The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1879-12-05


this subject by the Chairman OF the Owl Serv-
ice Commission. In view Of the fact that
during . considerable period the Government
Of Great Britain has been dealing with
administrative problems and abuses in
various particulars analogous 10 those present
cd in this country and that, in recent years,
the measures adopted we've understood 10 have
been effective and in every respect highly sat
isfactory, thought ii desirable 70 have fuller
information upon the subject, aud accordingly
requested the Chairman Of the Civil Servi y
Commission 10 make = thorough investigation
for this purpose The result has beer an elsb-
orste and comprehensive report The report
sets forth the history Of the partisan spells sys-
tenn in Great Britain, and Of the rise and fall OF
the Parliamentary patronage, and Of Of
nciAl interference with the freedom OF
elections. Il shows that, after long
trials Of. o. various Sns kinds OF s1smiD MA
open on equal terms TO all. and which are car
ried on under the superintendent Of q single
commission, have with great advantage been
established as conditions OF admission TO almost
every official place in the subordinate admins
trSuon OF that country and of British India.
The completion OF the report, owing 10 the ex-
tent OF the labor involved in its preparation, and
the omission OF Congress TO make any proyis-
ion either for the compensation or the expenses
Of the commission, has been postponed until
the present time. IL ID herewith transmitted
70 Congress. While the measures Of another
Government are of no Gu horiiy for rs, they
are entitled TO influence to the extent 10 which
their intrinsic wisdom and their adaptation TO
our institutions and social life may commend
them to our consideration The views ] have
heretofore expressed concerning the defects
and abuses In our civil administers alton remain
unchanged, except IN 20 far as an enlarged ex.
perience has opened my sense Of the duty both
Of officers and Of the people themselves
to Cooperate for their removal The grave
evils and perils Of apartisan-spolls system ofap-
point ent to office aud office tenure are now
generally recognized In the resolutions Of the
great parties, IN the reports Of depa tments, IN
the debates and proceedings of Congress, III the
messages OF Executives, the gravity of there
evils has been pointed ont, and the need of their
reform has been admitted To command the
necessary support, every measure of reform
must be based on common right and justice,
ana must 10 compatible with the healthy
existence Of great parties, which are inevitable
and essential In Q free state. When the
people have approved policy ct =
national election, confidence on the part of
the officers they have selected and OF the I'D
vlsers who, in accordance with our political
institutions, should be consulted in the policy
which 1t is their duty to carry into effect,
is indispensable. 1t is eminently proper that
they should explain it before the people, as
well as illustrate its spirit in the performance
OF their official duties Il hardly need be
apply TO the greater number Of those who
I'LL the subordinate places in the civil service
Their responsibility is to their superiors
in offcial position. Il is their duty to
obey the legal instructions of those upon whom
that authority is involved, and their best pub
lie service consists in the discharge of theiI
functions irrespective Of partisan politics
Their duties are the same Whatever party is 10
power, and whatev T policy prevails AS c
cons quence, 1t follows that their tenure OF
Office should not depend upon the prevalence
of any policy or the supremacy Of any party,
but should be determined by their capacity TO
serve the people most usefully, quite
irrespective OF partisan interests. III
same consideration that should govern
the tenure should also prevail in the ap-
pointment, discipline, and removal Of these
subordinates. The authority OF appointment
&Dd removal is not psrqmsite which may be
used 10 aid . friend or reward pArtisan, but
is trust 10 be exercised in the public interest
under all the Eanctions which attend the
obligation to apply the public funds only for
publ C purposes. Every citizen has an equal
right to the honor and profit Of entering the
ground Of discrimination Is the measure Of
character and capacity he has to make that
service most useful to the people
Except in cases where, upon Just and recog-
nlzed principles, as upon the theory Of pen
sinns, Offices and promotions are bestowed as
rewards Of past services, their bestowal upon
any theory which disregards personal merit is
an act Of injustice to the citizen, as well as q
breach Of that trust subject to which the ap-
pointing power Is held. In the light of these |
principles it becomes of great importance IT, |
provide Just and adequate meaI s, especially for
every department and large administrative Of
fee, where personal di- crlnnatiOn on the part
Of Its head Is not practica be for ascertaiIiug
those qualifications to which appointment
and removals should have reference
To fail to provide such means is not only TO
deny the opportunity of sscertaiuing the fact
upon which the most righteous claim 10 oficf
depend, bnt Of necessity 70 discourage al
worthy Aspirants by handing over appoint
ments and removals 10 mere influence and
fayoritism. II it is the right Of the worthless
claimant to gain the appointment, and the in
it would seem clear that 9 wise and
Just method Of sscertaining person
al fitness for Office must needs b.
an important and permanent function Of every
just aud wise Government. 1t has long sinca
become impossible in the great Offices for these
having the duty Of nomination and appoint
ment TO personally examine into the individual
qualifications Of more than . small proportion
Of those seeking Office, and with the enlarge
ment Of civil service that proportion must con-
time to become less. In the earlier years OF
the Government the subordinate Offices were
few In number that it was easy for those max
ing appointments and promotions to personally
ascertain the merits OF the candidates
Party managers and methods had then
become powerful agents Of coercion hos
tile 70 the free and just exercise O
the appointing power. A large ano
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
purpose to do what is within my power to ad-
vance such prudent and gradual measures Of
reform as will most surely and rapidly bring
about that radical change OF system essential
70 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 q
reform, but it 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 peuple. Reforms which challenge
the generally accepted theories Of parties and
demand changes in the methods of departments
are not the work Of Q 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
ce1 in public station, are interested in
q pure, economical, and vigorous admin
istration. BY laws enacted in 1883 aud
lSl5. 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 10 capacity, to be conductef
by the Departmental Boards OF Examiners,
we're provided for and made conditions Of ad-
mission to the public service. These statute
are 9 decision by Congress that examinations
Of some sort as 10 attainments aud capacity art
essential TO the well-being Of the public SCI
vice The important questions since the en-
actment Of these laws have been as to the char
acter Of these examinations, and whether off,
cisl favor and partisan influence or com
mon 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 mi ht wish 70
be examined Official fayoritism aud partisan
influence, as q rule, appear 70 have designated
those who alone were permitted to go before
theeTsmiuing boards, suhjeciing even the exam
liners to pressure from the friends Of the can
didates very difficult 10 resist. AS q conse-
quence, the standard Of admission fell below
that which the public interest demanded
Il was almost inevitable that q 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 10 the public interest.
A further and moro radical change was
obviously required In the aDnuaI message
Of December, 1870, my predecessor declared
that Sthere lie no duty which 80 much
embArrasses the Executive and heads OF
oughly investigate the scope and character Of
the tests, and the method Of Determining the
results, and these visitors have, without excep-
ton, approved the modes employed, and several
of them have publicly atiested their
favorable opinion. Upon such considerations,
deem 1t my duty to renew the recommends
ton Contained in my annual message of Decem-
Der, 1877, requesting Congress 70 make the
necessary appropriations for the resumption Of
the work Of the Civil Service Commission