Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-02
From the Albany Journal.
Civil Service Reform.

Civil Service Reform.
There is a civil service reform which IS
practical, wholesome and neediui. lhere
is another kind which is theoretical, VS.
ionarv and ideal. The former can and
ouob, ,o he enforced. The latter, 1t at
tempted and followed on too romantic
basis. would bring confusion and failure
upon the whole. An intelligent and ra-
tional application of correct principles in
harmony with our system can effect
great and salutary change for the better.
To our mind the substance OF praciicsl
civil service reform is a fixed tenure OF
office and no removal during the term ex-
cept for cause That implies and Involves
all the essential results at which 1t aims.
The cardinal object Ct the reform Is To
lift the service out OF the constant IN
fluence of political management. to make
business efficiency the supreme test, to
establish the rule that continuance in
place depends upon the fidelity with
which officers discharge their pubic duty,
rather than upon their political value.
Now. this would be accomplis he'd by the
principle OF fixed rm and no removal
unless good cause, involving official de-
linqucncy or incompetency. be shown
Such a rule is practical and right. Under
it stability and efficient public service
would be attained The officer, when
once installed, would be free from poiti-
cal caprice and would feel secure so
long as he honestly and faithfully fulfilled
his public obligations. That is the real
essence OF the reform.
When upon this fundamental principle
the effort is made to engraft fantastic and
chimerical shoots, the only effect is to
neutralze and spoi! the practical good
which might otherwise be reached. 10
make the competitive examination the
test of appointment or promotion is to
apply test which doesn't try the essen
tial qualities at ALL The elements of fit
ness needed in public office are practical
capacity and integrity. How does the
competitive examination test theseP The
person who makes the readiest answers
in geography or arithmetic may have the
least practical tact and the poorest char
acter. Ii our public service has any de-
feet, it is not the want of capacity, but
the lack of morale. How is the conpeti-
tive examination to supply that need
There is too much of the ideal and too
little of practical common sense in this
experiment as the foundation OF civil
service reform. Nor is it possible to sep
arate politics altogether from appoint
ments. The appointments necessarily
come from political source, and the APP
pointing power would be something more
or less than human il it could abjure all
political thought in its action. As to the
influence of members of Congress, It is
very true that they should not take the
appointing power into their own hands;
but as practical matter the Government
must rely upon somebody Cor informa-
ton, and we suppose that knowledge
from them should be as acceptable as
from nybody else.
The country looks to the Administra
ton to carry out civil service reform upon
q practical basis. 1t is to be hoped that
it will not make the mistake of being
deluded BY too romantic and visionary
an ideal. Let it appoint good men to
office. Let it follow the best standard of
character and worth. Let 1t give its off
GERS sense of security SO long as they
faithfully perform their duty. Let it es-
tablish efficiency by making it the cardi-
nal test. And then it will have accom-
plshed true civil service reform.