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

and thankless labor imposed on SENATOR
and Representatives as that OF finding
places for constituents. The present sys-
tenn does not secure the best men, and
often not even fit men, for the public
places. The elevation and publication
of the civil service of the government
will be hailed with approval by the
whole people of the United States. "
Congress accordingly passed the act, APP
proved March 3, 1871. to regulate the
civil service Of the United States and
promote the efficiency thereof" giving
tn necessary authority to the Executive
TO institute n civil service reform.
WORK OF TIE COMMISSION.
Acting under this statute, which was
interpreted as intended to secure a sys-
lem of Just and efiectual examinations,
under uniform supervision, n number OF
eminently competent persons were
selected for the purpose, who entered
with zeal upon the discharge of their
duties, prepared with an intelligent APP
probation of the requirements Of the
service the regulations contemplated,
and took charge Of the examinations,
and who, in their capacity rs board.
itNt uttH hIOMu dS llt OlNii ptiflO
Commission" Congress for two years
appropriated the money needed for the
compensation and for the expense OF
carrying on the work of the commission.
Ii appears from the report of the COM
mission. submitted TO the President in
April, 1874. that examinations had been
held in various sections of the country.
and that an appropriation of about SIS,
600 would be required to meet the an
nual expenses, including salaries, in
volved in discharging the duties of the
commission.
The report was transmitted TO Con-
grcss by special message Of April Is,
1874, with the following favorable COM
ment upon the labors Of the commits
sion: " If sustained by Congress, have
no doubt the rules can, after the expert
ence gained, be so improved and en-
forced rs 10 still more materially benefit
the public service and relieve the execu-
tive, members of Congress and the heads
Of departments from influences preiu-
dicial 10 good administration. The
rules, rs they have hitherto been en-
forced, have resulted benelicially, as is
shown by the opinions of the members
OF the cabinet and tLeir subordinates in
the departments. and in that opinion
concur And in the annual message OF
December of the same year, similar
views are expressed. and an appropria-
ton for continuing the work of the com
mission again advised. The appropria
ton was not made. and, rs conse-
Qucnce, the active work of the COM
mission was suspended. leaving
the commission itself in existence,
without the means, therefaSe, OF
causing qualifications To be tested
in any systematic manner, or OF
securing for the public service the
advantages of competition upon any
extensive plan. | recommended in nv
annual message OF December 1877. the
making OF an appropriation for the re-
sumption of the work of the commission
In the meantime, however, competitive
examinations, under many Cmbara>S-
ments, have been conducted, within
limited spheres, in the executive depart
ments in Washington, and in n number
of the custom houses and postofliccs OF
the principal cities of the country. with
view 10 further test their effects. and
in every instance they have been found
20 be rs salutary As they are stated TO
have been under the administration of
my predecessor. | think the economy,
purity and efficiency of the public ser
vice would be greatly promoted by their
systematic introduction, wherever prac-
ticable, throughout the entire civil ser
vice of the government, together with
ample provision for their general super
vision, in order 10 secure consistency
and 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 examinations 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, show
that the competitive system, where APP
piled, has in various ways contributed
10 improve the public service. The re-
ports 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 To
the service. The reports of the govern.
ment officers in the city Of New York
especially, bear decided testimony 10 the
utility of open competitive examinations
in their respective offices, showing that
these examinations, and the excellent
qualifications of those admitted TO the
service through them. have had a
marked Incidental effect upon the per-
sons previously in the service, and par
ticularly upon those aspiring TO promo
ton. There has been, on the part Of
these latter, an increased interest in the
work, and desire TO extend acQuaint-
ance with il beyond a particular desk,
and thus the morale of the entire force
has been raised. The examinations
have been attended by many citizens,
who have mad an opportunity to
thoroughly investigate the scope and
character of the tests and the method OF
determining the results, and those visl-
tors have, without exception approved
the modes employed, and several of them
have publicly attested their favorable
opinion upon such considerations"
deem it my duty to renew the recon-
mendation contained in my annual mes
sage Of December, 1877, requesting Con-
gress to make the necessary appropria-
ton for the resumption of the work OF
the civil service commission. Economy
will be promoted by authorizing mod
crate compensation to persons in the
public service who may perform extra
labor upon or under the commission. as
the executive may direct.
am convinced that if just and def
mite test of merit is enforced for admis-
sion to the public service and in making
promotions, such abuses as removal
without good cause and partisan and
official interference with the proper ex-
ercise of the appointing power, will, in
a large measure, disappear. There are
other administrative abuses TO which
the attention of Congress should be asked
in this connection. Mere partisan ap-
poirtment and the constant peril OF re-
moval without cause very naturally lead
to an absorbing and mischievous politi-
cal activity on the part Of those thus