Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-09

| advisers who. in accordance with our
political institutions, should be cen
suited in the policy which it is THEN
duty TO carry into effect is indispensa-
BILE. II is eminently proper that they
should explain il before the people n
well rs illustrate its spirit in the per-
Torrance of their official duties.
1t hardly need be pointed out that
! very different considerations apply 10
the greater number of those who ill the
subordinate places in the civil service
| Their responsibility is TO their supe-
riors in official position. 1t is their duty
TO obey the legal instructions of those
upon whom that authority is devolved,
and their best public service consists in
! the discharge of their functions ire
spective of partisan politics. Their du-
ties are the same whatever party is in
power, and whatever policy prevails.
Asa consequence, it follows that their
tenure Of Office should not depend upon
the prevalence OF any policy, or the SUI
I premaey of any party, but should be de-
termined by their caTacity to serve the
people most usefully, quite irrespective
| OF partisan interests. The same consiC-
erations that should govern the tenure
should also prevail in the appointment,
discipline, and removal of these subor-
dinates. The authority of appointment
and removal is not perquisite
which may be used TO aid n
friend or reward partisan. but is a
trust TO be exercised in the public inter
est under all the sanctions which attend
the obligation to apply the public funds
only for public purposes. Every citizen
has an equal right TO the honor and
profit of entering the public service OF
his country. The only Just ground OF
discrimination is the measure Of charac-
ter and capacity he has TO make that
service most useful TO the people. EX-
cept in cases where. upon just and re-
cognized principles, rs upon the theory
OF pensions, offices and promotions are
bestowed as rewards for past services.
their bestowal upon any theory which
disrcgards personal merit Is an act OF IN
justice TO the citizen, as well rs n breach
Of that trust subject 10 which the ap'
pointing power is held.
PROPER METHODS OF EXAMINATION.
In the light of these principles, ii be-
comes of great importance 20 provide
Just and adequate means, especially Tor
every department and large admins
trativc Office where persona diSCrimina-
ton on the part Of its head is not prac'
ticahle, for aSCertainlng those qunIilica-
lions 10 which appointments ana re-
movals should have reference. To iai.
To provide such means Is not only to
deny the opportunity of asCCTtaining the
facts upon which the most righteous
claim TO office depends, but of ncces-
sity to discourage all worthy as
pirants by handing over appoint
ments and removals 10 mere in
fuence and favaritism. If il is the
RICH. of the worihic>t claimant to
gain the appointment. and the
interest of the people 10 bestow il upon
him. it would seem clear that a wise
aud Just method of aScertaining personal
illness for Office must needs be an i'm
rortant and permanent function OF
every Just and wise government. IL haS
long since become impossible, in the
great offices. for those having the duty
of nomination and appointment to per
sonaily examine into the individual.
qualifications of more than small pro
portion of those seeking Office. and with
the enlargement of civil service that
proportion must continue 10 become
less. In the earlier years Of the gov
eminent, the subordinate Offices were
SO few in number that il was easy for
those making appointments and promo
tions TO personally ascertain the merits
of the candidates. Party managers and
methods had not then become power
ful agencies of coercion hostile TO
the free and just eNercise-of the appoint
ing power.
4 large and responsible part of the
duty OF restoring the civil service TO the
desired purity and efficiency rests upon
the President, and it has been my pur-
pose 20 do what is in my power 10 adj
vance such prudent and gradual meas
ures of reform as will most surely and
rapidly bring about that radical change
of system essential To make our admin
iStration methods satisfactory TO n free
and intelligent people. By proper eX-
ercise of authority II is in the power OF
the executive 10 do much 10 promote
such reform. But il cannot be too
clearly understood that nothing ade-
Quate can be accomplished without CO.
operation on the part of Congress, and
Considerate and intelligent support
among the people. Reforms which
challenge the generally-accepted theo-
ries of parties, and demand changes in
the methods of departments, are not the
work of day. Their permanent
foundations must be laid in sound prin-
ciples, and in an experience which
demonstrate their wisdom and exposes
the errors OF their adversaric4 Every
worthy officer desires to make his Of
fetal action gain and an honor TO his
country, but the people themselves, far
more than their officers in public sta
ton, are interested in pure, economi-
cal, and vigorous administration.
By laws enacted in 1853 and 1855, and
now in substance incorporated in the
revised statutes, the practice Of arbitrary
appointments TO the several subordinate
grades in the great departments YVES
condemned, and examinations as TO
capacity, TO be conducted by depart
mental boards of examiners. were pro.
vided for and made conditions of adj
mission TO the public service. These
statutes are decision by Congress that
examinations of some sort aS 10 attain
ments and capacity are essential 10 the
well-being of the public service. The
Important qutotlOnS SlnCc lliC tIlaCtmSh'
of these laws have been as 10 the charac-
ter of these examinations and whether
official favor and partisan influence or
common right and merit were to control
the access to the examinations. In
practice, these examinations have not
always been open to worthy persons
generally who might wish to be exam
ined; official favoritism and partisan in
huence, as rule, appear to have desig-
mated those who alone were permitted
to 90 before the examining boards, sub
jectiDg even the examiners to a pressure
from the friends of the candidates very
difficult to resist. As a consequence,
the standard of admission fell be-
low that which the public interest
demanded. 1t was almost inevi-
| ,shla that q susten Which nrnvided