National Republican., 1881-12-07

radical change In its theory and practice
The avowed purpose of that system is to induce
the educated young mon of the country TO devote
their lives to public employment by an assurance
that, having once entered upon IT, they need never
leave IT, and that after voluntary retirement they
shall be the recipients of an annual pension, That
this system as an entirety has proved very sue
ccssful In Great Britain seems TO be generally con-
eeded even by those who once opposed its adop-
ton.
To a statute'which should Incorporate all It's es.
seutial features should feel bound to give my APP
proval. but whether itwould be for the best inter
ests Of the public TO fix upon an expedcnt for
immediate aud extensive application, which EN-.
braces certain features OF the English system but
excludes or ignores others Of equal Importance
may be seriously doubted, even by those who are
impressed, as am myself, with the grave import
ance OF correcting ,thc evils which inhere in the
present methods of appointment.
H. Tor example, the English rule which shuts
out persons above the age of twenty five years from
q large number of public employments Is not 20
be made an essential part of our system, II Is
questionable whether the attainment of the high
est number of mnrksat a competitive examination
should be the criterion by which all applications
for appointment should be put to test And under
smilar conditions Il may Also be questioned
limited to It's lowest ranks.
There are very many characteristics which 20
TO make amodcl civil servant Prominent among
them arc prcbity, industry, good sense, good
habits, good temper, patience, order. courtesy,
tact, sslf-reliance, manly delcrcnoe to superior
officers and manly consideration for intcriop.
The absence of these traits Is not supplied by n
wide knowledge of books or by prompttude In
in,n,swyering qpestions or by any other quality
animation.
To make success in such contest, therefore, an
Indispensable condition of public employment,
would very likely result in the practical exclusion
OF the older applicants, even though they might
possess qualifications far superior to their younger
and more brilliant competitors.
These suggestions must not be regarded asevlnc-
ing any spirit Of opposition to the competitive
plan, which has been TO some extent successfully
employed already, and which may hereafter vim.
dicnto the claim OF It's most earnest supporters.
But II ought to be seriously considered whether
the application OF the Same educational standard
to persons of mature years nnd TO young men fresh
from school and college would not be likely to
| exalt nero intellectual proficiency above other
qualities of equal or greater Importance.
Another feature of the proposed system Is the
selection by promotion of all officers OF the Gov
ernment above the lowest grade, except such as
would fairly be regarded exponents OF the pol
icy the Executive aud the principles Of the DOM
| inant party.
To afford announcement TO faithful public ser-
wants by exciting inthor minds the hope of pro-
notion If they are found TO merit IT, is much to be
| desired.
| But would II be wise to adopt a'ruo so rigid Us
| TO permit no other mode of supplying the Inter
mediate walks OF the service2
silons with grcnt credit, but lack those qualities
which are requisite for higher posts of duly; and,
besides, lne modes OF Thought and action OF one
i long continued are often so cmmped by routine
procedure as almost to disqualify him from insti-
/ tuting changes required by the public interests
| An infusion OF new blood from time TO time, into
the middle ranks of the service might bevery hen.
i elclal In its results.
The subject uuder discussion Is one of grave i'm
| portance The evils which are complained of can
not be eradicated at once; the work must be
| gradual.
| The present English system Is a growth of years
anu was not created Ry single stroke of execu-
tive or legislative action.
/ Its beginnings are found In un order In council
promulgated in 1885, and IL was after patient and
cautious scrutiny It's workings that fifteen ycar
| later II took Its present shape
nf N nrInr In
council, and at time when resort had been had
to competitive examinations as an experim nj
much more extensively than has yet been the case
IN this country, select committee of the House o
Commons made report TO that House, which
declaring It's approval of the competitive plan
deprecated, nevertheless, any precipitlnoy in IL
general adoption us Likely to ondangcr its ultimate
success
During this tentative period the results of tn,
two methods ofpass examination and competitive
examination were closely watched and compared
IL may be that before we cOninc ourselves upor
this Important question within the stringent
bounds OF statutory enactment, we may prontabr
await the result of further inquiry and expert
nent.
