The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-07

partial appointments and promotions have
| been cond ucted for some years past IN sew
| eral of the executive departments, and by
| my direction this system has been adopted
| in the custom houses and posiofdces of the
= larger cities of the country. In the city OF
| New York over two thousand positions In
the civil service have been subject, in their
appointments and tenure OF place, to the
Tor this purpose. During the
past two years the results of these practical
| trials have been very satisfactory and have
confirmed nv opinion ia favor of this sys-
tenn of selection. All are subjected TO the
same tests, and the result is free from prtJu
dice by personal favor or partisan infiu-
ence 1t secures for the position applied
for the best qualifications attainsbie among
the competing applicants 1t is an effectual
protection from the pressure OF importuni-
ties, which, under any other course pur-
sued, largely exscts the time and attention
of the appointing officers to, their great
detriment, In the discharge of other official
duties, preventing the abuse of servica for
| the mere further ance OF private or party
purposes. and leaving the emDloye of the
government freed from the obligations i'm.
posed by patronage, to depend solely upon
| merit for retention and advancement With
| this constant incentive to exertion and I'M
| provement these invaluble IT suits baveh Q
| attained In a higher degree in the Off tes
1 where the rules tor appointment by COM
| petiiive examination have been applied A
| method which has so approved itself by
| experimental tests az points where such
| tests NAV be fairly considered conclusive,
should be extended to al subordinate posi-
tons under the Government. / believe
that q strong and growing public senti-
| ment demands immediate measures for Sc
curing and enforcing the highest possible
| tficiency in the civil service and
lts protection from recognized abuses.
| and that the experience referred to has
demonstrated the feasibility of such meas
/ ures. The examinations in the custom
houses and postoftices have been held I'M
\ der many endorsements and without pro-
| vision for compensation tor the extra labor
| performed by the officers who have con-
Quoted them, and whose cOmmendable in
terest In the improvement OF the public
i service has induced this devotion of time
/ and labor without pecuni8ry reward A
| continuance of these labors gratuitously
| ought not 10 be expected. and without an
| appropriation by Congress for compeDsa-
| ton it is not practicable to extend
the system of examinations gener-
ally throughout the civil service. II
is also highly important that all
| such examinations should be conducted
| upon a uniform system. and under general
| supervision. Section ], 753 of the Revised
| Statutes authorizes the President to pre-
| scribe the regulations for omission 10 the
L civil eGTFIC6 Ol L0C y ultSU OtdLSS. 6uO tOE
| this purpose to employ suitable persons 10
conduct the requisite inquiries with refer
ence to the fitness of each candidate in re
spect to age. health, character knowledge
and ability for the branch of service into
| which he seeks to enter, but the law is
practically imperative for want Of the re
| Quisite appropriation. / therefore recon-
mend an appropriation of $25 600 per an
| mum to meet the expenses OF Commls-
| sion to be appointed by the President, in
| accordance with the terms of this Section,
| whose DUTY it shall be to devise just uni.
form and efficient system OF competitive
| examinations and 10 supervise the appli-
cation of the same throughout the entire
civil service OF the government.
/ am persuaded that the facilities which
| such a Com N ission will afford for testing
| the fitness of those who apply for office will
| not only be q welcome relief to mem ers OF
Congress, as il will be to the President ami
| hesds of departments; but that it will also
| greatly tend to remove the causes OF en-
oarrassment which now inevitably and
constantly attend The conflicting claims OF
patronage between the legislative and exc
cutive departments. The most eftectaal
check upon the pernicious competition of
| Influences and official favoritism in the be-
| stowal of Offices 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.
| PARTY ASSESSMENTS AND THE sPoILs sYs-
/ TEN.
l also recommend such legislation, as,
| while leaving every afficer rs free as any
| other citizen 10 express his political opin
ion, and to use his means for their ad-
vsncemeut, shall also enable him to feel as
| safe as any other citizen In refusing all
| demands upon his salary for political Dur-
1 A Ian Uhiah chnn1d thnu
true liberty and justice to all who are en-
| gagged in the public service, and likewise
| contain stringent provisions against
the use of official authority to
coerce the political action of pri-
| vate citizens, or of official subordi-
| mates. is greatly to be desired. the most
serious obstacle however to an improve
| ment Of the civil service, and especially TO
| a reform in the method of sppoin ment and
removal, has been found to be the practice
| under Whist is known as the spoils sys,em,
| by which the appointing power has been
so largely encroacaed upon by members
of Congress. The first step IN
the reform of the civil service
must be q complete divorce between Con-
| gress and the Executive in the matter of
| appointments. The corrupting doctrine
| that 10 the victors belong the spoils is in
| separable from Congressional patronage
as the established rule and practice of
stood by applicants for Office and by the
people generally, that Representatives and
| Senator are entitled to disburse the pa'ron-
age of their respective Districts and States.
1t is not necessary 10 recite at length the
| evils resulting from this invasion OF the
Executive functions. The true principles
| OF government, on the subject of appoint
ments TO Office, as stated in the National
conventions of the leading parties of
the country, have again and again been a
| approved by the American people and have
moi been called in question In any quarter.
| These authentic expressions of public
| opinion upon this all important subject are
| the statements of principles that belong to
constitutional structure of the government.
Under the Constitution the President and
| heads of departments are to make nomina-
| tion for office, the Senate is to advice and
| consent to the appointments, and the House
| of Representatives is to accuse and prose-
cute faithless officers. The best in