The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-11-28
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A significant ar.is', Is p:abl.sasl III the
Washington R..pujh.caa Of the 22ld inst. in
reference to the rules governing the competi-
tive mode Of determining the fitness of FER
sons for federal Office. It says that the plan
has now been in operation for some time, aud
has developed the fact that the principle Of
competition, while possessing certain advan-
tages, is still attended with considerable dis
advantages, which moro than counterbalancc
whatever Of good it contains. "Mere tech
nichal knowledge is not invariably the test
Of efficiency" Indeed, it may be safely as
sumed that the most practical minds and the
best genuine business qualifications are rarely
attended by this technical requirement. The
cultivation Of retentlve memory as to the
routine information Of school books, SO That
the candidate for Office might answer salts
factorily every question propounded, is not
the assurance of a comprehensive understan
ding of any fundamental or important fact
What the government wants is fitness in the
person appointed TO Office, for the duties Incl
dent to the POSITION A simple routine famil-
iarity with the rules of reading, writing and
arithmetic, syntax ane prosodY, does not en-
brace business ideas.
It is stated by the Republican that the
President has lately given the entire question
good deal of attention and consideration,
and is entirely satisfied that the competitive
system should not be rigidly enforced, if,
indeed he is not convicted that it should be
entirely abolished What should be requi-
red is a standard Of efficiency. A system Of
appointment that would give preferment to
the mere technical scholar, bringing 10 as Sc
condary the qualifications of strong COM
mon sense and practical business knowledge
which are the essentials Of success in every
thing that is really useful, would soon dcgcn-
crate the public service into hot-house for
the growth Of pouncet-bcx and kid glove
politicians who would efiy mate the substan-
tial interests Of the country What is nee-
ded Misunderstanding, honesty and diligence.
These are the broad qualification.
The case of the Philidelphia Postmaster
about which so much has beer written, was
simply, that there were two applicants for a
vacancy: Both were prominent Republicans,
each had influential friends, and thus for
their claims secured equally balanced One
of them, however, had never been in post
Office, and the other was eminently qualified
by practical service for number Of years
The President appointed the latter. That
vas all Of it. The civil service rules were
made applicable to that extent, or rather the
President applied a rule of common sense
which governed the case and gave to the SER
vice an efficient officer whe had been fully
tested by experience. The red tape of the
civil service commission was not applied
and had nothing to do with it. That com
mission should be abolished without delay as
it is nothing but a'sinecure, it may be, for all
we.know, enjoyed by individuals, who if
brought down to the rules of business princi-
Piles and practical sense, would come as far Of
the required mark as some Of the competitive
candidates, who are made to give way, al
thong h intriusieally and substantially qualified
for the more thoroughly educated in the rules
of reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic."