The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-09
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

In my former annual messages | have as ked
the attention of Congress to the urgent ;neces-
sity of reformation ofthe ciyil-service system
of the Government. Ny views concerning the
dangers of patronage, or appointments for per-
sonal or partisan considerations, have been
strengthened by my observation and expert
ence in the Executive office, and 1 believe
these dangers threaten the stability of the Gov
eminent. Abuses SO serious in their nature
cannot be permanently tolerated. They tend
to become more alarming with the enlarge
ment of administrative service, as the growth
of the country in population increases the
number of officers and placemen employed.
The reasons are imperative for the adoption
of fixed rules for the regulation of appoint
ments, promotions, and removals. establishing
a uniform method having exclusively in view,
in every instance, the attainment of the best
qualifications for the position in question.
! Such method alone is consistent with the
| equal rights of all citizens and the most eco
nomical and efficient administration of the
public business.
Competitive examinations, In aid of impair
tial appointments and promotions, have been
conducted tOrsome years past in several of the
Executive Departments, and by my direction
this system has been adopted in the custom
houses and post-offices 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 operation of published
rules for this purpose during the past two
yeare. The results of these practical trials
have been very satisfactory, and have confirm
ed my opinion in favor of this system of selec-
ton. All are subjected 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 at
tainable among the competing applicants. 1t
is an etfectual protection from the pressure of
importantly which, under any other course
pursued. largely eyacts the time and attention
ofappointing officers, to their great detriment
in the discharge of other official duties, pre-
| venting the abuse of the service for the mere
furtherance of private or party purposes, and
leaving the EN- Joyce of the Government, freed
| from the obligations imposed by patronage, to
depend solely upon merit for retention and adj
yancement, and with this constant Incentive
to exertion and improvement.
| These invaluable results have been attained
in a high degree in the offices where the rules
for appointment by competitive examination
have been applied.
A method which has so approved itself by
experimental tests at points where such tests
may be fairly considered conclusive, should be
extended to all subordinate positions under
the Government, believe that a strong and
growing public sentiment demands immediate
measures for securing and enforcing the high
est possible efficiency in the civil service, and
| its protection from recognized abuses and that
the experience referred to has demonstrated
the feasibility ofsuch measures.
| The examinations in the custOm-louses and
postoffices have been held under many embar-
easements and without provision for compen-
sation for the extra labor performed by the
! officers who have conducted them, and whose
commendable interest in the improvement OF
the public service has induced this devotion Of
time and labor without pecuniary reward. A
continuance of these labors gratuitously ought
not to be expected, and without an appropria-
ton by Congress for compensation, tits not
practicable to extend the systems of examina-
tons generally throughout the civil service 1t
is also highly important that all such examina-
'tions should be conducted upon uniform
system and under general supervision. Sec
ton 1853 of the Revised Statutes authorizes
the President to prescribe the regulations for
admission to the civil service of the United
States, and for this purpose to employ suitable