National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-07
CIVIL SERVICE reform:

ARE COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS A
+ = v''.7---' y SuUCESS? yd
To TIE Editor Of tAs NATIONAL RepsblfcaA:
Sir. Public sentiment usually, when united in
harmony upoaapy given subject, soon becomes, by
adoption, the governing rule and law in communL
ties where IL has obtained and become recognized,
and III bsbests Usually find = medium through its
natural channel, the public prssa, for expression
and ASSASSINATION. rs III rf,.a srH-
Il has its incipieney IN tho brain Of some orisi-
nal, practical thinker, gradually expanding and
didus1ng 1tsslf until Il 10 taken up, reeoxniHed
and adopted as practicable, or rejected % unprac
ticabss, a. Tie ease may be.
These reflections sre more immediately induced
BY ssltineass evolved and rsesatly published in
the morning papers Of this city upon the subject
heading this srtiele. I'D. ~
> So far q public sentiment has developed itself
upon this subject, II would seem that w 70 g-Ad-
ualiy. yet systematieally, concentrating to do
away and abolish the competitive system, which,
It 10 alleged, 10 sonswhat 1nsvsnly administefed,
and but feebly enfnced. 10 "a. E-1s-ul. n
An snin1nt and determinate member Of ne .
said To lead te advance for its abolition. and It s
even whispered sst rssa In certain orioles. that II
ting lid Of il lie fresdsst viii not rspinc it Ssv-
ing served its purpose for . time. -.t.i,rf.i--
Be thfs as u may, there can hardly exiet .
rsrn 70 sse Old
tenn. just q some vish 70 restore the ranking
So az, therefore, as they .r. concerned in the
matter, no principle would sppear to be involved.
The Thanking privileges is denied for convenience,
and the return Of the old civil service system, 80
ships in the Departments.
An impartial and dspasslepate consideration Of
this subject, involving, z: n should, . principle
among politicians and aspirants for ONCE, sug.
gests an examinsti0n into this matter BY the aid
g pss:tieai experiment nnsss = has been intro
proper IN arriving At correct understanding Of
StsrfinS With the assumption that the affairs Of
the General Government are more important and
il would seem that it would require proportiona.
bly, more Of especial ability 70 conduct these
From what can be learned in Great Britain,
where u has recently been adopted, the system Of
Of diseossriss eusiisestions. ftnSss, and adapt.
bility for onfcs, has proved fAliaelous. And In
China, where II has long been sdopesd, nnch op.
Il, a. being Inadequate for the purpose eontsna-
Numerous reasons Nigh. b ssxsd against II in
me mel ihai nal tssroiore' sonsss myieif to :
bs mentioned: it detects and brings to The surface
q ps Ina i and nature Which IS but itsie NEEDED
and seldom used Willis on tn othet hand IL falls
utterly and inevitably to discover those q prao-
teal valns and which are tbs most required.
Among the various reasons given for it, sdop.
ton and continuance Il has been urged most
Hrsneoasly that Il relieves men L pewss f.c.
Grafton, conclusive to the minds Of soma, that y
stimnlstes and snsour.$es sd1eataon- Lnsse
which 4 10 select at and eempetsnt psRsons, ard,
ii possible, 9thoss bY. ednestfoni aad adsptstiea
N s: ~ y
IN q fsr - have been able 70 learn, serves dim.
ply the puxposs 81 relieving the proper persons
ton from : iaek the rsspoasibility Of which BE-
long and pertains to them. {, y.z -
The, member Of Congress. from any given dis
know more about the antseedents, the moral and
educational status. the professional qraltheatons
and htness Of an sspirant for Government omN
civil service eommissiou, convened together 70
determine BY ahstfacs qusstions the prerequisites
q entire stranger. tSr p9sie,ns they nsy seek e
patent to the most casual observer.
Take the case OF .csutioue, discreet and sue
s:sainl business man: He dssirss ne sss.isss 2
man, able to deal rapidly and correctly in NJ cnr
rent businees, and perchanee, - be advances e
:Sy Il s. %es sss e
reasonably conclude that he had accomplished
that end when be had come aeress person who
prSo.S Eoe
had been crammsd with . certain knowledge Of
The fa:ts Of listoFyf Or to carry the sttis still
advised, to present. eompstitiys szaminsslons sup-
pose yon do md person who can readily answer
questions prcpounded him, prepared and printed
ocean ct some given point the latitude and longi-
tlds Of some obscure isle in the South sea, the
distance Of given planet, at 2 certain period.
boy, q 70 demopstrsis some ab'truse mathsnati.
cal probIem within tAS limited space Of fifteen