Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-09
Badly &tnntbff SUurnal.
Augusta, Thursday Morning, Dec. Q.
Civil Service Reform.

Civil Service Reform.
President Hayes devotes considerable
space in his message to the subject of civ
il service reform. He does not however
make an exhibit of much accomplished in
that direction during his administration,
but suggests and advises measures to be
tried in future. What he has succeeded
In doing is the establishment Of COMPETE
tive examinations in the custom houses
and post-offices Of the large cities, which
he thinks have proved satisfactory. But
what he has not succeeded in doing o. all
that he attempted is much more.
Competitive examinations have for sew
eral years been tried in England in the
matter OF filling positions under the gov
eminent, but they have not given entire
satisfaction. For certain Offices and grades
of Office they may be employed advantag-
eously no doubt, but of what good can
competitive examinations be IN the selec-
ton of post masters and custom house OFF,
CerB OutSIuC VI Tic - vi
clerks with special clerical and well de-
fined duties only to perform such examin-
atoms may be useful; but in the selection
of administrative officials in the civil ser
vice thew can be OF little value. The most
important qualifications which such Off
Gals should have, as honesty, faithfulness,
attention TO business, cannot be tested by
competitive examinations. These can
only be judged of correctly by those who
are acquainted with the applicants, or
through their recommendations~aDd petit
tons or remonstrances.
It may be well. as President Hayes
recommends, TO have Commission APP
pointed to devise lust, uniform and
efficient system of competitive examina-
tion," but no system can be devised which
will reach the principal appointments to
be made to office and work with any ef-
fciency. The system must be limited to
the filling of subordinate offices. leaving
the more important. in which are included
all our postmasters and leading custom
house officials, to be selected in some such
manner as they usually have been. through
home influence and Senators and Repre-
sentativcs in Congress.
While it may be true that members of
Congress attempt in many instances to
promote their political influence through
the power to influence appointments. they
are answerable to the body of their con-
stituents for the use which they make of
that power, and must use it discreetly or
it will prove detriment instead of an ad
vantage in their plans for self-aggrandize-
ment. The effect of removing power
over the offices from the Congressman to
o board of examiners, would smother the
voice of the people in regard to appoint
ments, and render the President through
his board of examiners an autocratic dispen-
ser of the official power and patronage of
the government If this is what President
Hayes means in his message we do not
think it will be adopted by Congress.
Senator Blaine and California.
An old and respected subscriber of the
Kennebec Journal, in California. sends us
letter inclosing payment for the paper,
in which he says:
~ cannot well get along without the Jour
nal. 1t gives me the news from home far
better than can get elsewhere. California
IL in ashes to think that four of her electoral
votes will be given to Hancock. Had James
G. Blaine been our candidate this State
would have given him 10000 majority. He
il here regarded as the leading statesman of
the nation. In a few years-not very many
his speech in the L. S. Senate on the Chi
nese question will be regarded by the whole
people rs one of the ablcst of his lite He
saw the danger ahead and gave the alarm.
He saw it as we here see it every day."
In sentencing Leighton to death for
murder the other day, in New York, Judge
Brady took occasion to refer to the COM
mon and dangerous custom of carrying
concealed weapons. which in this case was
the cause Of the murder. This is prac-
tice which has become altogether too CON-
mon all over the country. Even Young
lads are sometimes found with such in
struments upon them, thus having the
temptation with them in cases of anger to
commit crime. The carrying of such
weapons ought to be discountenanced and
even repressed if need be by harsher
measures.
The Vermont legislature has passed a
bill declaring any place where liquor
shall be sold or given away a nuisance.