Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-12-04

any theory which disregards personal merit is
an act OF injustice to the citizen. as well a a
breach OF that trust subject ~ which the -
pointing power ia held In the light OF these
principles II becomes, of great importance to
provide Just and adequate meaus, especially for
every department and large administrative Of
nee, where personal Discrimination on the part
OF Its head Is not practicable for ascertaiuing
those qualifications to which appointments
and removals should have reference.
To fail to provide such means is not only to
deny the opportunity of ascertaining the facts
upon which the most righteous claim 10 Office
depend, but of necessity TO discourage al
worthy aspirants by handing over appoint
ments and removals TO mere influence and
fayoritism II it is the right of the worthiest
claimant TO gain the appointment, and the in
terest Of the people to bestow it upon him,
just method Of ssceriaining person
al fitness for Office must needs be
an important and permanent function of every
just and wise Government Ii has long since
become impossible in tue great offices for these
having the duty of nomination and appoint
ment to personally examine into the individual
qualifications of more than SINAI! proportion
OF those seeking office, and with the enlarge
ment Of civil service that proportion must con-
the Government the subordinate Offices were 3
few in number that it was easy for those max
ing appointments and promotions to personally
ascertain the merits Of the Candidates
Party managers aud methods had then
become powerful agents of coercion hos
tile to the free aud just exercise OF
the appointing power. A large and
responsible par, OF the duty OF restoring the
civil service TO he desired purity and efficiency
ba nd haa
purpose to do what is within my power to ad-
vance such prudent and gradual measures of
reform rs will most surely and rapidly bring
about that radical change OF system essential
to make our administrative me,hods sarisfac
tory to u free and intelligent peop'j by aproper
exei else OF authority 1t is in me power of
the Executive to do much to promote such q
reform, but il cannot be TOO clearly understood
that nothing adequate can be accomplished
without cooperation on the part of Congress
and cousiderate and intelligent support
among the people Reforms which challenge
the generally accepted theories of parties and
demand changes in the methods of departments
Ale 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-
ssries. Every worthy officer desires to make
his official action an honor to his country. But
tne people themselves, far more than their Off
4 pure, economical, and vigorous admin
ist,atioD. 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 was condemned, and
examinations as to capacity, to be condacted
by the Departmental Boards of Examiners
were provided for and made conditions OF adj
mission TO the public service, These statutet
are decision by Congress that examinations
of some sort as to attalnmenrs aud capacity art
essential to the well-being of the public ser
vice The important questions since the en-
actment of those laws have been as 10 the char
acter Of these examinations, and whether OH
cial favor and partisan influence or COM
mon right and merit we're to control the
access 10 the examinations. In practice these
examinations have not always been open tC
worthy persons generally who might wish &c
be examined, Official favortism aud partisan
iuluence, az rule, appear to have designated
! those who alone were permitted to 80 before
| the examining boards subjecling even the exam
! iners TO pressure from the friends OF the can
didates very difficult to resist AZ conse-
quenee, the standard Of admission fell below
that which the public interest demanded
1t was almost inevitable that system
which provided for various separate
boards of examiners, with no com
mon supervision or uniform method OF
| procedure, shond result i'll confusion, III
consistency, and inadequate tests of capacity
| highly detrimental to the public interest
A further and more radical change wat
! obviously required. In the ANIMAL message
of December, 1870, my predecessor declared
| that sthere is no duty which 80 mucl
embarrasses the Executive and heads o
oushly investigate the scope and character OF
the tests, and the method I determining the
results, and these visitors have, without excep
! ton, approved the modes employed, and severs
of them have pubisiy affected their
favorable opinion. Upon such considerations
| | deem il my duty to renew the recommends
ton contained In my annual message Of Deem
Der, 1877, requesting Congress 10 make The
necessary appropriations for the resumption OF
the work of the Civil Service Commission
Economy will be promoted by authorizing s
departments as that of appointments, nor IL
there any such arduous and thankleea labor i'm
posed on senator's aud Representatives as tina
Of finding places for constituents The pres
ent system does not secure the bes
men, and often not even fit men, fol
the public places. The elevation and puriii
cation of the civi: service of the Government
will be hailed with approval by the whole pc.
pie Of the United States" Congress accord
| ingy passed the act approved March 3, 1871
To regulate the civil service OF the United
States aud promote the efficiency thereof" CIV
ing the neces- ary authority 10 the Executive &c
! Institute civil-service reform. Acting under
this statute, which was interpreted I'D intended
! 10 secure o system of just and etfectual eGami-
nations under uniform supervision, number
/ of emiueutly competent persons were selected
| for the purpose, who entered with zeal upon the
| d -charge OF their duties, prepared with an IN
telligent appreciation Of the requirements Of the
s'rvIce, the regulations contemplated, and took
charge of the examinations, and who, in their
/ capacity ~ a board, have been known az the
Civil service Commission. Congress for TIVE
! years appropriated the money needed for th,
lnpensation and for tho expense of carrying
on the work of the commission 1t appear
| from tn report of The commission, submit eI
/ t, tue President in April, 1874, that e1aml2a-
| tons had been held Ia various sections of tbs
country, and that an appropriation Of sbou
! 81, 90 would be required 10 meet the ANNA
/ eg yenses, including salaries, involved IL