Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-12-04

J have approved a policy at national
/ election, confidence on the part of the
officers they have selected and of the
advisers who, in accordance with our
political institutions, should be con
suited in the nolicy which it is their
duty to carry into effect is indispensa-
bic. 1t is eminentl.s proper that they
should explain it before the people as
we'll as illustrate its spirit in the per-
formance of their official duties.
1t hardly need be pointed out that
very different considerations apply to
the greater number OF those who fill tine
subordinate places in the civil service.
| Their responsibility is to their supe-
riors 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 ire
| spective of partisan politics. Their du-
| ties are the same whatever party is in
power, and whatever policy prevails.
tenure of office should not depend upon
the prevalence of any policy, or the SUI
premaey of any party, but should be de-
| termined by their caracity to serve the
| people most usefully, quite irrespective
| of partisan interests. The same consiC-
| erations that should govern the tenure
should also prevail in the appointment,
| discipline, and removal of these subor-
dinates. The authority of appointment
| and removal is not q perquisite
which =. may be used to aid a
! friend or reward partisan, but is a
trust to be exercised in the public inter-
est 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 public service of
his country. The only just ground of
discrimination is the measure of charac
ter and capacity he has to make that
service most useful to the people. Ex-
cept in cases where, upon Just and re-
cognized principles, as upon the theory
of pensions, offices and promotions are
bestowed as rewards for past services,
their hestowal upon any theory which
| disregards personal merit is an act of in
| justice to the citizen, as well as a breach
| of that trust subject to which the ap-
pointing power is held.
PROPER METHODS OF EXAMINATION.
In the light of these principles, it be-
comes of great Importance to provide
just and adequate means, especially or
every department and large admins
| trative office where personal discrimina-
| ton on the part of its head is not prac-
| ticable, for ascertaining those qualifica-
| tions to which appointments and re-
movals should have reference. To fail
to provide such means is not only to
deny the opportunity of ascertaining the
facts upon which the most righteous
claim to Office depends, but of neces-
sity to discourage all worthy as
pirants by handing over appoint
mentS and removals to mere in
fluence and favoritism. If it is the
right of the worthiest claimant to
gain the appointment, and the
interest of the people to bestow it upon
him, it would seem clear that a wise
and just method of ascertaining personal
fitness for Office must needs be an inn
rortant and permanent function of
every Just and wise government. 1t has
| Jong since become impossible, in the
great offices, for those having the duty
of nomination and appointment to per-
sonally examine into the individual
| qualifications Of more than a small pro-
portion of those seeking Office, and with
The enlargement of civil service that
proportion must continue to become
less. In the earlier years of the gov
ernment, the subordinate offices were
so few in number that it was easy for
those making appointments and promo
tions to personally ascertain the merits
of the candidates. Party managers and
methods had not then become power
full agencies of coercion hostile to
the free and just exercise of the appoint
ing power.
A large and responsible part Of the
duty of restoring the civil service to the
desired purity and efficiency rests upon
the President, and it has been my pur-
pose to do what is in my power to ad-
vance such prudent and gradual meas
ures of reform as will most surely and
rapidly bring about that radical change
Of system essential to make our admin
istration methods satisfactory to free
and intelligent people. By proper ex-
the executive to do much to promote
such reform. But it cannot be too
clearly understood that nothing ade-
quate can be accomplished without CO.
operation on the part of Congress, and
considerate and intelligent support
among the people. Reforms which
challenge the generally-accepted theo-
ries of parties, and demand changes in
the methods of departments, are not the
work of a day. Their permanent
foundations must be laid in sound prin-
riples, and in an experience which
demonstrate their wisdom and exposes
the errors OF their adyersaries. Every
worthy officer desires to make his Of
ficial. action a gain and an honor to his
country, but the people themselves, far
more than their officers in public sta
lion, are interested in a pure, economi.
cal, and vigorous administration.
By laws enacted in 1853 and 1855, and
now in substance incorporated in the
revised statutes, the practice of arbitrary
appointments to the several subordinate
grades in the great departments was
condemned, and examinations as to
capacity, to be conducted by depart
mental boards of examiners, were pro
vided for and made conditions of ad-
mission to the public service. These
statutes are a decision by Congress that
examinations of some sort as to attain
ments and capacity are essential to the
well-being of the public service The
important questions since the enactment
of these laws have been as TO the charac-
ter of these examinations and whether
official favor and partisan influence or
common right and merit were to control
the access to the examinations. In
| prnctice. these examinations have not