The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-12-11
Competitive examinations, in aid or
impartial Appointments and promotions,

In several of the executive departments,
and by my direction this system has Deeli
adopted in the custom houses and post
offices of the larger cities of the country.
In the city of New York over two thou
sand positions in the civil service nave
been subject, in their appointments ana
tenure of place, ID the operation OF pup
liShed rules for this purpose during the
past two years. The result OF these plac'
tical trials have been very satisfactory,
and have confirmed my opinion IN FAVOR
of this system of selection. All are SUD
jected to the same tests, and the result Is
free from prejudice by personal favor or
partisan influence. 1t secures for the
position applied for the best
qualifications attainabe among the
competing applicants. 1t is an elfectual
protection from the pressure or Emporium
ity which, under any other course pur-
sued, largely eXactS the time ana atleh-
ton of appointing OihcerS, 10 their great
detriment in the discharge OF other ON
cal duties, preventing the abuse OF the
service tor the mere furtherance OF prl-
vate or party purposes, ana leaving lhe
emplOye OF the government, 1reed from
the obligations imposed by patronage, 10
depend solely upon merit for retention
and advancement, and with THIS constant
incentive To eXertion and improvement.
These valuable results have been AT
tanned in a high degree in the otices
where the rules for appointment by com
petitive examination have been applied:
A method which has 50 approved Itself
by experimental tests at points where
such tests may be fairly considered con
elusive. should be extended to all suDor-
dinate positions under the government.
believe that strong and growing pup
lie sentiment demands immediate meas
ures for securing and enforcing the high
est possible efficiency in the civil service,
and its protection from recognized aDuS-
es, and that the experiance referred 10
has demonstrated the feasibility or Such
measures
The examinations in the custom hous-
eS and post offices have been held under
many embarrasSments and without pro-
vision for compensation for the extra III
Dor performed by the officers who nave
conducted them. and whose commehua-
bic interest in the Improvement OF me
public service has induced THIS deVOtlon
of time and labor without pecunlary re-
ward. a continuance or these laDoIs
gratuitouSly ought not to be expected,
and without an Appropriation ny Con
gresS for compensation, it is not practa-
tons generally throughout the civil ser.
vice. 1t is also highly important that all
such examinations should be conducted
upon uniform system and under gener-
al supervision. Section 1913 or the re-
yiSed statutes authorizes the President
to prescribe the regulations Tor aulnlS.
sion to the civil, service OF the United
States, and for this purpose 10 employ
suitable persons to conduct the requisite
inquiries with reference to" the illness
of each candidate, in respect 10 age,
health, character, knowledge and ability,
for the branch of service into which he
seeks to enter" but the law IS practical
" imperative for the want OF the requi-
site APPROPRIATION.
therefore recommend an approprla-
tion OF SO 900 per annum To meet the eX,
penSeS OF commission, 10 be appointed
by the President in accordance with the
terms of this section, whose duty IL shall
be t. devise Il just, uniform ana elllclehC
system of competitive examinations, ana
to supervise the application OF the same
throughout the entire civil service or the
government. | am persuaded that the
facilities which such a company Will al
ford for testing the fitness OF those who
apply for office will not only be as well
come relief to members OF Congress as
it will be to the President aud heads or
departments, but that IL Will also greatly
tend to remove the causes OF embdrrass-
ment which now inevitably and constant
" attend the conflicting claims OF pat
ronage between the legislative and exec.
utive departments. The most etfectual
check upon the pernciOuS competition
of influence and official favortism, in the
bestowal of office, will be the substitution
of an open competition Of merit between
the applicants, IN which every one can
make his own record, with the assurance
that his success will depend upon this
alone.
also recommend such legislation as,
while leaving every officer rs Tree as any
other citizen to express his political Opln'
ions and to use his means for their al.
vancement, shall also enable him To feel
as safe as any private citizen IN refusing
all demands upon his salary for political
purposes. A law which should thus guar
antee true liberty and justice to all who
are engaged in the public service, and
likewise contain stringent provisions
against the use of official authority to CO.
cree the political action of private citi-
Zens or of official subordinateS Is greatly
TO be desired.
The most serious obstacle, however, to
an improvement of the civil service, and
especially to u reform in the method OF
appointment and removal, has been
found to be the practice, under what is
known AS the spOils system, 10y which the
appointing power has been 50 largely en-
croached upon 10y members of Congress:
The first step in the reform OF the civil
service must be complete divorce be-
tween Congress and the executive in the
matter of appointments. The corrupting
doctrine, that to the victors belong the
spoils," is inseparable from COMPRESSION.
nj patronage rs the established rule and
practice of parties IN power. 1t comes
TO he understood by applicants for Office,
and by people generally, that the Repre-
sentatives and Senators are entitled TO
dsburse the patronage of their respect
i've districts and states. 1t is not neces-
sary to recite at length the evils resulting
from tins invasion of the executive func-
tons. The true principles of govern.
ment on the subject of appointments to
office. as stated in the national conven-