Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-01-02
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Message from the President-A Report Of tho
Civil Service Conmissioners,

tWttCcO
In accordance with an act of Con-
gress, approved March 3, 1871, | con-
vened a commission OF eminent gem
tlemen TO devise rules and regula-
tons for the purpose of reforming
the civil service. Their labors are
now complete, and | transmit here
with their report, together with the
rules which they recommend for my
action. These rules have been adopt.
ed and will go iGto effect on the LIST
of January, 1872. Under the law re-
ferred to,a | interpret it,the authori-
" is already invested in the Execu-
tive to enforce these regulations, with
full power to abridge, alter, or amend
them at his option, when changes
may be deemed advisable. These
views, together with the report of
the Commissioners, are submitted for
your careful consideration, as to
whether futher legislation may DO
necessary in order to carry out an
effective and beneficial civil service
reform. Ii left to me, without furth-
er Congressional action, the rules pre-
scribed by the Commission, under
the reservation already mentioned,
will be faithfully executed, but they
are not binding, without further leg
islation, on my successors.
Being DESTROYS OF bringing this sub
ject to the attention of Congress be-
fore the approaching recess, | have
not time to sufficiently examine the
accompanying report, TIC enable me
to suggest the definite legislative &C.
ton TO insure the support which may
be necessary, in order TO give a
thorough trial to policy long need.
ed. | ask for all the strength which
Congress can give me, to enable me
to carry out the reforms in the civil
service recommended by the Com
missioners and adopted to take effect,
as before stated, on January l, 1872
The law which provides for the
converting Of the commission to de-
wise rules and regulations for reform.
ing the civil service, authorizes, ]
think, the permanent organization OF
q primary Board, under whose gen.
eral directions all examinations Of
applicants for public Office shall be
conducted. There is no appropria.
ton to continue such Board beyond
the termination OF its present labors
| therefore recommended that prop,
or appropriation be made TO con-
tinue the services of the presentBoard
for another year, and in view of the
fact that three members of the Board
hold positions in the public service
which preclude them from receiving
extra compensation under existing
laws, that they be authorized to re-
ceive fair compensation for the extra
service rendered by them in the per-
Torrance of this duty. (Siqned)
u. S. 1RANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dee. 10, 187 /
THE REPORT.
The Civil Service Commissioners,
after citing the act under which they
were constituted Commission, enter
upon q sketch of the policy of the
various Administrations in the earlier
history of the Government, with re-
gard to appointments to the civil
service, and briefly note the various
efforts made from time TO time 10
correct the evils, and then pass to q
description of the present condition
of the civil service, which has hither.
to been sustained by common con,
sent, setting forth in detail the seri-
Gus and threatening evils OF the pres
ent practice of treating Of the inferior
posts of the Administration as party
prizes, and answering various argu.
ments by which it is sought to be
justified. They say that if, by an
examination for admission to the civ.
il service, nothing were understood
but test of mere literary proficiency
it might be reasonably opposed ac
unsatisfactory, for it is unquestiona.
bic that man might DE an excellent
appraiser of linen, and yet know
nothing Of history or accounts; but on
the otherhand, it is equally undcnia
bic that an excellent appraiser of lin
en- is not less excellent because OIL
general intelligence. OF two excel
lent accountants, the one who has
the most general information is Ger.
tainly preferable, and country
which declares that where technical
skill is equal, it will select candi
date for its service who is the better
educated, is country which directly
and practically encourages intelli.
gence and morality. L. is true thai
certain distinguished men in the pub
lie service might not have passed 3
certain literary examination, which
is now required of young men enter.
ing the same service, but it is equally
true that the older men could hav,
passed examination had it in theil
case been required, and the proof il
their capacity, of which the presen
distinction is the evidence. Tn,
Commissioners say, in concluding
their report:
1--WE do pot, indeed, suppose, thar
the adoption of any rules, however
skilfully framed, would at once
remedy the evils in the civil service
which are universally acknowledged
and experience will doubtless show
how every method of reform may bt
improved bat those evils will certain
ly not be remedied without an effort
Those who are content 10 demand
civil service reform, but who oppose
every practical attempt to prom ote 1T
must be suspected of having little
real hostility TO the system which
they decry. Fortunately, however
public attention was never more reso.
lutely turned to the subject, and
there was never more favorable
moment to begin reform. The party
issues of the past few years are grad
ually disappearing. The perilous
questions of fundamental policy have
been determined, and the paramount
interests of the country are now those
of the administration.