The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-12-05

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purpose to do what Is within my power to ad-
vance such prudent and gradual measures of
reform a. will most surely aud rapidly bring
about that radical change of system essential
to make our administrative methods satisfac-
tory to free and intelligent people by proper
exercise OF authority. 1t is In the power of
the Executive to do much to promote such 4
reform, butt cannot be TOO clearly understood
that nothing adequate can be accomplished
without cooperation on the part of Congress
and considerate and intelligent support
among the people. Reforms which challenge
the generally accepted theories of parties and
demand changes in the methods OF departments
are not the work of day. Their permanent
foundation must be laid in sound principles
and In an experience which demonstrates their
wisdom and exposes the errors of their adver-
saries. Every worthy officer desires to make
his official action an honor to his country. But
the people themselves, far more than their Off
GERS in public station, are interested in
pure, economical, and vigorous admin
istration. BY laws enacted in 1853 and
800; and now In substance incorporated in
the Revised Statutes, the practice OF arbitrary
appointments to the several subordinate grades
In the great departments was condemned, and
examinations as to capacity, to be conducted
by the Departmental Boards of Examiners,
were provided for and made conditions of ad-
mission to the public service. These statutes
are decision by Congress that examinations
| OF some sort as to attainmenrs and capacity are
essential to the well-being of the public SER
VICE The important questions since the en-
actment OF these laws have been az TO the char
acter OF these examinations, and whether OH
clal favor and partisan influence or COM
| mon rlBht and merit were TO control the
access TO the examinations In practice these
| examinations havc not always been open to
worthy persons generally who might wish to
be examined. Official favoritisrl aud partisan
| influence as rule, appear to have designated
| those who alone were permitted to 20 before
the examining boards, subjecting even the exam
IN Al.
didates very difficult to resist AS conse-
| quence, the standard of admission fell below
tnat which the public interest demanded
IL was almost inevitable that system
which provided for various separate
boards of examiners, with no COM
mon supervision or uniform method of
| procedure, shonld result in confusion. in
consistency, and inadequate tests of capacity
highly detrimental to the public interest
A further and more radical change was
OF December, 1870, my predecessor declared
| that there is no duty which 80 much
embarrasses the, Executive and heads of
departments as that OF appointments, nor Is
there any such arduous and thankless labor inn
posed on Senators and Representatives as that
of finding places for constituents. The pres
ent system does not secure the best
men, and often not even fit men, for
the public places The elevation and purif-
cation OF the civi: service of the Government
VIII DE hailed with approval by the whole pei
pie of the United States" Congress accord
ngy passed the act approved March 3, 1871,
10 regulate the civil service of the United
States and promote the efficiency thereof Civ
ing the neces sary authority to the Executive TO
institute civil-service reform. Acting under
this statute, which was interpreted as intended
10 secure system Of just and effectual exami-
nations under uniform supervision, number
OF emincnty competent persons were selected
for the purpose, who entered with zeal upon the
q charge of their duties prepared with an in
telligent appreciation Of the requirements of the
service, the regulations contemplated, and took
cAarSe OF Inc examinations, and who, in their
Capacity as board, have been kno2 n az the
civil service Commission. Congress for two
years appropriated the money needed for the
compensation and for the expense of carving
on the work OF the commission. 1t appears
from the report OF the commission, submitted
to tbe President in April, 1874, that examlpa.
tons had beea held in various sections of the
country, and that AZ appropriation Of abou,
$4,000 would be required to meet the ANNA
expenses, including salaries, involved iu
dlschaignS the duties Of the commits
sion. The report was transmitted TO
Congress by special message of April Is.
1874, with the following favorable common,
upon the labors CT the commission: "If sus-
tanned by Congress, L have no doubt the rul.
can, after the experience gained be so improved
and enforced as to still more materially benefit
the public service, and relieve the Executive.
members of Congress-, and the heads of dc
partments from influences prejudicial to good
adinlnistrstion The rules as they have bith-
erto been enforced, have resulted beneficiallv.
"a is shown by the opinions of the members OF
the Cabinet ami their subordinates in
the departments, and in that opinion l
concur" And III the annual message of
December or the same year similar views are
expressed, and an appropriation for continuing
the work of the commission again advise /.
The appropriation was not made, and, az O con-
sequence, the active work of the commission
was suspended, leaving the commissio itself
still in existence without the means therefore of
causing qualifications to be tested in any sys-
tematic manner, or securing for the public ser
vice the advantages OF competition upon any
extensive plan. recommended in my annual
message OF December, 1877, the making of an
appropriation for the resumption OF the |
work of the commission. In the meantime,
however, competitive examinations, under |
many embarrassments. have been conducted |
within limited spheres in the executive depart
ments in Washington, and in number of the |
custom houses and postofces Of the principal |
cities OF the country, with view to further |
test their effects, and in every instance they |
have been found to be as salutary as they are
stated TO have been under the administration
of my predecessor. / think the economy
purity and efficiency Of the public service
would be greatly promoted by their systematic
wherever practicable, throughout
the entire civil service of the Government,
together with ample provision for their general
uniform justice.
Reports from the Secretary of the Interior.
from the Postmaster General, from the Post
master in the city Of New York, where such
have been some time on trial.
and also from the Collector of the Port, the
Naval Officer and the Surveyor in that city.
and from the Postmasters and Collectors in
several Of the other large Cities chow that the
system, where applied, has in
various ways contributed to improve the
public service The reports show that the
results have been salutary in a marked
degree, and that the general application Of
similar rules cannot fail to be of decided benefit
10 the service The reports of the Government
officers in the city of New York especially
bear decided testimony 70 the utility Of
open competitive examinations in their respect
We offices, showing that these examinations,
and the excellent qualifications of those admit
ed to the service through them, have had
marked incidental effect upon the persons pre-
yiously in the service, and particularly upon
hose aspiring to promotion There has been
IN the part OF those latter an increased inter-
'st in the work, and desire to extend acquaint-
nee with 1t beyond particular desk, and thus
he morale Of the entire force has been raised
The examinations have been attended by many
itizens, who have had an opportunity to thor
,uShly investigate the scope and character of
ne tests, and the method Of determining the
,esults, aud these visitors have, without excep-