The Portland daily press., 1875-03-16
The Civil Service Reform.


of interviews with George William Curtis,
Chester A. Arthur, Collector OF the Port, and
Thomas L. James, Postmaster as to the effect
on appointments to office of the discontinuance
of the civil service examinations. 1t has been
believed by many persons that the civil ser
vice act has been practically imperative, but
Collector Arthur and Postmaster James pro-
nose to continue modified form of the exam
ination required under it, as a protection to
themselves and to the public. Mr.. Curtis is
hopeful and believes that when the civil SER
vice system gets to be better understood it Will
meet with popular favor and correct many OF
the present evils caused by the demands and
pressure of politicians in appointments TO
office.
George William Curtis said: When the Con
stituton was framed, aud rules were made for
the en- ployment of clerks and surbordinates,
there were very few persons in government
employ, not so many in all the public offices
in the country as there are now in the New
York custom house. 1t did not therefore.
occur to the represe ntatives OF the people In
those days to provide civil service system
for filing the enormous number OF Ofhces
which have been created since that time. The
better and higher sentiment of both parties is
in favor of civil service reform. and OF APP
poin tments to office on the ground of merit
and competency, and OF removals Tor cause
ONLY Under all the circumstances the discon
tinuance of the present civil service system is
rather matter for congratulatiun than other
WISE No true friend of civil service reform
will be displeased at the actlon OF the rIesl-
dent in doing away with the present system.
The President in his message very frankly let
Congress understand his position. The fact
is, Congress has been the chief foe OF evil
reform. The rules were evaded ana the Jaw
never was honestly enforced. Rather than
see the law used as convenience only, as u
has been for two years, the friends OF CIVIL
service reform rejoice that they will no longer
be held responsible for the workings OF sys'
tenn which has been run by unfriendly mana
gers in the interest of personal and partisan
Dreiudicss If the collectors and postmasters
throughout the country had felt mat
Gen. Grant was as much in earnest 10 en-
force the civil service act as he was IN
earnest curing the war to capture Richmond,
we would have seen a very different state OF
things. But the law was used as an excuse 1or
not appointing men 10 office who were we'i
qualified for pusidons but who unfortunately
were not IN favor. The advocates Of the Civil
Service rules much prefer to have the system
given up altogether rather than to nave ~ con,
tiDued under iDsincere and halt-hearted
management, We are not discouraged. lett
the Civil Service Commission because L saw
plainly that Congress was hinderiDg ana CD
structipp the proper enforcement of the law.
But sooner or later proper Civil Service sys-
TEN will be established on a firm basis. IL was
not to be expected that such a wide reaching
reform would meet with favor immediately IN
der our peculiar political Institutions. The on
ly persons who can act in the matter are the
representatives of the party in power Tor the
time being, and they run against many oDsIa
Giles among their own followers. The adVo
Gates of the Civil Service reform have not
fought the battle in vaD They have learned
many things in their contests with parties aud
politicians, and see more plainly than ever that
proper Civil Service system is the true RENE
dy for maDy of the wrongs committed under
our republican form of government. Inc peo-
ple also have become better informed on TINS
subject The discussions in Congress and the
articles in the newspapers, even the fun MADE
of the reform, has attracted public attention to
it. 1t may be that Civil Service reform will De
Its operation becomes familiar TO the Depart.
ments. But one thing is sure; the friends OF
the reform not disheartened, but en-
Outraged They have done better than they
had any right to expect with an EXPERIMENT.
which met with so great secret and even open
Collector Arthur said that the discontinue
ance of the civil service system OF examlna-
tons would not materially change the mode Oh
appointment in the custom house. Inc COM
pettive examination required under that sys-
TEN was not sufficiently elastic in certain cases,
and sometimes shut out men OF acknowledged
competency. The collector said that he In
tended to continue an examining board, 10
whom applications would be referred, and he
should be guided in his action by their report
He had made very few removals during his
term, and those only for good cause. Inc civil
service act had not restricted him in removals,
but bad required a competitive examination
before appointment. He had over 5000 appli-
tons for positions now on file. Many OF these
were from college-bred men who, from some
defect in their character, had not been aDie 10
get along in the world and although well edu-
Gated were drifting without aim or occupation.
These men were able to pass first rate exam
ination in the elementary English branches;
but were wanting in common sense, and could
not be entrusted with business matters requir-
ing the exercise of judgment and discretion
The very weakness which had dlsqualIhed
them in other pursuits made the almost use
less in public employment, except for ordinary
routine work. The promotions IN the custom
house were made on account OF merit, ana
we're recommended by the chiefs OF DIVISIONS
These chiefs were not politicians, several OF
them having been employed in the custom
house from twenty to thirty years. Mr.. Ar
thur did not wish to be understood as saying
that patty influences had nothing to do with
appointnents-tba would be saying too much;
but he had never removed any one on purely
partisau grounds. Promotions were made on
the recommendation of the heads OF depart
ments, and Tor the good of the service. The
civil service rules bad relieved the collector in
many cases from the pressure of outside infu,
them IN a modified FORM The discontinuance
of these rules gave rather more elasticity to
appointments, but he should continue an ex-
aiming board as an invaluable aid in securing
good officers
Postmaster James stated that he had retained
his examining board composed OF Henry u.
Pearson, James Gayler, George ii. Louns6erry,
and Thomas II. Bannerman. All candidates
for appointment in the Post-Ofice were sub
jected to the usual examination as to knowl-
edge of the elementary branches and as 10
their general competency. The Post-Of1ce DE,
partment required men of good character and
average ability in the minor Offices, and the ex-
aminations for promotion were very street.
The competitive examinations had given the
office better class of men and had greatly i'm
proyed its standing. Faithful, competent men
were always retained by the postmaster, and
he had made no removals except for good cause
and for the best interests of the service. Fro
motions were made regularly ana LOT merit.
The questions to be answered by each appll:
caut for office gave the. Postmaster an outiDe
of his previous history, which had DeeD OF
great value ia certain instances, and had oeen
the means of keeping improper persons out Oh
the department.. There were SO many uetaiis
in the management of the Post Office that IL
was greatly to the advantage OF the POSTMASTER
to retain coed men, and to get rid OF the lncom-
petent. 1t was also of equal importance to
keep unworthy applicants out of the Office. The
Railway Mail Service, under Geo. s. Bangs
General Superintendent, controls the travelling
agents and Post-Ofice clerks who distribute
mail matter in transit. Applicants for this
branch of the postali service must pass salts
factory preliminary examination, and, if ap-
pointed, are examined from time to time as to
their progress in acquiring general familiarity
aud acquaintance with the details of the de-
pertinent
A condensed programme of the portion of the
centennial celebration of the battles of LexiDg-
ton and Concord, which is appointed at the lat
lows: Address at the dedication of the monu
ment by Ralph Waldo Emerson; poem by
James Russell Lowell; original hymn by Henry
w. LoDgfellow, to be sung By the audience;
Grafton by George William Curtis; dinner for
ron0 ,arcouc tollowel Inv snaaoboo Il, J:e+;,