in England, the Commissioners continue
I'VE propose also that in this country
places in public service shall be restore,
to those who are found fitted for them
and if my one is disposed to think tina
an abuse Of forty years is a law Of retalia
tion, little reflection will show him hi
error. III lac believes reform to be impos
sible, he merely shows that he is a victim
of the abuse, and forgets shat in Americ
: eveg reform is possible. The enforce
msnt of the rules that we submit for ar
lproval, depends, ofcourse, upon the pleas
ure Of the President Yet, should the
, receive the sanction of congress, in th
i form of law, their enforcement would bs
come until repealed, not ouly pleasur
W