New-York tribune., 1878-11-09
CIVIL SERVICE SCHOOLS.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM PROFESSOR wEIT

THE SCHOOL OF POLITICAL sCIENCE AT PARis--IhE
GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND THE EvILs THAT
The PRESENT SYSTEM MUST ISDUCE-nOw To
REMOVE THEM.
70 the EdftOr Of The tribune.
SIR: As the suggestions offered in my letter on
Civil Service Schools published in TIE TRIBUNE oil
August II, have met with some approval may
venture to roaffirm the original proposition and add
thereto a word of conn ent The thoroughness WIN
which the Military Academy trains young men ior
military service gave rise to the question: Why is
it net possible for the Government to establish sim
lar schools with appropriate systems of instruction
for the Civil Servicel The discipline aWest Point, IN
addition to the instruction afforded in military
science tends 20 form the character of its graduates
on a foundation of personal honor and strict IN
tegrity. while conduct becoming officer ana
gentleman" is expected a first condition for sus
tanning the esprit de corps that cOnspicuOusy marks
the military profession. Mr.. George w. Curtis, III
his address at the Unitarian Conference at Sara
tOga said "There is not an officer of the Army ana
Navy who IS not proud of the uniform he wears AMI
the flag ne serves; while offcehoder' in civil life
is a term of reproach from the humiliating tenure
under which he holds his place"
was not sware, when | suggested the founding
Of Civil Service schools, that an institution Oi
similar kind had been recently established France
The additional suggestion that graduates OF COZ
leges might enter these schools and follow course
of study specially adapted to the needs OF the sew
eral departments of the Civil Service is precisely
the plan adopted in the French school. 1HE
TRIBUNE. a few days subsequent to the appearance
of my letter, contained report of al interview
with President Andrew ID. White. in which he said:
"The most interesting thing in France to the Amer
ican in higher education, is the new school for po-
Iical SCIENCE at Paris Ii distinct from ii Sor-
bonnie or ti9 College Of France. 1t receives young
men who have taken what we call the first degree,
and gives them IA postgraduate course IN history,
political science, III iact'
valuable for making young man efficient III pun
Ic service thought 1t was one OF the most inter
cstlng and suggestive things in Europe" The neces-
sty that has led to the establishment of tins nstl-
tuition in France, and to a Board of Examiners
or n Civil Service Commission in England, Is one
from which our own experience proves we can
not escape. That our Civil Service would be I'M
proved by greater thOIOughncss OF organization
by the establishment or grades or ranks of promo
ton from the lower TO the higher Offices, ana Dy
specal training schools for the several departments
OF this service. Is beyond question. The fact so
credtable to our service, that close scrutiny has
failed TO discover fraud or rncompetency in the man
pcmtnt of Sc, cra of Its departments, Is not sum
cicut argument for the continuance Of a system by
which this hapay state of things Is continually
ieopardlzcd or made dependent upon a lortu-
nate concurrence Of honesty aud capacity III
party selections. While the fact Is not overlooked
that large number Of o,icc-h0lders IN this service
arc cmincntly qualified, by every requisite attain
ment for the positions they TIL, and whle iher
ability and strict integrity are unqnesuoncd' II Is
equally true that many Offices are, or have bcen'
flied by appoIutccs who have no other qualification
TO recommend them than that to them, as ytctors III
party politics, belong the spoils.
esIrom the nature Of our present system many oi
those who hold uficc-ncarly all OF thcm-arc
largely occupied. during their hnci tenure, with se
curipg a continuance Of party patronage 10y using
tho machinery OF the Civil service for political ends
If these possible party changes reduced to
minimum by placing these offices beyond the reach
of the politician as are the Army and Navy the ser
vice would without doubt. bc much improved. rs
il II ~ is under the most favorable aspect OF the
present system, notwithstanding subordinate ON
Gers or clerk. are, from sheer necessity.
frcqucntly uudsturbed by changes Of admin
lstration, political appointments are made
winch are no less damaging TO the true functions OF
this service, in it's economies and general usefulness
than would be the sudden promotion al an iheAPe-
Tenced and undiscIpIned volunteer To the coulhdhd
of veteran troops in time of war II the routine OF
the Office can be properly carried on by the Il" III
di.pen,able and experienced clerks thai are re-
tanned ~ drll-masters for the higher officers or po-
cal place-seekers 1t follows that these last might
br III .peuscd with altogethor 1t Is to be supposed
that this sep would be resisted 20 the last d ch by
that noble army of political martyrs which would be
left m deplOrdbe condition, with It's supplies cut
oH To knock so many chairmen. OF political eau
cuscs on the head would cause horrid spectacle oi
bloody shirts; put the linen of the departments
would be In the end the cleaner for H.
In every other profession than that OF the CIVll
Service some specific training Is deemed necessary
and whether there be traInIng-schools or SIMPLY
elementary examinations, the duties oi 0ihcc-old-
crs from the highest to the lowest, particularly III
our DiplomaIIc Service require less preparatory
dlscipliue-somc training other than mere expert
cnce Of political life, Tho custom OF the depart
mcuts to retain in Office through the
changes of administration. subordinate oih'ers
,vrose experienco has been deemed too
valuable TO be dispensed with Is II mere matter "l
polcy, not Of rule, and may be followed or not. as
suts the convenience OF the party in power. IL Is
10 guard against the evil Of arbitrary changes
for merely political ends that the organization OF
the CIVIL Service ON IL plan corresponding with the
Military Service is recommended In my letter OF
Aurust II. | said "lhe hcdgling Lieutenant. on
graduation does not expect that BY the end ol the
wear he will wear tho epaulets OF bnRadloi-
generali He enters one of tho five district
corps OF the Army, and before hnn 4
long graded list. reaching from the noyico
to the veteran. By the time each successive
grade j. attained his experience, IN addition to his
early instruction. enables him to fulfil his duilrs
with accuracy and intelligence. That correspond
ing order Of promotion for the Civil ScT-
vice, based on fidelity and merit IS dr-ir-
able, experience has amply proved. Ibis would
tend to prOmOUr a prestige or morale among
the officers of this service that cannot be expected
to prevail while changes are merely arbitrary ana
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