The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-12-04

Dor involved III Its preparation and the ON is
sion of Congress TO make any provision eth
err for the compensation or the expenses OF
the commission, has been postponed until the
present time. 1t is herewith transmitted to
Congress. While the reform measures of
another Government are of no authority for
us. they are entitled to influence to the ex-
tent to which their intrinsic wisdom and
their adaptation to onr institutions and so.
cial life may commend them to our cOnsid-
Grafton.
The views l have heretofore expressed
concerning the defects and abuses in our
civil administration remain unchanged ex-
cept in so far as AN enlarged experience has
opeEed my sense OF the duty. both OF officers
and OF the people themselves, to cooperate
for their removal. The grave evils and periIs
of a partisan-spoils system Of appointment
TO office and of office tenure are now gener-
ally recognized. In the resolutions of the
great parties, in the reports of departments,
in the debates and proceed ings of Congress,
in the messages OF Executives, the gravity
OF these evils has been pointed out 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, and must be compatible
with the healthy existence OF crest parties,
which are inevitable add essential in a
free State. When the people have ap-
proved policy at national election, con-
fidence OH the part of the officers they
have selected and of the advisers who, in
accordance with our political institutions,
should be consulted IN the policy which it
is their duty to carry into effect is indispen-
sibe. 1t is eminenty proper that they should
explain 1t before the people as well as Illus
frA .rfN <,E fHntN
official duties.
It hardly need be pointed out that very
different considerations apply to the greater
number OF those who fill subordinate places
in the civil service. Their responsibility Is
to their superiors in official position 1t is
their duty to obey the legal instructions OF
those upon whom that authority is devolved,
and their best public service consists in the
discharge of their functions irrespective OF
partisan politics. Their duties are the same
whatever party is in power, and whatever
policy prevails. AS consequence, it fol-
lows that their tenure of office should not
depend upon the prevalence Of any policy,
OF supremacy of any party, but should be
determined by their capacity to serve the
people most usefully, quite irrespective
erations that should govern the tenure
should also prevail in the appointment, dis
cipline, and removal OF these subordinates.
The authority of appointment and removal
is not a perquisiCe which may be used to aid
friend or reward partisan, but is trust
to be exercised in the public interest under
all the sanctions which attend the obligation
to apply the public funds only for public
purposes. Every citizen has an equal right
to the honor and profit of entering the pub.
lie service of his country. The only just
ground OF discrimination IS the measure OF
character and capacity he has 10 make that
service most useful to the people. Except
in cases where, upon just and recognized
principles, as upon the theory of pensions,
offices and productions 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 well
as breach OF that trust, subject TO which the
appointing power is held.
PROPER METHODS OF EXAMINATION,
In the light of these principles, it becomes
OF great importance to provide just and ade-
quate means, especially for every depart
ment and large administrative offices where
personal discrimination on the part OF its
head is not practicable, for ascertaining
those qualifications TO which appointments
and removals should have reference. 10
fall to provide such means is nos only to
deny the opportunity of ascertaining the
facts upon which the most righteous claim
to office depends, but of necessity to discour-
age all worthy aspirants by handing over
appointments and removal to mere influence
and favoritism. If it is che right of the
worthiest claimant to gain the appointment,
and the interest of the people to bestow il
upon him, iG would seem clear that a wise
and just method of ascertaining personal
Htrnr for 10,
and permanent function of every just and
wise Government. 1t has long since be-
come impossible, in the great office, for those
having the duty OF nomination and appoint
ment to personally examine into the individ-
ual qualifications of more than small
proportion OF those seeking office, and with
the enlargement OF civil service that proper.
ton must continue to become less. In the
earlier years of the Government, the subor-
dinate offices were SO few in number that it
was easy for those making appointments
and promotions to personally ascertain the
merits of the candidates. Party managers
add methods had not then become powerful
agencies Of coercion, hostile to the free and
just exercise of the appointing power.
A large and responsible part OF the duty
of restoring the civil service co the desired
purity and efficiency rests upon the Pre- i
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 our administration methods satisfactO.
ry to a free ard intelligent people. By a
proper exercise of authority it is in the
power OF the Executive to do much to pro-
mote such reform. But it cannot be too
clearly understood that nothing adequate
can be accomplished without co operation
on the part of Congress, and considerable
and intelligent support among the people.
Reforms which challenge the generally
accepted theories of parties, and demand
changes in the methods of departments, are
not the work of day. Their permanent
foundations must be laid in sound principles,
and in an experience which demonstrates
their wisdom and exposes the errors of their
adversaries. Every worthy officer desires
to make his official action gain and an
honor to his country, but the people them
selves, far more than their officers in public
station, are interested in pure, economical
and vigorous administration.
By laws enacted in 1858 and 1866, and
now in substance Incorporated in the Re.
vised Statutes, the practice of arbitrary
appointments to the several subordinate
grades in the great departments was con-
uenneu. ana EXAMINATIONS as capacity, TO
be conducted by departmental boards of
examiners, were provided for and made
conditions OF the public service. These
statutes are decision by Congress that
examinations of some sort as to attainments
and capacity are essential to he well-being
of the public service. The important ques-
tons since the enactment of these laws have
been as to the character OF these examina.
tiors apG whether official favor and partisan
influence Or common right and merit we're
to control the access to the examinations.
In practice, these examinations have not
always been open to worthy persons gener-
ally who might wish to be examined; official
favoritism and partisan influence, as a rule,
appear to have designated those VIII, alone |
were permitted to- go before the examining
boards, subjecting even the examiners to |
pressure from the friends of the candidates |
very difficult to resist. AS a consequence, |
the standard of admission fell below that |
which the public interest demanded. 1t
was almost inevitable that a system which |
provided for various separate boards of ex- |
aminers, with no common supervision or
uniform method of procedure, should result
in confusion, inconsistency, and Inadequate
tests of capacity, highly detrimental to the
Duhlio intarart A fIIrthar opt1 r,,oro ro.,;o.l /