The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-20
Report OF the Commissioners.

The Civil Service Commissioners, allel
citing the act under which they were con
sttuted commission, enter upon sketch
Of the policy ofthe various administrations
in the early history Of the government with
regard to tho appointment to the Civil
Service and briefly note the various efforts
made from time 10 time to correct the
evils, md then pass TO u description ofthG
present condition Of the Civil Service
which has hitherto been sustained by com.
mon consent, setting forth in detail the
serious and threatening evils Of the pres
ent practice OF treating inferior positions
Of the administration US party prizes, and
answering tho various arguments by
which II is sought to be justified They
say that II by examination for admission Il
the Civil Service nothing were understood
but TO test mere literary proficiency, il
might be reasonably opposed rs unsAtis.
factory; Tor II Is unquestiOnAblo that a
man might be an excellent appraiser oI
linen and know nothing Of history OF
accounts but, on tho other hand, II Is
equally undcniable that an excellent ap
praiser of linen Is not less excellent be.
cause Of general intelligence, OF excel.
lent accountants the one who lias the most
general knowledge Is certainly the most
preferable. And the country which dc.
clares that where technical skill Is equal,
il will select the candidate for Is service
who is the better educated, Is q country
which directly and practically encourages
intelligence and morality II Is true that
certain men distinguished In the pub
lie service might not have passed certain
literary examinations which Is now re.
quired of young men entering the same
service, but 1t Is equally true that the
older men could have passed the examinn.
tiOn had II in their case been required
and the proof Is IN their capacity, Of which
tho present distinction Is the evidence
The Commissioners say, In concluding
their report We do not indeed suppose thai
the adoption, Of any rules, however skill.
fully framed, would at once remedy the
evils In tle civil service, which arc uni
versally acknowledged, and experience
will doubtless show how every method
Of reform may DO improued But these
evils will certainly not be remedied with.
out an effort. Those who arc content Il
demand 0 civil service reform, but who
oppose every practical attempt TO sectlrt
Ii, must be suspected of having little reaI
hostility to the system which they decry
Fortunately, however, public attention
was never more resolutely turned to the
subject, and there was never amore favor
able moment TO begin the REFORM The
party issues ofthe last few years are grad
ially disappearing, the perniciOuS ques
tlons of fundamental policy have been dc
termined, and the paramount interests o.
tho country are now those Of the aministra
tion. Honesty and efficiency Of admins
tration rs a settled national policy will
now be the Chiei demand Of every
party, but how near can that purpose III
shown 90 plainly as the reformation Of The
civil service, so rs to secure integrity
efficiency and economy. Alter quoting
the recent speech Of Mr.. Gladstone e
show that similar reform has been madt
and has succeededln England, the Com
missionets continue: We propose, also
that in this county tie places in the pub
lic service shall be reserved to those who
arc found t0'be fitted for them, and Il
any one IS disposed TO think that nj
abuse Of forty years Ia law Of the Re
publican system, little reflection vii
show him his error. II he believes reform
10 be impossible, lie merely shows tina
he is n victim Of tho abuse, and forget
that in America every reform Is possible
The enforcement OF the rules that vi
submit for approval depends oil cours,
upon The pleasure Of the President
Should they receive the sanction Of Con
gress in form, their enforcement woult
become, until repealed, not only n pleas
ure but the duty Of the President Tha
sanction, whether to the rules now sub
mitted, or to any scheme, will
more surely promote the purity aht
efficiency Of the civil service which I'll,
country most earnestly desire. II tha
sanction should be delayed, the rule
adopted for his action by the Presiden
could not bind his successor. But, unles
we are wholly mistaken tho Yefnrtn vnul,