Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-09

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in this country, even among the fore.
most advocates of civil service reform.
Among them are:
|. A tenure of Office which is sub.
stantially life tenure.
2. A limitation of the maximum acc
at which an applicant can enter the
service, whereby all men in middle life
or Older, are, with some exceptions,
rigidly excluded
3. A retiring allowance upon going
out of office.
These three elements are as i'm.
portant factors of the problem as any of
the others.
To eliminate them from the English
system would effect most radical
change in its theory and practice. The
I avowed purpose of that system is to in
duce the educated young men of the
country to devote their lives to public
employment by an assurance that. hav-
ING entered upon it, they need never
leave it, and that after voluntary re ire
ment they shall be the recipients of an
annual pension. That this system AS
an entirety has proved very successful in
Great Britain seems to be generally
conceded, even by those who once
opposed its adoption. To a bill which
should incorporate all its essential fea-
lures | should feel bound to give my APP
proval. But whether it would be for
the best interest of the public to fix on
an cXpcdicnt for immediate and extern
sive application, which embraces GER
tain features Of the English system. but
excludes or ignores others Of equal i'm
portancc, may be seriously doubted.
even by those who are impressed. as [
am myself, with the grave importance
of correcting the evils which inhere in
the present methods of appointment.
If, for example, the English rule, which
shuts out persons above the age oftwenty-
five years from n large number Of
public cmployments. is not to be made
an essential part of our system it is
questionable whether the attainment of
the highest number of marks at com
petitivc examination should be the
criterion by which all applications for
appointment should be put to the test.
And under similar condition it may also
be questioned whether admission to the
service should be strictly limited to its
lowest ranks. There are very many
characteristics which 90 to make a
model civil servant. Prominent among
them are probity, industry, good sense,
good habits, good temper, patience,
order, courtesy, tact, sclf-rcliance.
manly Difference to superior officers,
and considerations for interiors. The
absence Of these 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 competitive exami-
nation. To make success in such n con-
test, therefore, an indispensable condi-
ton 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 as cyincing any
spirit Of opposition to the
competition plan which has been to
some extent successfully employed
already, and which may hereafter vind-
cate the claim Of its most earnest sup
portcrs. But it ought to be seriously
considered whether the application Of
the same educational standard to per
sons Of mature years and to Young men
fresh from school and college would
not he likely 10 eXalt mere intellectual
proficiency above other qualities of
greater importance. Another feature
OF the proposed system is the selection
by promotion of all officers of the gov
eminent above the lowest grades, eY-
ccpt such as would fairly be regarded as
opponents of the policy Of the EXecu-
tive and the principles Of the dominent
party.
To afford encouragement to faithful
public servants. by exciting in their
minds the hope of promotion if they are
found TO merit it, is much to be desired,
but would it be wise TO adopt n rule so
rigid rs 10 permit no other mode of sup
plying the Intermediate walks of the
sGTviccE There are many persons who
Ill subordinate positions with great
credit, but lack those qualities which
are requisite for higher posts of duty.
Besides the modes of thought and action
ni one whose service in governmental
bureau has been long continued are
often 50 cramped by routine procedure
rs almost to disqualify him from
lnstltutlhg changes required by
the public interest. and in
fusion OF new blood frCm time to time
INTO the middle ranks Of the service
Ml%ht be very beneficial in its results.
The subject under discussion is one of
grave importance. The evils which are
complained of cannot bS eradicated at
once. The work must be gradual. The
present English system is a growth Of
years, and was not created bv single
stroke of executive or legislative action.
Its beginnings are found in an order in
council promulgated in 1855, and it was
ailer patient and cautious scrutiny of its
workings that fifteen years later il took
Its present shape. Five years after
the Issuance of the order in council
and at a time when resort had been had
TO competitive examination ms an cx.
pertinent much more extensively than
has yet been the case in this country.
select committee of the house of com
mons made report TO that house.
which declaring its approval of the com.
Petltlvc method deprecated, neverthe-
less any precipitancy in its general
adoption, as likely to endangcr its ulti-
mate success. During this tentative
period the results of the two methods of
pass examination and competitive ex-
were closely watched and
compared. 1t may be that before we
conllne ourselves upon this important
question within the stringent bounds of
statutory enactment we NAV proftablv
await the result of further inquiry and |
experiment The Cubp, isci1r, g =, -.