The submission of portion of the nomination
to central board of examiners selected solely 70
testing the qualifications OF applicants may, per
haps, without resort to thc competitive test put al
end to the mschicfs which attend the present sys
TEN OF appointment, and II may be feasible to YES
III such board wide discretion to ascertain I'll,
characteristics and nttainmenls of candidates II
those particulars which have already referred I,
as being no less important than mere intellectuu
attainment.
IfCongress shouid deem Il advisable at the pres
ent session to establish competitive tests for admis
sion TO the service, no doubts such us have beci
suggested shall deter me from giving the measur
And / urgently recommend, should there be
failure to pass any otheraet upon this ssubject, thn
an appropriation OF 10000 per year may be mad
Tor the enforcement of section 1903 of the Reyiac'
+ Statutes.
With the mid thus afforded me, shall strive /
execute the provisions of that law according to 1t
letter and spirit.
/ am unwilling; In Justice to the present ciyI
servants OF the Government, to dismiss this sub
jeet without declaring my dissent from the sever
aud almost indiscriminate censure with whic
they have been recently assailed. That they nr
as class indolent, inefficient, and corrupt Is
statement which has been often made and widel
credited. But when the extent, variety, delicacy
and Importance of their duties are considered, III
great majority ofthe,employees of the Government
are in my Judgment deserving ofhigh commenda
Our Merchant Marine.
The continuing decline of the merchant marin
y of the United States is greatly TO be 1epored. i
view of the fact thatwe furnish so large a propor
ton of the freighus of the commercial world n
7 that our shipments are steadily and rapidly in
creasng II Is cause of surprise that not only Il on
navigation Interest diminishing, butt Is less tls
(. when our exports aud imports were not half B
large asnow, either IN bulk or value. There miIs
be some peculiar hinderanee TO the development
: ofthis interest, or the enterprise aud energy
' have kept this country ut least abreast
our rivals IN the friendly contest for ocean su
pfemnCy. Tile Substitutioil OF irDn for wood an
Of steam for sail have wrought great revolution
Q III the carrying trade OF the world; but thes
Q changes could not have been adverse to Americ
liifwe had given to our navigation interests por
lltion Of thenid ahdprotccton which have bee
l'so widely bestowed upon our manufactures.
5 commend the whole subject to the wisdom of Con
: gress, with the suggestion that M question {
greater magnitude OF farther reaching iinportane
$ can engage their attention.
: In 1879 the Supreme Court OF the United State
declared Unconstitutional the statutes OF certni
I States which imposed upon shiprowneTs or col,
signees a tax ofsl5O for each passenger arrivin
from foreign country, or, IN lieu thereof reqnire
bond to indemnify tlie State and local uuthori
ties against expense for the future relief or SUP
. port of such ipassenger. Since this decision I'll
expense attending the care and supervision
e immigrants has 'fnllen on the States ut who's
0 ports thoy. have landed. As a large majority
G such immigrants Immediately upon their Hrriyl
proceed 10 the inland States and tile Territories
seek permanent homes, ii is mnnifestly unjust
: impose upon the State whose shores they fin
q reach the burden which II now bears. For th
reason, and because of the national mportnnce [
: the subject, i reeommeud legislation cgurdiIl
i the supervision and ttalsitory care of imnligais
II at the ports ofdeburkntiOn.
4 regret TO state that the people of Alaska hay
reason 10. complain that they are as yet unprC
videdwith any form OF government by which III
= orproperty can be protected. While the extent
= | its population does not Justify the application
= the costly machinery Territorial administration
there Is immediate necessity forconstiluting sue
: form OF government as VIII promote the educl
a ton Of the people and secure The ,adniinstrato
! ofjustice.
y The Senate at It's last session, passed bill DR.
yldlng for the construction OF building for Il
Library of Congress, but II failed to become a Ia,
u The provision of suitable pnateclion for this gre
collection of books, aud for the copyright depar
!, ment connected with IL, has become subject
y y national Importance and should receive rom
u u attention.
= District Of GoIumiin Matters.
o The report of the Commissioners of the Dstr
0 of Columbia, herewith transmitted, will in for
you fully of the condition OF the affairs of the Dl
: irict.
They urge the vital Importance oflegislation {
n the reclamation aud improvement of The marsh
aud for the establishment of the harbor linesal
| the Potomac River front