River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-08-05

may be saidthat If persons with thleving
propensitics were left or put in place, they
did in most cases not dare to steal. Sec
Ondly, the number of removals made by
this administration has been comparative
ly small. Not only clerks in the depart
ments but officers, appointed for a term
of years, were generally left in their places
as long as they showed the necessary degree
of ability and efficiency in the discharge of
their duties. In this way the service re-
tanned very valuable stock of official eX-
perienceEwhic could not but tell in It's
general efficiency, while at the same time
public servants were imbued with feeling
that the best way TO secure themselves in
place was to perform their duties according
to the best standard. Thirdly, in appoint
ing new men care was taken to select such
as would presumably be capable 10 perform
the tasks assigned TO them. In some de-
partments, and in a number of the larger
government institutions in the country
systems of examinations were introduced
which deferred at once the entirely incap-
able from urging themselves or being
urged for official positions, while they
furnished also good measure Of the capa-
city of the applicants. This system of
examination may not in all cases furnish
an absolutely reliable test, but it has prov
recommendation from political favor. 1t
has not been extended as far as it should
be. but good beginning has been made
capable of large extension and develop
ment. Fourthly. the practice of making
promotions from lower to higher places
Tor good official services rendered, not
only in the departments, but also in
some branches of the service outside
Of them, has been carried out to a
much greater extent than is generally
known; thus furnishing another stimulus
to the zeal of the public servants. | re-
peat that mistakes in appointments have
undoubtedly occurred, some of more or
less conspicuous kind, and that the princl-
plies of thorough reform have not been
as universally applied as they should have
been. Great cries have been raised about
instances which those principles appear TO
have been disregarded; but under the old
regular spoils system such instances were
the rule, compliance with which would
not have been criticized al all and the very
cries that are now raised with regard to
them in our case prove that at present
they are the exception. The very kind OF
criticism applied to the administration
shows that things have grown better. In
spite of the imperfections of the methods
followed. the result has been that the pub
lie business is recognized to be conducted
now in a more business-liSe manner than
before, and that the efficiency of the serv-
ice has been lifted up to a much higher
standard
In this way the republican party, stead
ily progressing in an enlightened percep-
tion of the principles of sound finance, has
become he reliable sound money party OF
the country. TO which. as parties now are,
the solution of new financial problems can
alone be safely trusted And how magniti-
Gently are the effects of the results already
achieved appear in the revival of our pros
perity!
1t may be said that our financial policy
has not wholly originated that prosper