New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-03

says; Every man belonging to the people of
England, if he SO pleases to fit his children for
the position of competing for places in the public
service, may do it entirely irrespective of the amount
OF means with which he may happen to be blessed
no more proves that the dukes child and the wash
erwoman's heir actually stand a level at
the gates of the English public service
than Governor Hayess declaration July
8, 1876: "n elected l shall conduct the
Administration of the Government upon the
principle that the officer should be secure in his
tenure as long as his personal character remained
untamished and the performance of his duties satis
factory" proves that Mr.. Arthur and Mr.. Cornell
are still in the New-York Custom House.
The proof is to be sought. not much in abstract
cancellations about the Rules. as in the actual
working of the Rules themse yes. What is the gist
of informal, and therefore indubitable evil
dencef Do the washerwoman's sons show any
marked signs of what the good old deacon
used to call living up to their priyegesi Is there
any strong infusion of soapsuds in the English
Diplomatic Service. for instance, as seen in Wash
ingtOnf On the contrary / think il will be found
that every member Of the English Legation, from
the chief, who is himself the son of diplomat,
down to the very latest conner, is what
in England is technically called q gentleman.
They are chiefly the younger sons of the great
houses, and very slight inquiry develops the fact
that this large impOrtont and brilliant branch Of
the Civil Service has never been thrown open to
competition at all The "theory of partisan selfish
ness and dictation has never been so much med
died with there, and the son of sailor and the
heir of a washerwoman have not the ghost of a
showing!
have elsewhere said. and will not here repeat,
how the little " situations" of romance, the in
IL
comments of society. all point in the same direc-
ton. Informal but careful inquiry among the in-
spectOrs and other Customs officers at Liverpool,
last Summer, elected but one tone of reply:
Chow is it about these examinations-are they
hard Z"
"Oh, no anybody could pass them"
"And can any one who passes the examination
get an OficeY Could /, for nstanceF
"Oh! Lord, No, sir You would have TO get a
recommend from some member Of the Govern
mentp
This was the testimony of the lower grade of
officers An English gentleman of very high rank
and standing in the English Civil Service was
speaking to me since 1 have been writing
these papers, of his hope that his son would
be admitted to the service; and all the
uncertainty based, not upon his sons ability to
pass the examination, for of that he had doubt,
but upon the disposition of the Government TO
Oblge him. This gentleman--a working officer in
the present Civil Service of England-assured me,
exactly in confederation of the inspectors that in
order to get into the ranks for competitive exam
ination, a person must receive a nomination
from some high officer member of Parliament !;
and that patronage, so far from being diminished
by the system of examinations, had been increased
Since whereas formerly officer or member of Par
lament could only give one Office to one person, he
could now give the chance of Office to several per
sons and so discharge any obligation of service or
friendship to all, while those who failed would
have only themselves IL blame GAIL HAMILTON,