The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-12-12

Every worthy oaicer desires 70 make his Of
ncinl action m honor 20 HE country. But tho
people themselves. faf more than their officers
IN public station. ARE interested In pure, eco
nomicai and vigorous Administration. ny
laws enacted In 1853 and lsi,5. and now In sub
stance Incorporated in the Revised Statutes,
the practice ~ arbitrary appointments 10 the
several subordinate grades In the great De-
Ions ns 20 capacity. 10 be conducted by the
Departmental boards Of Examiners. were
PROVIDED for and made sonditionsof admission
cision Nv Congress that examinations Of some
sort ns 20 attachments and capacity are essen
tal "a the well-bcng of the public service.
The important questions since The enactment
81 these laws have been rs 10 the character Of
these examinations. and whether official favor
merit were 20 control the access 10 the exami-
iions have not always been open
TO be examined. Onical fayortism and
partisan influence. rs ruc, appear 10 have
Designated those who alone were permitted 10
60 before the Examining Boards, subjecting
even the Examiners 10 a pressure from the
friends 81 the candidates very dficult 70 re-
sist. Asa consequence, the standard Of adj
terest demanded. II was almost inevitable
that system which provided for various
separate Boards 81 Examiners. with no com
mon supervision or uniform method Of pro-
ccdure. should result In confusion, inconsist-
ency. and inadequate tests Of capacity highly
detrimental 70 me public interest. a fuuhcr
and more radical change was obviously re-
CURED. In the annual message OF Dccem-
bef, 1871. my predecessor declared that
"ihcre 4 no duty which SO much embar-
rnsscs the Executive and heads OF Depart
mcnfs ~ that Of appninimcnfs. nor Is there any
such ariuOus duties and thnnklcss labor im-
posed on senators and Representatives as that
d hndins places iur constituents The pres
snt system does not secure the best men. and
,flcn not even III men, for the public places.
The elevation and purihcatinn a. the civil
1If.IIt
approval by the whole people ~ the United
States" Congress accordingly passed the net
approved March .. 1871. ITO regulate the
Civil Service OF the United States and promote
the efficiency thereof. giving the necessary
authority 10 the Executive 10 inMiguratc a Civ
il-Scrvicc reform. Acting under this statute,
which was interpreted M intended 10 secure
system ~ Just and effectual examinations I'M
der uniform supervision. number Of emf
Hen'ly competent persons were selected Tor
the purpose who entered with zen! upon the
discharge ~ their duties. prepared with an in.
tcllipent appreciation OF the requirements ~
the service and the regulations contemplated,
and took charge OF the examinations. and who.
In their capacity as a Board. have been known
rs the Ciyil-Seryice Commission. Congress
for two years appropriated the money needed
for the compensation and Tor the expense
~ carrying on the work or the Commits
sion. IL appears from the report ~ the Com
mission, submitted 10 the President IN April.
1874. that examinations had been held In
various sections ~ the country, and that an
appropriation of about x25.o00 would be re-
7 CURED 70 meet the annual expenses including
salaries. involved IN dlscharging the duties 81
the Commission The report was transmitted
70 Congress by special message 81 April ~,
1874. with the following favorable comment
upon the lahors ~ the Commissions: :" IL sus-
tanned by Congress, ! have no doubt the
rules can. after the experience gained. hc 50
improved and enforced as 70 sfil more mate
rinily benefit tho public service, and relieve
the Executive. members ~ Congress and the
heads ~ Departments from Influences prcju-
dicial 20 good administrative. The rules. az
Inx Afs I'm. nf IaN rf-
suited btncncnlly. NJ u shown ~ the
opinions " the members Of the Cabinet
and their subordnates in the Depart
%sn' A ana IL y ,s SA' an apa'n message s
Of December OF the same year similar views
are expressed and an appropriation for con-
tinuiug the work 81 the Commission again ad-
viscd. The appropriation was not made, and,
rs consequence. the active work OF the
I Commission was suspended. leaving the Com
mission itself still in existence without the
means therefore ~ causing qualifications 10
4 be tested Ia any systematic manner. or 81 Sc
curing for the public service the advnn-
tages ~ competition upon any extensive plan:
! recommended In my annual message 81
December. 1877. the making OF an appropria'
ton for the resumption ~ tho work OF the
Commission In the meantime, however,
competitive examinations. under many crn-
barra~smentS. have been conducted within
limited spheres IN the Executive Departments
IN Washington. and IN a number ~ the Gus
ton-houses and post-oihcs Of the pi1n-
cipal cities 81 the country. with view
10 further test their effects, and In
every instance they have been found
have been under the Administration of my
predecessor. think the economy. purity and
efficiency ~ the public service would be great
~ promoted by their systematic Introduction.
wherever practicable throughout tho entire
Civil Service ~ the Government, together
with ample provision for their general super
vision, ~ order 10 secure consistency ana uni
form Justice.
Reports from the Secretary Of the Interior.
master In the City ~ New York. where such
examinations have been for some timo on trial,
and also from the Collector 81 the Port, the
Naval Officers and the surveyor In that city,
and from tho pustmastcrs and collectors In
several " the other large cities. show that the
competitive system. where applied, has In va
rinus ways contributed 10 improve the public
service. The reports show that the re
suits have been sniutnry In a marked degree,
and that general application q similar
the service The reports Of tho Government
officers In tho City ~ New YolR especially
bear decided testimony 20 the utnty ~ open
Offices. showing that these examinations and
the excellent qualifications OF those admitted
10 the service through them, have had
viousiy IN Tie Service. anu parlcnIaSly upon
those aspiring 10 promotion. There has been
on the part Of the latter an increased inter
esf m the work. and 4 desire 10 extend nc
quaintance with II beyond the particular desk
occupicd.and thus the morale ~ the entire
force mas been ruf~el. me tNtiNlNttltf- ntNt
been attended by many citizens. who have hue
an opportunity 20 thoroughly investigate the
scope and character OF the tests. and the
method II determining the results. and those
visitors have without exception approved the
methods employed. and several 81 them have
publicly attcsfcdthcir favorable opinion.
Cpon such considerations deem Il
my duty TO renew tho rcccmmenda
tinn contained I'm my annual message ~
December. isss. requesting Congress 70 make
tho necessary appropriations for the rcsiimp
tion OF the work ~ the Ciyil-Sorslcc Commits
sion. Economy will he promoted by author
ling moderate compensation 70 persons II
the public service who may perform extra
4 labor upon or under tho Commission ~ thu
/ Executive may direct. ! am convinced that
I n n lust ana adequate test Of merit he en-
forced for admission 70 the public scrv.
ice. and IN making promotions
st.nh nHuanQ rpfnDEns without