The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-18
EFFICIENCY AID 0H1RACrER.

An advocate Of civil service reform rsY:
Certainly no moral or social change woul'
do % much to remove the evils which afnic
our nation q the substitution Tor the loose
irrational. on-American scheme OF appoint
meut to Office, of thorough organization
the civil service on the basis of competitiv
examinations and lawful permanence Q
Tenure. Is it reasonable to look for such
reform?
"To the victors belong the spoils wa
the maxim which barbsrians followed in di
viding conquered slaves and their goods
Barbarians in politics follow the same rule
and when an election is won they parcel out
the places of honor, trust and emo1ument,
from the highest to the lowest among lead
en-, followers. organs and servants. Merit In
winning the victory may have some influence
In the division, those who have done or con-
txibutsd the most having usually the most to
ny - to the distribution of Offices. As soon
q newly elected chief officers are installed
they are beset and surrounded by those who
claim rewards for themselves or followers.
Each recipient of considerable Office has the
filing of many minor places, and these latter
have their more humble friends and adher.
snts to provide for, since in politics,
The bigger Aeas have little Aeas,
While these have less to bite EN-;
These lesser feas have lesser Still,
And 30 dd infnitun.
In Two or three months the places are all
Allied, when those who are Interested learn,
without much surprise, that the incumbents
have but little general or special capacity
for the work which they have undertaken to
do. The newly appointed would be benefited
even BY the brief experience Of their prede-
cessors.
Previous service for month, or careful in.
struction for . few weeks, would save them
from much annoyance and from much loss.
In the subordinate places some are conscien-
tious. honorable and CAREFUL but such merits
are wasted upon an ignorant, Indifferent or
incapable chief II the head of the bureau is
''the right man in the right place" he will
Try to have assistants who will do their duty,
and when his term of Office is nearly out he
may get bis department at work with method
i6al efficiency, soon to be turned over to an
Inexperienced successor and q gang of un-
tutored employees. The consequence of all
this IL that the State is far worse served than
private corporations or individuals. This
win continue until politicians learn to set
their proper valuation upon skill and in
tsgrity.
Good wages permanently secured must |
always command any constant service which |
, government may need. In the army and |
navy there il reasonable certainty that not |
only privates and subalterns but cadets and |
officers viii be regularly paid, so that young |
men do not hesitate to select those services. |
Good pay for transient and uncertain periods |
may command efficient service by chance but
when the salary is low and the period of SER
vice altogether uncertain, low grade Of talent
md efficiency must result. The same
Is true concerning integrity. In Anan-
eial and commercial houses. charac-
ter constitutes . large ingredient in
me value of assistants. Tellers, cashiers,
clerks, agents and bookkeepers are not lit
sEAlly paid for being strict and honest, but
hey al know that character is necessary to
success and their employers know the sub
Utantial value Of integrity; it is species of as
yursnoe against loss by dishonesty, and like
,ther assurance it is worth premium, and
Duch premium is actually part of the sal
~. Business cannot go on ct all without
Ibility in assistants; it must go on very lamely
where the assistants lack integrity. Govern
nent officers cannot contrive set of checks
md balances which will dispense with charac-
" in employees Lawmakers cannot pre-
Ioribe standard Of morals for candidates for
lsrkshipa They might exclude the notori.
'usly bad, but cannot prevent the develop
nent of official dishonesty. They can en-
courage integrity just as they can promote
niciency by making employment permanent /,
Turing good behavior, with such regular, GER !,
ain and just advances in salaries as are !
cund effsctual in the management of large =
and personal affairs.
The public need not expect from their :
gents any service for which they are not
'roperly paid. The hope Of reward, the GER =
Ainty of pay, the prospect Of permanencs, 7
he chance of advancement and the oppor-
unity for distinction, all enter as elements q
nto what constitutes wages. Let the govern
nent get the right men to begin with. pro- =
ide them with constant work. advance their :
~ systematically and never discharge . 9
apable and worthy servant. What will then 1
. lacking in an efficient and economical civil y
ervice system must be endured as q neces-
AEy evil. 4
A CHANCE FOR FAME.
IA -. 49,. al