The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-12-01


best public service consists in the discharge
of their functions irrespective OF partisan
politics. Their duties are the same, what
ever party is in power and whatever policy
prevails. AS consequence, it follows that
their tenure of Office should not depend on
the prevalence of any policy or the suprem-
acy of any party, but should be determined
by their capacity to serve the people most
usefully, quite irrespective of partisan In
terests. The same considerations that
should govern the tenure, should also pre-
vail in the appointment, discipline, and re-
moval of these subordinates. The author
ity of appointment and removal is not q
perquisite, whey may be used TO aid a
friend or reward partisan, but is a trust
to be exercised in the public interest, under
all the sanctions which attend the obliga-
ton to apply the public funds only for
public purposes.
Every citizen has an equal right to the
honor and profit of entering the public SER
vice of his country. The only just ground
of discrimination, is the measure OF char
acter and capacity he has to make that SER
vice most useful to the people. Except in
cases where, unpon just and recognized
principles, as upon the theory of pensions,
offices and promotions are bestowed as re-
wards for past services, their bestowal upon
any theory which disregards personal
merit, is an act of injustice to the citizen,
as we'll as breach of that trust subject to
which the appointing power is held.
In the light of these principles, it be-
comes of great importance to provide just
and adequate means, especially for every
department, and large administrative of
fee, where personal discrimination on the
part of its head is not practicable, for as
certaining those qualifications to which
appointments and removals should have
reference. To fail to provide such means
is not only to deny the opportunity of as
certaining the facts upon which the most
righteous claim to Office depends, but, of
necessity, to discourage all worthy aspi-
rants, by handing over appointments
and removals, to mere influence and
favoritism. If it is the right of the
w0rthiest claimant to gain the appoint
ment, and the interest of the people to be-
stow it upon him, it would seem that
wise method of ascertaIning personal fit
ness for office must be an important and
permanent function of every just and wise
government. 1t has long since become
in the great offices, for those
having the duty OF nomination and APP
pointment, to personally examine into the
individual qualifications of more than
small proportion of those seeking office;
and, with the enlargement of the civil SER
vice, that proportion must continue TO be-
come less.
In the earlier years Of the government,
the subordinate officers were SO few in
numle- that it was quite easy for those
making appointments and promotions TO
personally ascertain the merits of candi-
dates. Party managers and methods had
not then become powerful agencies of CO
ercion, hostile to the free and just exercise
of the appointing power.
A large and responsible part of the duty
Of restoring the civil service TO the desired
purity and efficiency rests upon the Presi-
dent, and it is my purpose TO do what is
within my power to advance such prudent
and gradual measures of reform as will
most surely and rapidly bring about that
radical change of system essential to make |
Dur administrative methods satisfactory to |
/ free und intelligent people. By proper |
exercise of authority, 1t is in the power of |
he Executive to do much to promote such |
! reform. But it cannot be too clearly IN |
lerstood that nothing adequate can be &C |
without cooperation on the |
,art of Congress and considerate and in
elligent support among the people. Re
orms which challenge the generally &C
epted theories of parties, and demand |
hanges in the methods of departments,
re not the work of day. Their perma-
ent foundations must be laid in sound
principles, and in an experience which
their wisdom and exposes the |
rrors of their adversaries. Every worthy |
ffcer desires to make his official action a
ain and an honor to his country, but the
eOple themselves, far more than their |
Ulcers in public station, are interested in
pure, economical and vigorous admins
alton.
oMPETITIvE EXAMINATIONS AND THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION.
By laws enacted tn 1853 and 1853, and
ow In substance incorporated in the Re- |
ised Statutes, the practice OF arbitrary |
pDointments to the several subordinate
rades in the great departments was con-
emned, and examinations, as to capacity, |
, be conducted by department boards of
xaminers, were provided for and made {
Onditions of admission to the public SER
Ice. These statutes are a decision by
congress that examinations of some sort, as {
} atialnments and capacity, are essential to
lie well being of the public service. The
npOrtant questions sinCeS the enactment of {
ese laws have been as to the character of =
ese examinations, and whether official
Ivor and partisan influence, or common
ght and merit were to control the access Y
the examinations. In practice, these ex- q
ninations have not always been open to :
orthy PERSONS generally, who might wish n
be examined. Official .favoritism and 4
lrtlsan influence, as rule, appear to have a
those who alone we're permitted q
go before the examining boards, subject r.
< even the examiners to a pressure from u
e friends of the candidates very difficult n
resist AS consequence, the standard n
admission fell below that which the pub. r
: interest demanded 1t was almost Inev- p
abie that system which provided for n
rious separate boards of examiners, with -
common supervision or uniform method n
procedure, should result in confusion, n
and inadequate tests OF n
pacity highly detrimental to the public | q
ierests. A further and more radical | r.
ange was obviously required. p,
In the annual message of December, 1870, | n
? predecessor declared that there is no r.
ty which SO much embarrasses the Elk n
ltive and heads of Departments as that 4,
appointments; nor is there any such fl
luous and thankless labor imposed on or
majors and Representatives as that of n,
ding places for constituents. The pres
system does not secure the best men,
i often not even fit men for the public
ICES. The elevation and publication of or
civil service of the Government will be us
led with approval by the whole people tn
the United States.' Congress accord er
,ly passed the act, approved March 8, an