Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-01-04
Ex-Seerefary Cox on Civil Service
Reform.

The current number of the NORTH ADa.ri-
can Rsrissc has article by ex-Secretsry of the
Interior Cox on his ho5by-Ciyil Service Re-
torm-in which the writer sets forth the ac-
knowledged abuses which exist under the pres
ent system OF political appointments, and the
o-Izes at length on a remedy for them. What
he says of the Wild hunt for of ce its corrupting
influence, and the general worthlessness OF
written recommendations. is true; and so is his
statement that much valuable time of officials
which might be better employed. is wasted on
such matters. though, perhaps, lie exaggerates in
saying " that By far the larger part of the time
OF the President and all the members of his
Cabinet is occupied by this worse than useless
drudgery during the whole term of his Office.
and it forms literally and absolutely the staple
of their work" He is right again when he saws.
when q President determines to use the nat.
ronage ut his disposal for q personal or marty
purpose, it results practically in farming il ont
to members OF Congress- and il is partly true
that, " Running down the scale OF honor and
Importance of places, We fnd everywhere
among seh-.eekiDg men the same eagerness TO
use the power they have to perpetuate their
tenure Of official life. Sycophancy, adulation
bribery, and all the rest OF the loathsome ea.a-
logue Of political vices, thicken as we descend.
till we reach the rough, doing the ballot-stur
hng or the eurbstone fighting for his party"
Nest readers will agree with him in his con-
domination Of party assessments on salaries. In
fact, 30 far rs the abuses under the present svs-
TEN are concerned, be states nothing new in
regard to them They have been talked about
and written about for years, and every BODY
seems agreed IN condemning them. IL is only
when the question OF a remedy for them comes
up, tina. the conflict of opinion begins Now
haf fs he &C., e., =.
at is to apply to the civil service, completely
and thoroughly, the PLAN principles of common
business administration; TO separate the public
cfices, absolutely and forever. from all fsyorit-
TOnage in all it, forms to be anti republican And
dangerous to the State; to find and practice
ulon principle OF selection for Office WHICH
shsn give every citizen OF the country per-
fcctiy equal chance to prove his capacity and fit
ness for the public service; and to obtain a posi-
ton in il when he has ms ie the proof with
thorough independence of President, Seer tary,
ar Congres>maR, and simply and solely because
OF his citizenship and his fitness. 1t Is further
10 adopt in the permanent civil service a tenure
of oflce during good behavior, with the hope of
Using 20 the highest grades OF the routine ser
vice by industry snd strict devotion to dut,
In brief. the principle 10 be adopted is admission
10 tie civil service only upon the results OF =
competitive eIamin1tIon open to all, and dis
mission only upon ascertained failure OF
capacity or character"
Now all this sounds well, but Il it pra rtica-
lie? Can he or any other man or any .et of
men carry il out?. How is he going to separate
the public Offices from all favoritism nepotism
and influence? He says by competitive exami-
nations. Where could he lind examining boards
clear Of favoritismP The members of such
boards would be dependent on some one-they
would have their friends-snd thus favoritIsm
and influence might prevail, even in affecting
the result OF . competitive examination. And
II he undertakes to give every citizen Who proves
his fitness for Office . position, where will he
md places for them all? II not, then how
viii he select from those who pass examinations?
VIII not fav0ritism, nepotism and influence
have another chance then: IL the miller rule.
''frst come, first served is 10 prevail, then how
will the rush for Offices be lessened? These
queries might be extended; but the above
viii sufice 20 show that the Ex-Secre
tary's remedy is at least open to criticism.
lie Is candid enough to notice the objection often
made, to quote his own words, "by those who
have gwen the subject . very superficial con-
kiGrration that the successful councillors i'm
these examinations will usually be boys fresh
from school or college, and that older and better
men VII have become rusty IN their school
knovledge would fall" but he fails tc satisfsc-
torily answer it. There L. another objection he
does not notice, and that is that man NAV
fail in IN examination as 20 his general attain
uleDfs and Vet have q sDeciic kuovledye af ths