Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-11

opinion IN favor OI Iuis system Vi SeleC-
! ton. All are subject to the same tests,
| and the result is tree from prejudice by
personal favor or partisan influence. IL
secures for the position applied for the
best qualifications attainable among the
competing applicants. Ii is an etfectuaI
protection from the pressure OF impor-
tunity which, under any other course
pursued, largely exacts the time and at
! tention OF appointing officers, to their
great detriment in the discharge OF 9th
er official duties, preventing the abuse
OF the service tor the mere iurtherance
OF private or party purposes, and leaving
the employ OF the government freed
from the obligations imposed by patron
age to depend solely upon merit ior re-
teation and advancement; and with this
constant incentive to exertlon and inn
provemenl, these invaluable results
have been attained in large degree.
In the offices where the rules Tor ap
pointment by competitive examination
have been applied method which So
approved itself by experimental tests at
points where such tests may be iairiy con
sidered-proved conclusively that they
should be extended to all subordinate pO-
sitions under the government. i believe
that . stroD. and growing public senti-
ment demand immediate measures Tor Sc
curing and enforcing the highest possible
efficiency in the civil service, and its pro
lection IRON recognized abuses, and that
the experience referred 10 has demon
| strated the feasibility OF such measures.
The examination in the custom houses
| and postoiices have been held under
| many embarraSsmrutS and without pro
vision Tor compen ,atlon tor the extra la
| Dor performed by the officers who have
| cOnductedthem,a ,aui whosecom
interest IN the improvement OF the public
| service has Induced this devotion of time
| and labor without pecuniury reward.
| A continuance oil sbese labors gratuituus.
" ought not TO be expected, and without
All appropriation OF congress tor COM
pensatlon, it is not practicable to extend
| the system OF examinations generally
throughout the civil service. 1t is also
highly important that all such examina
tiOns should be conducted upon IL uni
form system, and under general super
vision.
Section 1858, of the revised statues,
authorizes the president to prescribe
the regulations for admission To the
civil service of the United States, ,and
for this purpose to employ suitable
persons to conduct the requisite in
uuiries with reference to the fitness
OF each candidate In respect TO agr,
health, character, kno Wedge aud abil-
ilv, for the branch of service into
which he seeks TO enter, but the law
is practically imperative Tor the want
Fof a requisite appropriation; there
tore recommend an appropriation OF
| CO.. ONO n..r tn the
peuse OF commission to be appoint
ed by the president, in accordance
with the terms of this section, whose
duty it shall be to devise just, uni
form aud efficient system of compe-
tive examinations, and to supervise
the application of the same through
out ths entire civil service of the
government. [ am persuaded that the
facilities which such a commission
will afford for testing the fitness OF
those who apply Tor office, will not
only be as welcome relief to the
members Of congress as it will be to
: the president aud heads of depart
ments, but that it will also greatly
teud to remove the causes OF embar-
rassment which now inevitably and
constantly attends the conflicting
claims of patronage between the
legislative and executive depart
: ments, the most eilectua! check upon
: the perm cious competition of influence
: and official favoriteiam III the be-
: stowal of office, will be the substitu-
ton of an open competition of Merit
between applicants, i'll which every
one can make his own record with
the assurance that his success viii de-
pend upon him alone.
also recommend such legislation
as, while leaving every officer as free
as any other citizen to express hi
: political opinions and to use his
means for their advancement, shall
also, enable him to feel as safe rs any
private citizen in refusing all demand
upon his salary iorpolilical purpose
a law which should thus guaraulrg
true liberty and justice to all who
o are engaged in the public service, ,and
likewise stringent provisions against
/, the use of official authority to coerce
= the political action OF private ciii
zens or OF official suUordi'>ates j.
!. greatly to be desired. The most ser
u ious obstacles, however, to an im
provemcnt Of the civil service, and
. especially to u reform in the method
! been founG to be the practice under
., what is known as the spoil, SYSTEM
u by which the appointing power has
. been go largely enCroached upon by
u members OF Congress. The first stcI
in the reform III civil service must he
u complete divorce between con9rcss IS
= and the executive in the matter Of
u appointments. The corrupting doc
u triues that To the yicisrs belong tn,
spoils Is iuseparable from COMPRESSION
!. al pa! ronage; rs the established rule
= and practice OF parties in power, j
> comes TO be understood by applicant
. for office aud by the people generally
that representatives aud senators arc
u entitled to disburss the patronage o
= their respective districts and states
= II is notnccessary TO rccIle at ienet Il
the evils resulting from this invasion
j. of the executive functions. The tru,
y principles OF government on the su b
Il Ject OF appointments of Office, 4
l. stated i'll the national conventions o
- the leading parties OF the country
!, have again and again been approved
u by the American people, and hav,
~ not been called in question in an,
Is quarter. These authentic expression
IS OF public opinion upon this all i'm
5. pUrlanL subject, are the statement q
y principles That beiang to the con
l. stitutional structure of the govern
l. ment. Under the constitution tn
!e prcsI lent and heads of department
III are TO make nominations for Off ca
The senate is to advise and couseu
'e to appointments aud the house o
T. representatives is to accuse aud pros
ie ecute fnithless Offices. The best in
t. terests OF the public service demand
t. that these distinctions he respected
'r that senators and representatives VIII
IN may be judges and accusers slioul
De net dictate appointments to o flee L
re this Important ent the co operatio
oil OF the legislative department OF tn
IL government Is required alike by tn
+. necessities OF the case and by publ
n opinion. Members OF congress wi
n not be relieved from the demand
he made upon them with reference I
u. appointment to office, until by legi,
n lati7e enactment the pernicious prat
re iice Is condemncd and forbidden
tie is therefore recommended that AN at
IS, be passed defining the relations {
lg members OF congress with respect I
e, | the aDDOiutInruI to q fiji re nv thn i,rn