Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-07
WORCESTER
THURSDAY. MARCH =. ts4a.
.ssomc CiviI service Fallaoics.,

ssSomc Civil Service Eallacies."
The Nation has criticised very justly lone Of
the stock arguments against civil service re-
form;' namely, that which paints touching
picture of pcor John Smith, with a mother and
sister TO support, who travels thousand miles
TO Washington to get ekship, and then fails
because "he cant tell who PeIicles was or what
rivers flow into the Caspian sea-" 1t points ont
correctly that the question is, not whether John
Smith shall or shall not have the clerkship, but
which Of a score of competitors is best qualified
fer it, or whether any one of them is fit to re-
ceive the appointment, There are Brown, and
Jones, and Jenkins, and the rest, each of whom
may have travelled thousand miles, urged for
ward by the consciousness of having somebody
to support. 1t is plain enough to all who under
stand the situation that these office hunters would
have done more wisely if every one of them ha !
omitted the long journey and tried some Other
occupation for livelihood; and it is certain that
only one of them, at best, can get the coveted
clerkship.
But there is something more in the question
raised by this criticism, than seems to get the
critics attention. Brown may ne equal to Smith
in the matter Of fautlcss handwriting and supe-
rior to him in book learning, while he is not by
any mcabs as well fitted for the business of a
copying clerk or an accountant. He may he
quite inferior to his competitor so far as relates
to the habits and aputudes OF mind necessary
TO success as a clerk; and this point can not be
determined by competitive examination. lie
must be tried at the desb, for in no other way
can ii be shown that he will be prompt, quick,
and accurate in doing the work he desires to un-
dcrtake. Men differ greatly in this respect and
it is possible TO fail here, even with a very mi
mute knowledge of everything relating TO Peri.
rles, Aristotle, and the Caspian sea. The book
learning is an excellent thing, but it can not
serve as substitute for that aptitude for cleri-
cal work which must be regarded as indispen-
sable.
Moreover, a great amount OF book learning
and literary culture, with the intellectual occn.
patton and tendency they imply, may operate
as disqualification for clerical duties in one oil
the departments at Washington, which, as the
Nation says, care matter of pure routine"
We say may, not that it will invariably, do So
The scholar highly trained in any department OF
culture or learning, may not so readily concen-
trate his whole mind on this work (which has
nothing akin TO the matters in which he is pro-
toundly interestedl, as the young man whose
chief ambition is 10 he regarded by his superb
ors as an admirable copyist or accountant.
The Nation suggests that something com
mrndable and important would be gained, ii
every clerk and messenger in the state depart
ment could read Lapace, translate from every
EurOnpan lauouara mama oIIt tho u ,poo, on,
perorS, and explain every principle OF national
law laid down by Grotius aud Vattcl." We be
lieve the state department never lacks competent
translatois, nor employees who can name all the
Roman empelors whenever the secretary has
use for this knowledge. We remember report
tina Daniel Webster made fearful slaughter Of
Roman tmperors when he revised President
Harrisons inaugural address; therefore, we
have no doubt that imperial Rome is known in
some of the departments. BY all means lei
every clerk and messenger be able to read
L1place, rival Grotus, and equal vattel. These
men, TO be sure were too much preoccupied by
their studies, to be trusted implicitly as copying
clerks or accountants. They were admirably
fitted for something else, but certainly not for
such clcrkships as those of which we are speak
Ing.
clerk at Washington should be thoroughly
fitted for the work required of him. He is not
wanted there to lecture on Laplace and Grotius.
The civil SERVED commission appears to under.
stand this; but the Nation thinks, that, in every
competitive examination, there should be dill
gent hunt for youthful prodigies of fitness fol
work of a totally different character. 1t SAYS:
eve do rot insist that If any youthful Grotius
is found to be a candidate, be shall be secured
for the position; something which can not be
done without some test which shall distinguish
him from the competing crowd" Doubtless
Pegasus would make first-rate cart horse; but
the old fable does not say Sc. nor is the assumed
fact supported by any modern experience OF
which we have knowledge. The truth is, this
notion that every clerk and messenger" should
have something like liberal education, IN addi-
ton to the particular accomplishments which
fit him for his special work, is more an incon-
sderate theory of political dettanteism than
anything else; and the air of superior apprecia-
ton of the public service, with which it is pnt
forth, is decidedly snobbish.
There are other matters involved in the cues
ton of civil service reform. The Nation asks:
Shall we prefer souudness in arithmetic or po-
litical soundness?" 1t is not necessary TO choose
between them, for we can have both. We hope
10 see such a reform of the civil service as viii
exclude from il the influences that seek to dis.
fSfuute clerkships as rewards for political ser
vices; but we do not expect or desire TO see
any System established, which will compel heads
of departments to make no difference between
political friends and political enemies During
The first years of the rebellion, the public ser
vice would have gained much, if Mr. Chase had
begun his work by sweeping out of the treasury
department every political enemy of the admin
istraiion. Under Howell Cobb, that department
was nest of rebels; and a large number of
these rebels remained in it during the war and
kept up clandestne correspondence with Rich
mond. They served as Confederate" spies, and
some of them had relatives in the rebel armies
to whom they regularly sent money. At nc
time, can confidential service be entrusted to
political enemies. Therefore, the heads of the
departments should be allowed to select men
who are sound in both arithmetic and politics.
But this point is sufficient for a much more ex.
tended discussion than can find place IN
paragraph.