New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-20
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.
MEASURABLE SUCCESS THUS FAR ATTAINED
FRUITS OF TIE REFoRM-PoPULAR SUPPORT DE-
sIRED-THE HOPES. AIMS, AND PROSPECTS OF
THE COMMISSION
The report of the Civil Service Commission
fills nearly hundred pages and presents the subject OF
civil Service reform in its relations to the Constitution
TO public sentiment and morality, TO parties to repub
can principles to the President, the Senate, and the
House, asiwel s bearings upon general administa
on and upon the character attainmens and efficiency
of the officers and clerks in the bureaus and offices.
Reasons given TO show that the responsibility OF
the new system should not rest with the President or
the Commission alone but should be regarded that OF
Congress and of the party in power, as well as OF all
honest and intelligent voters irrespective OF party lines
IL Is conceded that very great proportion OF those VINO
oppose the system conscientious IN their oppo
ton Most Of this opposition is believed TO be founded
on misconcept0n. The system is so new and recent
that there has not been time and opportunity to study
1t. 1t was necessary that the Commission should 20
the whole ground OF theory and practice from the
beginning, and not confne ITSELF as 1t would gladly
have done, TO stating details and recommending i'm
prOvements.
The report submits the whole subect-theory, prln-
cpes, practice resultto the judgment OF the people
upon the merits The peoples judgment, while final, is
likely to be most dsnterested and just The great body
filled by appointment by themselves, and treated as
their perquisites rule elected officers have, there
FORE bias in favor OF filling the cerkships through the
application OF influence instead Of tests OF merit, This
Is opposed to the interests OF the people, who desire
such Offices filed, tho Constitution contemplated, by
honest and capable men only, whose merits have been
fairly tested Hence. Civil Service reform presents
to which most Of the honest and apprecatiye
people-when well informed the subject-are likely
TO DO side, and the selfish and ambitious
officers, and all demag0gues and venal politicians are
likely to DO on the other side In this respect the issue
is like that Congressional salaries and the frank
ing privilege The great hopes Of the success of such
reforms therefore, lie in appeal to the honesty and
disinterestedness OF the people.
The report regards il great point gained when the
President highest elected officer, supports the re-
form. II every other elected officer would act in the
spirit the reform would be at once rreslsDle ana
very soon complete II is unreasonable to expect the
President alone to speedily accomplish IT, In the case
the desired results only be ACCOMPLISHED by the CO.
operation OF that body That cooperation as wen as he
coperaton OF all members of Congress Is greatly TO be
and the people ought 20 es maze ther 70 ns
action OF Congress has much embarrassed the President
| and the Commission. . ,, a.,
The report next the method and details OF the
| system. These have been already published. The re-
port the proof to be decisive that the
new system has 10 considerable extent removed mer-
cenary partisan from the Departments has
stimulated learning the part of those desiring appoint
ments; has secured better class OF persons IN the
Offices and has developed habits OF study and fidelity
Reports show that the members OF the Ca.lhe pear s
They consider the rules have promoted the public
interests in various particulars aud among them IN the
| /. They have average. where examinations ap
ply, persons OF superior capacity ana character 10
the service Of the Government and have tended 10 ex
| clude unworthy applicants.
q They have developed more energy in the discharge
of duty, and ambition 10 acquire Information con-
nected with official functions, on the part OF those III
g. They have diminished the unreasonable solicitation
| and pressure which numerous applicants ana thelr
friends competing for appointments nave r eetEe
| of favortism
a. They have. especially where competition applies,
relieved the heads OF Departments ana OF bureaus 10
large extent, OF the necessity OF deyong TO peSos
| was needed for official duties. ,,,-,
| g. They have made 1t practicable to dismiss from
the service those who came in under the CVil service
examinations when not found worthy, than It was, or
Ia, dismiss the like unworthy persons VINO hau Deeh
introduced into the service through favor OK dclaton
G. They have diminished the intrigue and pressure
before too frequent for causing the removal Oh
for the purpose OF bringing other PERHAPS
inferior, persons into the service. . ,.,..
And for such reasons those officers think that 1t IS
continue the reform the method upon
which 1t has proceeded, making from time TO time sueh
notifications IN details as experience may sho" " oe
There are competitive examinations for promotions
also part Of the system that clerks ana ON
tsan assessments They are to be at liberty 10 DO as
they please 70 contributing to their party
applicable to cases where the Senate must confirm or
but is easily applied to the the er se aG
iomhouses And the report shows that great improve
mens have been mage ar and from the posoce
in the City OF NewYOrk by reason OF tue Application OF
letter carriers during the last months. The sys-
| TEN can easily be extended TO other pOst-ofnces. -,
bnt Of the best practical method The appointing power
is st bound its Judgment In selecting the best OF
the Is from whom 1t has and ali the time that
power has TO bestow is needed for this choice. A.,
There Is every reason to believe that as soon as le
method Is known by the people 10 give better pun
| liz
they will demand the system shall De EXTENDED anu tnat
analogous principles shall be carried out D the senate
II Is also 20 be hoped that method may be ex
tended State and city Offices The report shows tat
this adoption Of competitive examination In England by
the Liberal party which John Bright aud John stuart
Mil members Is the greatest advance YET naue
toward republican institutions and democratic equality
| in that country The reform was inaugurated in En-,
gland about 1885, In limited sphere nat ~ nas peen
competition applied TO nearly all the suDofua.e
offices OF the nation The results have Deen more eli-
cieucy greater economy higher character ana less IN
every believe that persistence IN tne
application and extension OF me CN service fu'es VIII
produce the same results In this country -
The report points out the great nscheis that would
pers Of Congress BY subdvding executive authority
among the aaa n the balance Of our repub
iican system would be DESTROYED and Congress
man would be equivalent to an appointment The
whole clerical force would mingle nercely IN Con.
elections, for the tenure Of office OF that
force would involved the results OF such elections.
Appointed officers and clerks would nold once no longer
man the members that gave them offce-that L. only
two years IL Is shown also that an equal division OF
officers among members is practically Impossible. sucn
substitute for that OF the President
Tbe report answers the objections 10 the re-
form and points that the greater portion OF
them is founded in misconceptions The rules bring OF
ces nearer the loues people instead OF keeping them
away; they break up old monopoly OF appointments
while preventing any new monopoly they nave not no.
favored mere scholastic ornamental anments put
tend 10 MI tine public Offices with persons having useful
attachments aud practical capacity the system Is
neither expensive cumbersome, but may De very
ectiyely ope rated with small expense An apprOprla
zion OF only t25COo needed for the coming Year winch
IL the same as has been made each previous year The
report strongly condemns the attempt belsg made to