Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-01-23

ADDRESS BY DR. McoosH, ON CIVIL SERVICE RE-
FORM.
rCorrespondence Of the CommerciaLl

ADDRESS BY DIR. McoosH, ON CIVIL SERVICE RE-
FORM.
Correspondence OF the Commerciall
PRINCETON, N. j., Jan. 20.
With the return of the students, and the re-
sumption of duties, after the Holiday vacation,
the college and the town resume their life and
gayety.
At the opening exercise of the term, DR..
McCosh dwelt at considerable length on Civil
Service Reform 80 far as it recommends compe-
titive examinations as test OF competency and
character.
He said that by this means and en- may be put
forever to one OF the worst and most demoraliz-
ing of vll practices, the system of appointing to
offices on the principle Of political partizanship,
and Of allowing the victors to divide as spoils to
their camp followers the most sacred trusts Of
the country. But there are some points on which
a wrong step may make shipwreck Of the whole
measure.
1st. II is proposed that the examiners of ap-
plicants for public offices present tho three
candidates who stand highest in scholarship, &c,
and that from these the head Of the department
choose one. This leaves place open for the
entrance of political cAnvassing with all It's evils
for the young man OF most ability, II he do not
happen to have political friend may after all
be rejected Instead of this let the ablest highest
man get the office. Otherwise, ,onr highest youth
would most probably decline competitive exam
ination which gives them no security OF success
even when they deserve it.
2nd The success of the measure must depend
mainly ON tho kind of examiners appointed
They must be men of learning and known by
| the community to be men Of incorruptible char
acter and in order to secure this they must be
paid handsomely, for it will be vastly cheaper
to do that than to suffer the loss entaied by the
corruptions which have reached such pitch II
| this country.
8rd. It must be settled from the beginning
that the examination for at least all the highel
officers OF the country, should not be on the
common branches Of useful elementary educa'
| tion, but on the highest departments OF learn
| ing. m
Such an examination, including the libera
branches of culture and not confined to the 30
/ called " practical" branches, would gain yount
men that must haze spent their youth p19fttdoH
/ and what is more important in public officers
| men having habits of industry and application
In fact, it is only in this way that compe
/ titve examination can be any test of moral char
/ acter. The systems as carried out in PrussiI
and Britain may be taken as models in this res
peot.
The Docter further said that he feared ther'
i ia misapprehension in the minds of some. ThI
SYSTEM of Competitive Examination should no
| be understood as applying to any offices excep
those to be filed by young men, say under y
/ years Of age Promotion should depend on faith
| fulness Of service.
The object of the system is to raise bod
| and succession of young public servants ou
| of whom the ittest men may be elected 10
| offices that require maturity Of judgment an
| experience.
| Such system will in few years elevate tn
| whole public service Of the country, as it wi
secure men of high attainments and high aimI
These suggestions are perfectly consisten
| with the recommendation of the Commission o.
Civil Reform.
To be successful the system has only to b
wisely and firmly executed. -,
1t will then raise up superior order OF puoli
I - Lsal.nv lU