The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-22


As we do not purpose to make an abstract of Mr..
Batons book We shall mention only the chief Incl
dents OF this third period. and those very briefly 1t
was preceded by DETERMINATIONS and promotions
for merit in some bureaus early as 1884. and in
1882 by the beginnings of the radical reform in the
civil service of India but for which British suprem-
acy there would have been extinguished in the
perils 1t has since surmounted. It inaugurated
not by Parliament. but by the Cabinet tsef-by the
Executive in face of tho opposition of Parliament
which. however. unlike the Congress of the United
States. carried its resistance to the point OF
refusing the appropriations requested for the execu-
tive experiment. The Trevelyan and Northcote re-
port of 1858 was the corner stone of the new
structure It distinctly recognized that executive
patronage in the hands of members of Parliament
was the main cause of the defects in the civil SER
vice. and recommended the introduction Of open COM
petive examinations followed by period of proba-
Of the successful candidates. and also the crea
ton Of a central board of examiners. with COM
mon duties in respect to all the departments.
But little favor greeted this plan that. as Sir
Charles Treveyan certifes in letter to Mr.. Eaton
'the early supporters of it might be counted upon
the fingers, and il the matter had been put to the
vote in London society the clubs. even in Par
lament itself by secret voting. it would have been
rejected by overwhelming majority" The situa-
ton certainly discouraging for the Minis
try. which in earnest for the REFORM than that
in which President Grant succumbed and with
which President Hayes has been temporizing.
Nevertheless the authors and promoters of the plan
persevered. few though they were. "The govern
ment," says Mr.. Eaton faithful to its pledges and
its of duty resolved to persist in the reform at
all hazards" In the Queens speech at the opening
of the next session of Parliament allusion was made
to the report. which was laid before Parliament but
of the report submitted persons experienced
in executive administration in various parts of tho
United Kingdom and their opinions in
vited. and the responses. published in 1855. con-
stitute an invaluable repository of information and
ideas in this branch Of politics. Armed with these
replies Lord Palmerston's Ministry. which in Feb
ruary. 1885, had succeeded that Of Aberdeen. pro-
cured Order in Council for the execution Of the
recommendations Of Trevelyan and Northcote. with
some serious notifications and then went to Par
lament for an appropriation. which was granted.
although the Order in Council was disapproved IN
the House OF Commons by vote Of lao to 125. The
chief Of the notifications consisted in rescrvng to
members OF Parliament and certain high officers the
power of nominating the candidates for examina-
tion and in leaving to the head Of each government
bureau discretion whether the examinations in it
should be competitive. Subject to these and few
other reservations it declared that young pro-
posed for junior situations should be examined
under the direction Of civil service commission,
consisting Of three general commissioners, who
authorized tn appoint assistant examiners.
and should be admitted to probation
without certificate of qualification ascertained
There also provision for the admttance OF per-
Of mature age to places requiring special at
tainments. Probation was to last six months before
the formal appointment Directions also given
form mir thaa charac dv,Lv
OF the candidates. The commissions first re-
port filed in March. 1856, and thenceforward It
has reported annually aud this series OF blue books
comprising now fourteen volumes. is summarized
by Mr.. Eaton in several successive periods.
The first period, which may be styled "the period
of limited competition" extends to 1860. and en-
braces radical revusion In the sentiments Of Par
lament. So April. 1856. the House OF Com
MONS by vote of 108 to 81. eassed Q resolution
commencing the commission and its proceedings
and signifylng Ito Her Majesty that IL she shall
think fit further to extend them and to trial in
the service Of the method OF open competition as
condition of entrance this House will cheerfuIly
provide for any charges which the adoption of that
system may entail" and the next year It
resolved unanimously that 1.-the experience gained
is in favor Of tho adoption Of the principle
Of competition condition Of entrance to the civil
service. and that the application Of that principle
ought to be extended" In 1859, during the minis
try of the Earl Of Derby. the new system, which
hitherto, 1t must be remembered. had depended en-
tirely executive Order in Council for Its au.
thority incorporated into the legislation OF the
realm by the statute of 70 Victoria which declared
that. with o few specified exceptions. mo person
shall be considered serving in the permanent civil
service of the State unless admitted with certificate
from the Civil Service Commissioners"
The second period. which may be styled 1.-THE
period of the struggle for open competition" begins
with the appointment of o remarkable Parliament
airy committee Of Investigation into the civil service
during Lord Palmerston's second ministry in 1860.
and extends to the introduction Of that change by
another Order in Council in 1870. The committee OF
1860 OF which Lord Stanley. the present Earl Derby
was chairman. comprised among its fifteen members
Sir Stafford Northcote. Robert Love- John Bright and
Richard Monckton Mines. now Lord Houghton 1t ad-
vised the total abolition of ns
the of the limited examinations by the
freer nomination OF mpetitors and the gradual in.
PRODUCTION of open examinations in which no one
would need to be nominated by Parliamentary or
other official patron in order to become competitor.
But "the fear OF rccoil of public opinion il too
great changes made hastily" the committee re-
ported that they would have recon mended tho abo-
lition of the limitations competition immedi-
ately. All these recommen dations carried into
effect by the Pamerston Ministry. and the progress
toward froe competition continued steadily through
the successive administrations of Earl RUSSELL Earl
Derby and Mr.. Dsrael until it was terminated by
the order in Council Of the Attn Of July $780, framed
by Mr.. Gladstone's Ministry. which prescribed that
call appointments which it may be necessary to make
after the 31st OF August pcxt shall be made by
reasons Of competitive examinations according to
regulations. open to all persons of requisite age
health character and other qualifications prescribed
in the said regulations. who may be DESTROYS OF at
tending the same"
Now begins tho current PERIOD which may
style tho period of the diffusion OF the principles Of
British civil service system" It embraces their ap-
pcation to every branch OF the civil SERVICE except
the ecclesiastical establishment. to the military
academies. and to the army itself upon the passage
of the bill abolishipg the purchase of commissions.
and also their spread through the British colonies.