The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-05-02
THE JOURNAL.
Civil Service Reform.

\ AC 4NCW l. Vi n ~ NSACft9 IL
ing of civil service reform, says:
''Let us here point out a fallacy
which has generally been accepted
throughout the country. The sys-
tenn which the President has intro
duced has been termed, and is be-
lieved to- be, civll-serVice reform.
1t is simply competitive examina-
ton. Competitive examination is
not civil service reform, but merely
means toward that end. tits pos
sible to have the latter without re-
sorting to the former. Indeed, many
civil service reformers are opposed
to competitive examination, and
hold that in England it is about to
be carried too far, and that it will
operate imperfectly in the civil ser
vice, and effect injuriously the gen
eral cause of popular education. Let
it be, then, understood that although
this experiment of the Presidents
should fail, nothing is proved by
the failure; and that if the expert.
ment should be fairly tried and
should fail, ali that would be proved
is that we have resorted to defective
means for reaching most desirable
end"
Very true; but while the Civil Ser
vice Board was incubating the civil
service rules, under the chairman
ship of Mr. Curtis, The Nation used
its entire influence to direct public
attention to this pet scheme of com
petitive examination. Again and
again did the true friends of civil
service reform insist that competi-
tive examination was not an essen
tial, nor even a very important fea-
ture ofreform, and that the expecta-
tions of building civil service reform
upon this narrow foundation were
delusive.
We are not without hope that the
civil service question may be eonsid-
cred by statesmen of broader views
than those Mr.. Curtis seems to have
possessed. A civil service board
that recognized its full mission
Wonld have considered all the ques,
tions pertaining to the subject:
First. The tenure Of Office of civil
offices, whether they should be held
rife, for term Of years or at will.
Second. The equalization of salar
les and the abolition of fees, either
entirely or when they reached
maximum sum.
Third. A review Of the degree of
responsibility appertaining to off
GERS and the various grades ofelerk-
ships, and remuneration according
to the character and amount Of work
performed.
Fourth. The propriety of retiring
civil officers after faithful service
of a long number of years on balf-
pay pensions.
Fifth. The best method of promo
ton, how far by examination, and
how far by selection.
Sixth. The propriety Of a board
ofappeal in cases Of personal injus-
tice.
Seventh. The examination neces-
sary to be had into the character,
standing, and requirements of the |
candidate for admission; and how
far this examination shall partake of |
q technical and competitive charae-
ter.
Eighth. Fidelity to the Govern
ment and its interests, as admins
tered by the Administration for the
time being.
These are only a few of the most
obvious questions that demand a
proper solution before any adequate
system Of civil service reform can
be established; and the pitifnl sys |
tenn of technical examination which
the board brought forth, after
months of labor, showed q poverty
Of ideas and u narrowness ofyiews
IN the part of Mr. Curtis who, as
largely controlled the
board, ,thatwe are not surprised at his
throwing what mud such dainty
fingers can lift at the President.
1t is our sincere conviction that
.be cause of civil service reform has
greatly gained by Mr.. Curtis's resig-
nation, for it Is very far from the in
ention OF the Administration to
abandon its efforts TO attain q real
md not merely sham reform of the
,iVil service; for 4 real reform will
meet with such universal acceptance
lmong the people that no politician
viii dare to hinder its universal ap-
'licatiOn.-IHe Republic.