Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-10-30
Cira Serrice Reform.

cernng the president restrictive oIIt4'
ana he promptly responds, but. yod
know, the Cincinnati Platform declared
ios civil service reform. and Mr.. Hayes,
beng al honest man, feels bound 10 car
" out and lul6li he pledges Of bis pS.ty
platform" and then he proceeds - rSye
81 the selfish, uustrupu politician who
wishes to control al tae appointments
Ire country 5 pledged 10 civil service
reform, and 20 person = no has given tie
subject moments careful ,hougat, VII
hesitate 10 sAy there is need OF such IT,
ioru. and that his energies shall be given
to assist IN carry ing forward that work.
An Official who feels that be shall simply
hold place during the pleasure OF s single
administration, or that he IS subject 10
removal 81 The pleasure or caprice OF a.
aspiring apostle Of Jackson, goes 10 h.
task with little heart he feels thst be
is not at bis life work; if he succeed We,
enough to draw his pay. and to pleas
him who secured the appointment. he l.
content. Offices are considered by The
dominant party as are palaces by con-
oonquering army-mere places 70 yeve.
in. Civil service reform means 20 chang,
81 this.
The government should be regarded
IS huge business establishment, and iIs
officials should be treated as are the en-
ployes OF . successful commercial house.
Every voter should feel that be is a menu
Der OF this firm, instead OF looking st it
s. foreign territory. subject tor conquest.
II 8 merchant notes one OF his clerks IS
particularly faithful snd efficient, he uses
sll possible endeavoTs 20 retain the mans
services. he endeavors 20 all his offices
with such clerks, None knows better
than be OF the loss which invariably to-
lows The employing OF green hands"
The new help has frs; % be taugh. ,ae
duties OF his position; lie wastes time AID
material, and IS necessarily inefficient W.
oil he has become thoroughly Unlisted.
What IS true in this respect OF @ bu-i-
ness house, under the supervision @. 10
teresied parties, becomes doubiy - iG
many government clerkships. where there
is virtually NO supervision. VIA The -
vent Of each administration, there hsS
been general change il The public sey-
vice. Every department is invaded o.
raw recruits, and thus me people Lave
lost fabulous sums periodically. Civ.
service reform, unmarked 10y partisan
bias snd not weakened BY seniner,siity,
consists first, in the securing OF Chiciea-
officials; and secord, in retaining .hs
services Of a.! sue.
In regard 10 The appoil .mert OF c.ecls,
pOsImasterS. etc, there are mAuy meth
DDS proposed, A competitive eXamias-
ton, a. sdyOcs,ed by Mr.. Curtis and Mr.
Schulz, presents many good points. In
der this plan New England would hsye
no cause Tor complaint, IS she would, 90
doubt. receive her iull share ct appoint
mems. On this ground. some other
sections might ieei oggrIeyed. There Is
Q seCious objection 10 ,ais plan "a ne
difficulty Of framing examinations suit
able for each case. Above The eienen-
tary branches, 10 general rule Can be
fxet. A Paten, Office CLERK should he
familiar with Jaws of mechanics, with
chemistry and physics. Ii be have
practical knowledge OF machinery, so
much he better. Clerks in Ibs foreign
department should De linguists; in the
Custom department an acquaintance with
weights. measures and coins, with =
tseils method OF reducing them, would
render an applicant particularly tiled for
The several positions. But above al
these, q knowledge OF the yarioys duties
connected with certain position. is the
best quali6estion-and this can only be
attained by experience. Promotions,
then, give Us the best clerks; but the
lower ranks. it is evident, must De 1lled
with inexperienced men. How shall we
secure those best qualified 70 grow up in
the serviee7 Any live man, with ordi-
nary intelligence. and wiki the incentive
OF life service. can readily qualify himself
for position. Undoubtedly, those whom
Congressman recommend, are men OF
this character. They are the party work
ers, and have distinguished themselves
by general activity. Ii they were to
turn their undivided attention to Official
duties. they would become as distinguish
ed in that department, as they were IN
party work. The inefhcieuey OF Con-
gressional appointments Is not so much
due to the appointment of incompetent
men, as il is 20 the fact that these men
lake no interest in their work. As
matter of justice, every section Of The
country should be represented in tie
service. and such representation car only