Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-07
NO. 341

o.
noeIty or integrity, VIII ch nroner admin;ss' s'
'raIlon OF such off ce demands. This sentiment
wouio doubtless meet with general acnnies1
cence, put opinion has been widely diy;dod
upcu 'ne wisdom and practicablity Of tbe
sarIous relormatory schemes which have
neHu sugeesoea, and of certain proposed regu.
tasoms nHioar soyTerning The appointment of public
has been distrusted, mainly because tbeu hove
seemedFo exalt more, educational and sbstraot
tests, above general business capacitv and avo,,
special fitness for the particular worx in hond
1t seems to me that the tests that sbonid ha
applied to the management of the nnhiic ser' ~
vice may properly conform in the main to sncb
as regulate the condition of successful
should be based upon ascertained fines
The tenure of office should be stable. Posi-.
tions OF responsibility should be, so far as
practicable, filled by the promotion of worthy
and efficient officers. The investigation Of ali
complaints and the punishment of all official
misconduct, should be prompt and thorough.
The views expressed in the foregoing letter
are those which will govern my administration
of the executive Office. They are doubtless
shared by ali intelligent and patriotic citizans'
however divided in their opinion
as to the best method of
putting them into practical operation.
For example, the suggestion that original ap-
pointments should be based on ascertained
fitness is not open to dispute, but the ques-
tion OF how, in practice, such fitness can be
most efectually obtained, is one which has for
years excited interest and discussion. The
measure which, with slight variation in its
dstails, has lately been urged on the attention
Of congress and the executive, has its princi-
pie feature in the scheme of competitive ex-
animation. Save for certain exceptions, which
need not here be specified this plan would
give admission to the service only in its lowest
grade, and would accordingly demand that
all vacancies in higher positions should be
hlled by promotion alone. In these particu-
lars it is in conformity with the existing civil
service system of Great Britain, and indeed
the success which has attended that system in
the country Of it's birth is the strongest argu-
ment which has been urged for it's adoption
here. The fact should not, however, be over
looked, that there are certain features of the
English system which have not generally been
received with favor In this coun-
try, even among the foremost ad-
vocates OF civil service reform.
among them are, first, tenure of Office
which is substantially life tenure; second, a
limitation of the maximum age at which an
applicant can enter the service, wher by all
men in middle life and older, with some ex-
Heptions, are rigidly exc cuded; third, a retir-
L allowance upon going out of office. These
three elements are as important factors of the
problem as any of the others. To eliminate
therefrom the English system would effect a
most radical change in its theory and prac-
tlce. The avowed purpose of that sys-
tenn is to induce the educated yonng
men of the country to devote their lives to
public employment, by an assurance that, hav.
ing once entered upon it they need never leave
it, and that after voluntary retirement they
shall DE the recipients Of an annual pension.
Bnt this system as an entirety, has
proved very successful in Great Britain, and
seems to be generally conceded, even by those
who once opposed its adoption, to be statute
which we should incorporate IN all it's essen
tial features. should fe bound to give my
approval, but whether 1t would be for the best
interests OF the public to fix
npon an expedent for its immediate
extensive application, which embraces certain
features of the English system, but excludes
or ignores others of eqnal importance, may be
strenuously doubted. even by those who are
impressed as I am with the grave importance
Of correcting the evils which attend the pres
ent methods of appointment; for example,
If the English rule which shuts ont persons
above the age of 25 years from large num-
Der of public employments, were
to be made an essential part
Of our system, it is questionable
whether the attainment of the highest num-
her of marks at a competitive examination
should be the criterion bv which all applica-
tions for appointment should be nut to the
list, and under similar conditions it may also
be questioned whether admission to the ser
vice could be strictly limited to its lowest
ranks. There are very many characteristics
which go to make model civil servant;
prominent among them ar properly, industry,
good sense, good habits, good temper patience,
order, courtesy, tact, self reliance, manly,
dot 70
sideration for interiors. The absence of these
habits is not supplied by vide knowledge of
books, or by prom ptitude in answering qu s.
tions, or by any other quality likely to be
brought out by competitive examination to
maze success. In such contest, therefore,
an indispensable condition of public employ
ment would very likely result in the practical
exclusion of the older applicants, even though
they might possess qualifications far superior
to their Youngest and most brilliant competi-
tors. These suggestions must not be
regarded as evincing any spirit
of opposition to the competitive plan. which
has been to some extent successfully en-
ployed already, and which may hereafter vim
dcate the claims of its most earnest support
ers, but it ought to be seriously considered,
whether the application Of the same educa-
and young men fresh from school and college,
would not be likely to exalt mere intillectu-
al proficiency above other qualities of equal
or greater importance.
Another feature of the proposed
system, is the selection, by pro-
motion, OF all officers of the govern
ment above the lowest grade, except such as
would fairly be regarded as exponents of the
policy of the executive and the principles of the
dominant party. To afford encouragement to
faithful public servants, by exciting in their
minds the hope Of promotion if they are found
to be such as much desired, but would it be
wise to adopt rule so rigid as to permit no
other mode of supplying the intermediate
walks Of the servants? There are many per-
sons who I'LL subordinate positions with great
credit, but lack those qualities which are re-
quisite for higher posts of duty,
and besides, the modes of thought
and action of one whose service
in governmental bureau has been long con
tinued, are often so cramped by routine pro-
cedure as almost tn disqualify him from insti.
tuting the changes required by pnhlc interests
md the infusion of new blood from time to
time to the middle ranks Of the service might
he very beneficial IN its results The subject
under discussion is one of grave Importance.
The events which are complained OF cannot be
eradicated at once. The work must be gradual.
The present English system is a growth of
years and was not created by a single stroke
of executive or Legislative action. It's be-
gianing was found in an order in the council
promulgated in 1855, and it was after patient
and cautions scrutiny of it's working, that
fifteen years later it took it's present shape.
Five years after the issuance of the order by
the council and at a time when resort had been
had to competitive examination as an experi-
ment, much more extensively than has yet been
the case in this country, select committee of
the house of commons made a report to that
house which while declaring its approval
Of the competitive method deprecated never
theless any precipitancy in its general adop-
tion as likely TO endapger its ultimate success.
During this tentative period the result of the
two methods Of pass examination and com
petative examination was carefully scrutinized.
1t may be that before we confire ourselves
upon this important question within the
stringent bounds of statutory enactment, we
may profitably await the result Of further in
auiry and experiment. The submIs-
sion of norton of the nomna-