Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-12-04
the country, or retard the general diffusion OF
prosperity.
CIVIL SERVICE.


CIVIL SERVICE.
In former message invited the attention of
congress to the subject Of the reformation OF the
civil service OF the govern ment, aHd express ID
the intention OF transmitting to congress as early
chairman of the civil service commission.
In view OF the facts that, during considerable
period, the government OF Great Britain has been
dealing with administrative problems and
abuses. in various particulars analogous to those
presented In this country, and that in recent
years the measures adopted were understood to
/ have been effective and in every respect highly
satisfactory thought il desiTs BILE to have fuller
information upon the subject, and accordingly re-
quested the chairman of the civil service COM
mission to make a thorough investigation for
this pprpoie. The result has been an elaborate
| and com prehensive report.
The report sets forth the history or the partisan
Spoils system in Great Britain, and of the ril /.
and fall OF the parliamentary patronage, and Of
official interference with the freedom of elections
II shows that after long trials of various kinds CT
| examinations, thoge which ara competitive and
open on equal terms to all, and which are carried
! on under the superlntt ndence of single commits
sion, have. with great advantage, been establish
/ ed as conditions of admission to almost every
official place in she subordinate administration of
/ tnaC country and OF British India. The compile
ton OF the report, owing 70 the extent OF the labor
| Involved IN lts preparation, and the omission of
| congress to make any provision either for the
compensation or the expense OF the commission,
has teen postponed until the present time. 1t ia
| herewith transmitted to congress.
w ME Lle reform measures OF aHGtleI govern
ment are Of no authority fer US, they entitled
To influence, to the extent to which their intrinsic
wisdom and their adaptation to our institutions
and social Life may commend them TO our copsia-
Grafton.
The views have heretofore expressed concern
ing the defects and abuses in civil administra-
toA remain unchanged, except IN go far as an
| enlarged experience has deepened my sense Of
the duty both of officers aud of the people them
selves TO cooperate for their removal. The grave
evils and perlS Ofa pGrtis2n-spoils system Of ap-
polntment to Office and Of office tenure, now
! generally recognized. In the resolutions of tn Q
great parties in the reports Of departments the
deoates and proceedings of congress. in the mes
sages 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 m ge Sc
! ufs OF reform must be based On common right and
Justice, and must ba compatible with the healthy
existence OF great parties. which are inevitable
| and essential TO great and free state.
! When the people have approved s policy at 3
| national election, confidence On ths part of the
! officers they have !ccted, aud of the advisers
who, in accordance with our political ins stitutons
should be consulted. in the policy which it is cir
| duty TO carry into effect is indispensable. Ic is
fore the people, as' well illustrate its spirit in
the performance of their official duties
Very different considerations apply to the
greater number ofthoae wDo fill the subordinate
! places III the clvi! service haIr responsibility
! ls to their superCrs i'll nil!ciAl position. 1t is
their duty TO obey the Ieg.! instructions of those
! upon whom that authority = deyolyed, and til cir
best public service consists IN the discharge of
their functrons irrespective OF partisan politics,
their duties are the same, whatever party is in
power sni whatever po:;cy prevails. AS con-
| sequence it follows the; their tenure of office
should not depend On the prevalence of any
| rolry or the supremacy of any party, but chou d
! be determined by their capacity to serve the
people most usefully, qa'te irrespective of parti-
| san interests. The same crnSi Aerations that
should govern the tenure, ea2uld also prevail in
| iGP
| these subordnates. ina authority OF appoint.
| ment and removal is not peTquisite, which may
Is trust to be exercised n the public interest
| ton to apply the pu0lic funds only for public
purposes.
