Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-11-28
POSTMASTER GENERAL
JAMES ON CIVIL SER
VICE REFORM.

Under this head the Postmaster Gem
eral says:
Careful observation in this depart
ment and elsewhere has but confirmed
my conviction of the great public bene-
fit to be derived from conducting the
public business on business principles.
Some method of relief must be provid-
ed from the overwhelming pressfre for
appointment to clerkships and other
subordinate positions, and from the
equal pressure for the removal of capa-
BILE and experienced assistants to make
room for those who are not more com
petent. The public service is a public
trust to which every citizen may proper
ly aspire, and the public interest plain
| ly demands that admission to it should
not depend upon personal favor, because
such favor cannot we'll be impartial, and
because a system of appointment by
mere influence may be readily perverted
to the promotion of private interests and
personal ambitions. Appointment by
influence naturally results in making
the tenure of office depend not upon f.
deity and efficiency in the discharge of
official duty, but upon the assiduous
cultivation of the favor of a patron.
Such tenure is incompatible with the
self-respect of the incumbent. and the
service must necessarily suffer from the
decline of its morale But the evil con-
sequences cannot be limited to the pub
lie service they affect all political &C
ton, the purity and vigor of the Gov
eminent, and the national character it.
self. The question, therefore, is one Of
far higher Importance than that of the
comparative fitness of clerks in the EN-.
ployment of the Government, and really
concerns the character and success of re-
| puUllCdu luStituIiOuS.
The first step, in my judgment, to-
ward the relief of the appointing officers
and the promotion of the greater effici
encY and economy of the civil servic,
would be a method of minor appoint
ment, which should be independent o
personal or partisan influence. In som,
important Government Offices of which
| have had personal knowledge, such ;
system is already in operation. Il
those offices minor appointments are de
termined solely by proper qualifications
ascertained by impartial tests open t
all applicants upon equal terms. Tn
great success which has attended thi
method of selection proves its practi
eability, while the good results, both il
the service and in the character of til
officers thus selected, demonstrate it
value. The extension of this metbo
under uniform conditions is earnestly t
e be desired, both to correct familiar evil
i in the public service itself and to re
l move the still graver evils which sprin
: from them.
}. In my opinion. the same general prir
r ciples should govern the selection an
! retention of employees in this department
The public is best served by honest, ez
!. perienced and competent officers, an
changes, therefore, should be mad
J. carefully and only for reasons afectin
k official conduct. My views upon tn
If subject are the result of PROLONGED ofici;
= experience, and | am persuaded that til
a practical application of these principle
e. would promote public morality. increa'
,r the economy and efficiency of the pul
lie service, and assuage the fury of pa
ty spirit, against which Washingts
7. warned the country as its chief peril. =