American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-12-06

pose The rcsut I'm. hncn tnis 9nr
s srntf ,d ard somprehensise rsnort rht repor
system Stn In IRE sf!G o. the partisan spoil
fall OF the Parliamentary patronage, and OF
official Interference with the freedom of cleo
tons 1t shows that after long trials of va
rious kinds of examinations. those which are
comPctltiVe and open on equal terms to all
ana which are carrie on under the superin
tendcnce of single commission, have
win great advantage been established al
tration of that country and of British India.
The completion of the report, owing to the
extent of the labor involved I'm its prepare
ton, and the omission of Congress 10 make
any provision either for the compensation
postponed until the present time. II is here
with transmitted to Congress. While the re-
form measures of another Government are Of
no authority Tor us, they are entitled to i'd
| huence to the extent to which their intrinsic
wisdom and their adaptation to our institutions
our consideration. The views 1 have hereto
fore expressed concerning the defects and
abuses in our civil administration remain un-
changed, except in so far us an enlarged ex-
| perience has dcepened my sense of the duty
both of officers and of the people themselves to
cooperate for their removal The grave evils
ana psriis Of partisan spoHs system OF APP
now Generally recognized. In the rcsolu-
tiaps of the great parties, in the reports
OF Departments, In the debates and proceedings
of Congress in the messages of Executives
the gravity of these evils has been pointed
out, and the need OF their reform has been ad-
mitted. To command the necessary support,
every measure of reform must be based on
compaiibe With D the u' health hy' ea ise
OF grf parties which Sne are inevitable and
National election, confidence In the off,
GERS they have selcctod, Gnd the adj
situations, should be consulted in the policy
which it Is their duty to carry into effect, is in
dispensablc. 1t is cmincntly proper that they
before
illustrate its spirit in the performance of their
OH. official duties. 1t hardly need pc pointed out
ssbprtlinaIe places in the eeivil service.
ors ' In oieiai position. II i. heir duty et to
obey the legal instructions of those upon
whom that authority Is dcvolved. and their best
public service consists in the discharge OF
their functions irrespective of partisan pol
tiles. Their Duties are the same whatever
party is in power, and whatever policy pre-
walls As n consequence, It follows that their
tenure of. Office should not depend upon the
any parry, but should be determined by their
capacity to serve the people most uscrilly quite
irrespective OF partisan interests. The same
considerations that should govern the tenure
should also prevail in the appointment dis
cipline and removal of these subordinates.
not perauisi,e which NAV be used to aid 3
friend or reward n PARTISAN but is a trust to
be exercised in the public interest, Under all
the sanctions which intend the obligation to
apply the public funds only for public pur>
poses. Every citizen has an equal right to the
honor and profit of entering the public service
of his country. The only Just ground of dis
elimination is the measure of character and
capacity he has to make that service most use
Except in eases where, upon just and recog-
nized principles; us upon the theory of PEN
sions. offices and promotions are bestowed rs
rewards for past services, their bestowal upon
any theory which disregards personal merit is
breach of that trust subject to which the ap-
pointing power is held. In the light of these
principles II becomes of great Importance TO
provide just and adequate means, especially
for every depart ment and large administrative
Office, where personal discrimination on the
part of its he I'd is not practicable for ascer-
tanning those qualifications TO which appoint
ments and removals should have reference.
To fail to provide such means il not only
to deny the opportunity of ascertainiug the
facts upon which the most righteous claim to
Office depends but of necessity to discourage
all worthy aspirants by handing over APP
pointments and removals 10 mere influence
and favoritism. If it is the right Of the
worthicst claimant to Eiin the appointments,
and the interest OF the people to bestow it
upon him, it would seem clear that wise
sonal fitness for Office must needs be
an important and permanent function
of every just and wise Government. 1t has
long since become impossible in the great Of
fees for those having the duty of nomination
and appointment 10 personally examine i'fo
the individual qualifications of more than
small proportion of those seeking Office. and
with the enlargement OF Civil Service that pro-
portion must continue to become less. In the
earlier years Of the G government the sIIbordi-
nate Offices were so few in number that il was
quite easy for those making appointments and
to personally ascertain the merits
of candidates. Purity managers and methods
had not then become powerful agents of CO.
erciou hostile to the free and just exercise OF
the appointing power. large and respon-
siblc part Of the duty of restoring the Civil
rests upon the President; and it has been my
purpose to do what is within my power to adj |
.eform as Viii Hi most Surely and RAPIDLY bring
about that radical change of system essential |
20 make our administrative methods sat.
people by proper exercise of authority. |
It is in the power of the Executiyet to do much
20 promote such a reform, but it cannot be |
90 clearly understood that nothing adequate |
AN be accomplished without cooperation on |
he part of Congress, and cOnsiderate and in |
eilgcnt support among the people Reforms |
which challenge the generally accepted theO-
les of parties and demand changes in the |
day. Their permanent foundation must be |
aid in sound principles and in an experience
which demonstrates their wisdom and exposes
the errors of their Anniversaries.
fciaI action an honor to his country But the
people themselves, far more than their officers
1omical and vigorous Administration. By
avs enacted in 1883 and 1855, and now in sub
'tance Incorporated in the Revised Statutes,
he practice of arbitrary appointments to the
several subordinate grades in the great De
part ments was condemned, and examina-
1epartmentai Boards of Examiners, were
provided for and made conditions of admission
ision by Congress that examinations of some
ort as to attainments and capacity are essen
ial to the well-being of the public service.
rhc important questions since the enactment
# these laws have been as to the character of
hese examinations, and whether official fuvor
merit were to control the access to the exami-
lations- In practice these examine
to Worthy persons o generally who might Wish
o be examined Official favoritism and
ARTISAN influence as Il rule, appear to have
those who alone were permitted to
% before the Examining Boards, subjecting
ven the Examiners TO II pressure from the
list. As n consequences, the standard of adj
Mission fell below that which the public in
crest demanded. 1t was almost inevitable
hat a system which provided for various
eparatc Boards of Examiners, with no COM
non supervision or uniform method of pro-
edure should result in confusion, inconsist-
ncy, and inadequate tests of capacity highly
efrimentaI to the public interest. A further
uircd- In the annual message of Dccem-
err, 1870, my predecessor declared that
asses the Executive and heads of Depart
rents as that of appointments. nor is therenn
UGH arduous duties and thankless labor inn
osed on Senators and Representatives as that
{ finding places for constituents. The pres
mt system does not secure the best men. and
ftcn not even fit men, for the public places.
he elevation and puriiication of the Civil
crvice of the Government will be hailed with
pprovai by the whole people of the United
tates." Congress accordingly passed the act
pproved March 3, 1871, ITO regulate the
iviI Service of the United States ana promote
ne efficiency thereof" giving the necessary
uthority to the Executive to inaugIrate CIV
Service reform. Acting under this statute,
bicn WINS interpreted as intended to secure a
ystcm of Just and ciIectual examinations I'M
er uniform supervision, number OF emf
emily competent persons were selected Tor
lc purpose, who entered with zeal upon the
of their duties, prepared with an IN
slligent appreciation OF the requirements OF
1e service and the regulations contemplated,