The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-12-08


OF the various Information schemes which
have been suggested, and of certain pro
posed regulations governing appointments
to the public office. The efficiency of such
regulations has been distrust, because they
have seemed to cXalt mere educational and
abstract tests above general business ca
parity, and even special fitness for the par
iicular work in hand 1t seems to me that
the rules which should be applied to the
management ofthe public service may prop
crly conform in main to such as regulate the
conduct Of successful private business.
Original appointments should be based on
IRE of Office, and should,
So far as practicable, be fitted
by tho promotion Of worthy and efficient
officers.
The investigation of all com
plants and punishment of
all official misconduct should be prompt
and thorough The views expressed in the
foregoing are those which will govern my
administration of the Executive Office
They are doubtless shared by intel
ligent and patriotic citizens, how
ever divergent in their opinions
as to the best methods of putting them into
practical operations. For example the as
scrtion that original appointments should
to dispute, but the question now In prac-
tice. How such fitness can be most eifectually
aScertained is one which has for years ex-
cited interest and discussion. The measure
which, with slight variations in its details
has lately been urged upon the attention of
Congress and the Executive has as its prin-
cipal feature the scheme of competitive ex-
animation, save for certain exceptions,
which are not here specified.
This plan would allow admission to
service only in its lowest grade, and would
accordingly demand that all vacancies in
| higher positions should be filled by promo
ton alone. In these particulars it is in
conformity with the existing civil service
system Of Great Britain, and indeed the sue
| cess which has attended that system in the
country of its birth, is the strongest argu-
mcnt which has been urged for its adop-
| ton here, The fact should not, however, be
overlooked that there are certain features
OF the English system which have not gem
orally been received with favor in this
country, even among the foremost advo-
Gates of civil service reform. Among them
are first, tenure of Office, which is sub
stantially life tenure. Second, a limita-
| ton ofmaXimum age at which an applicant
can enter service, whereby all
men in the midst of life,
or Older, are, with some exceptions, rigidly
excluded; third retiring allowance on
going out of office. These three
element are as important factors
of the problem as any of the others.
To eliminate them from the English sys-
| tenn would effect most radical change
I'm its theory and practice The avowcd
| purpose of that system is to induce the ed
| ucatcd young men of the country to devote
their lives to public employment, by an as
| SuranCc that having once entered upon it
| they need never leave it and that after volun-
! tary retirement they shall be the recipients
| of an annual pension. That this system as
an entirety has proved very successful in
Great Britain, and seems to be generally
conceded even by those who once opposed
| It's adoption. To Il statute which should
incorporate all of its essential features
should feel bound to give my approval,
but whether it would be for the best inter
ests OF the public to fix upon il as an expe-
dent for immediate and extensive applica-
ton. which embraces certain features of the
| English systems, but excludes or ignores
others OF equal importance, may be
seriously doubted even by those who are
impressed, as am myself, with the grave
| Importance Of correcting the evils which
herein present the methods of appoint
meut. II, for example, the English rule
which shuts out persons above the age of
twenty-five years from large number of
empoymcnts is not to be made ar
essential part of our own system, it is cues
tlonablc whether the attainment of the
highest number of marks at competitive
examination should be Il criterion by
winch all applications for appoint
ment should be put to test, and
| under similar conditions it may also be a
question whether the admission to The
service should be strictly limited to its
lowest ranks. There are very many char
acterstics which 90 to make amodcl
servant; prominent among them are
prohity, industry, good sense, good habits,
good temper, patience, order, courtesy,
tact selt-reliance and manly Difference 10
superior officers and manly consideration
Tor interiors. The absence of those traits
Is not supplied by wide knowledge of
books or by promptitude in answering
questions, or by any other quality likely TO
be brought to light by Il competitive exam
animation. To make success in such Il
contest, therefore, an indispensable condi
ton OF public employment would very
likely result in the practical extension
Of the older applicants, even though
they might possess quaiiications.mr. supe-
rlor TO Their younger and more brilliant
competitors. These suggestions must not
be regarded as evidence Of any spirit of op-
position to the competitive plan
which has been to some OK.
tent successfully employed already.
and which may hereafter vindicate the
claim of its most earnest supporters. But
i ought to be seriously considered whether
the application ofsome educational standard
to persons of mature years and to young
men fresh from school and college would
not likely result in more intellectual pro
lciency above other qualities of equal or
greater Importance. Another feature of
me proposed system is the selec-
ti9h' by promotion, of all
officers of the Government, above
lowest grades, except such as
would fairly. be regarded rs opponents of
the policy of the Executive and the princi-
pies OF the dominant party to afford en-
Touragemcnt to the faithful public servants
by exercising in their minds the hone OF
promotion, if they are found to
merit it, is much to be desired,
But would il be wise to adopt n
rule so rigid as TO permit no other manner
oil supplying the intermediate wants of tho
service: There are many persons who ill
subordinate positions with great credit, but
lack those qualities which are so requisite
i i9 the higher posts of duty, and because
tae mode of thought and action
oil one whose presence in gov
crnental bureau has been long continued
are often so cramped by routine procedure,
as almost to disqualify him from instituting
changes required by the public interests
An infusion Of new blood from time TO
time into the middle ranks
OF the service might be very
beneficial in its results The subject under
discussion is one Of grave Importance. The
evils which are complained of cannot he