Every citizen has an equal right to the honor
| and profit of entering the public service of his
! country. The only just ground ofdscrimination,
| ls the measure of character and capacity he hss
! to make that service most useful TO the people.
| Except in cases where, upon just and recognized
and prom otious bestowed as rewards for past
| services, their bestowal upon sny theory which
disregards personal merit is an act of injustice
TO the citizens, as well as breach of that trust
| subject to which the appointing power is held
| In the light of these principles, it becomes Of
| great Importance TO provide Just and adequate
! means especially for every department. and large
administrative office, where personal disCTimina-
tlon on the part of its head is not practicable for
ascertainlng those qualifications TO which ap-
| pOintments and removals should have reference.
10 fail TO provide such means is not only to deny
| the opportunity OF aSCGrtSlnlng 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 remoy-
ais, to mere influence and faYoritism. If it is the
| right of the worthiest claimant to gain the ap-
pointment, and the interest of the people to be-
| stow it upon him, it would seem clear that wise
! and just method of ascerta1ning personal fitness
! for office must be an important and permanent
! function OF every just and wise government. 1t
has long since become impossible in the great Of
fees, for those having the duty of nomination and
| appointment, to personally examine into the in
dividual qualifications of more than small pro-
portion Of those seeking ofice; and. with the en-
largement of the civil service, that proportion
must continue to become less.
In the earlier years Of the government the sub
ordinate Offices were so few in number that it was
| quite easy for those making appointments and
! promotions to personally ascertain the merits of
cahdiaates Party managers and methods had
not then become powerful agencies of coercion,
hostile to the free and just exercise of the ap-
| large and responsible part of the duty of res
torng the civil service to the desired purity and
efficiency rests with the president, and it is my
! purpose 10 do what Is within my power to ad-
| vance such prudent and gradual measures of re-
form as Will most surely and rapidly bring about
| that radical change of system essential to make
our admin strative methods satisfactory to free
| and intelligent people. BY proper exercise of
authority, 1t is in the power of the executive to do
much TO promote such reform. But it cannot
| be too clearly understood that nothing adequate
| can be accomplished without cooperation on the
part OF congress and considerate and intelligent
-
lenge the generally accepted theories Of parties,
| and demand changes in the methods of depart
ments are not the work of day. Their perma-
nent foundations must be laid in sound principles
| and in an experience which demonstrates their
! wisdom and exposes the errors OF their adversar-
| cs Every worthy officer desires to make his of
fetal action gain and honor 10 his country. but
the people themselves, far than their officers
in public station, are interested in pure econom-
ical, and vigorous administration.
By laws enacted in 1883 and 1855. and now in sub
stance incorporated in the Revised Statutes the
tn ne sew al
subordinate grades in the great departments was
be conducted by departmental boards of exaInir~
erS were provided for and made conditions Of ad-
! decision by Congress that examination of some
sort as to attachments and capacity are essential
poran ques1s since Re d es @
LAWS nave Deen as 70 the character OF these exam
| influence or common right and m crit, were to con-
these examinations have not aiWaTs been open fo
!, worthy persons generally whe might wish TO be
ence, as arule appear to have designated those
who alene were permitted to go before the exam
lining boards, Subjecting even the examiners to a
| pressure from the friends of the candidates very
Of fell below Ra the tg pS6e n
| tereSt demanded. 1t was also almost Inevitable
boards of examiners with no common SUPERVISION
| or uniform method of procedure, should result in
capacity highly detrimental to the public nteres
| further and more radical change was obviou, ly
nrd1, In the annual message Of December. $50 my
| predecessor declared that There is no duty which
30 much embarrasses the executive and heads OF
eePar5nentS as that OF appointments: nor is there
yS any Such arduous and thankless labor imposed on
senate senators and representatives as that OF finding
| pIaces Ior constituents. The present system does
HOe Secure tne pest men, and often not even fit men
ior Ihe puolic places The elevation and purifica-
non OF tne clvl service of the government will tie
i II Hu.ed Win approval by the whole people of the
United states, Congress accordingly passed the
act aippp43yed 3 re-, March ISL TO regulate the eyl
cheney thereof" giving the necessary authority TO
| the executive TO fnaugurate a civil-seryice re-
| form. ~