Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-10

subject of popular education deserves lh'
earnest attention of the people OF the couh
try, with view to wise and comprehensive
action of the Government OF the lnltec
States, | respectfully recommend that 1oh
gress by suitable legislation and with prop
er safeguards, supplement the local educa
tional funds in the several States where the
grave duties and responsibilities OF cltlZen
ship have been devolved on uneducated peo
pie, by devoiing to the purpose grants OF Inc
public lands, and, if necessary, by appro
priations from the Treasury of the Cnitec
States Whatever Government can larry DC
TO promote free popular education ought L
be done. Wherever general education
found, peace, virtue, and social order pre-
vail, and civil and religious liberty are Sc
cure.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In nv former messages, | have asked The
attention of Congress to the urgent necessity
of a reformation of the civil-service system
of the Government. My views concerning
the dangers of patronage, or appointments
for personal or partisan considerations, have
been strengthened by my observation and
experience in the Executive office. and be-
lieve these dangers threaten the stability OF
the Government Abuses so serious in their
I
They tend TO become more alarming with the
enlargement of administrative service, as the
growth of the country in population increases
| the number of officers and placemen employ
ed
The reasons are imperative for the adop-
| ton of fixed rules for the regulation of APP
pointments. promotions, and removals, estao
| fishing n uniform method, having exclusive
| " in view, in every instance, the attainment
of the best qualifications for the position IN
question Such method alone is consistent
with the the equal rights of all citizens, and
the most economical and efficient administra-
ton of the public business.
Competitive examinations. in aid of i'm
partial appointments and promotions, have
been conducted for some years past in sever
al of the Executive Departments, and by my
direction this system has been adopted in the
custom houses and posioffices in 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 ap-
poin,ments and tenure of place, to the opera
| ton of published rules for this purpose, dur
ing the past two years. The results Of these
practical trials have been very satisfactory,
and have confirmed my opinion in favor of
this system Of selection. All are subjected
| to the same tests, and the result is free from
prejudice by personal favor or partisan in
iiuence. 1t secures for the position applied
for the best qualifications attainable among
the competing applicants. 1t is an eifectual
protection from the pressure OF importantly
which, under any other course pursued, large
" exacts the time and attention Of appoint
ing officers, to their great detrimen. in the
discharge of other official duties, preventing
the abuse of the service foT the mere further
ance of private or party purposes, and leav-
ing the employee OF the Government, freed
from the obligations imposed by patronage,
TO depend solely upon merit for retention and
advancement, and with this constant incen-
tive TO exertion and improvement.
These invaluable results havebeen attained
in high degree in the offices where the rules
for appointment by competitive examination
have been applied.
4 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 I'M
der the Government. believe that a strong
and growing public sentiment demands i'm
mediate measures for securing and enforcing
the highest possible efficiency in the civil
service, and ITS protection from recognized
abuses, and that the experience referred to
has demonstrated the feasibility of such
measures.
The examinations in the custom houses
and postoflices have been held under many
embarrassments and without provision for
compensation for the extra labor performed
by the officers who have conducted them, and
whose commendable interest in the improve
ment 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 appropriation by Congress for
compensation, it is not practicable to extend
the system of examinations generally through
out the civil service. 1t is also highly inn
poitant that all such examinations should be
conducted upon uniform system and under
general supervision. Section 1853 Of the Revis-
cd Statutes authorizes the President TO pres
cribe the reguations.for admission to'the civil
service of the United States, and for this pur-
pose 10 employ suitable persons to conduct
the requisite inquiries with reference to the
fitness of each candidate, in respect TO are,
health, character, knowledge and ability, for
the branch Of service into which he seeks 10
enter = but the law is practically inopcra-
tive for want OF the requisite appropriation.
therefore recommend an appropriation Of
S25, 900 per annum to meet the expenses of
II commission, 10 be appointed by the Presi-
dent in accordance with the terms Of this
section, whose duty it shall be to devise a
| Just, uniform, and efficient system Of com
pctitive examination, and TO supervise the ap-
plication of the same throughout the entire
civil service of the Government. am per
suaded that the facilities which such com
mission will afford for testing the fitness Of
those who apply for Office will not only be
as welcome a relief to members of Congress
/ - I.ss 81. L. a 8
Departments, but that il will also greatly
tend 10 remove the causes Of embarrassment
which now inevitably and constantly attend
the conflicting claims Of patronage between
the Legislative and Executive Departments
The most eilectual check upon the pcrnicious
competition Of influence and official favorit-
ism, in the bcstowal Of Office, will be the sub
stitution of an open competition Of merit be
tween the applicants, in which every one
can make his own record with the assurance
| that his success Will depend upon this alone
| also recommend such legislation as,
while leaving every officer as free as any
other citizen 10 express his political opinions
and to use his means for their advancement,
shall also enable him to feel rs safe as any
private citizen in refusing all demands upon
his salary for political purposes. A law
which should thus guarantee true liberty and
justice To all who are engaged in the public
service, and likewise contain stringent pro
visions against the use of official authority to
coerce the political acton of private citizens
or of official subordiuatcs, is greatly 10 he de
| sired
THE SOILS SYSTEM"
The most serious obstacle, however, I,
an improvement of the civil service, and Is
pecially 10 u reform in the method of ap
pointmcnt and removal, has been found to h,