Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-12-07

geston is approved / recommend ai.o the
OF an act providing that in the Territories Of
tne Ohiteo States the fact that q woman has been
married to person charged with bigamy shall not
asquAhiy her as witness his trial ior that Of
any person solemnizng marriage in anv of the Ter
ritories shall be required under stringent penalties
or neglect or REFUSAL tn file certificate of such mar
rage IN the Supreme Cour. Of the Territory Doubt
less Congress may devise other practicable measures
Tor ooviating the difficulties which have hitherto at
tended The efforts 10 suppress this inqu,y assure
you Of my determined purpose TO co-onerate with
you in any lawful and discreet measure which NAV
be proposed TO that end.
CIVIL SERVICE RKFoRx
The President speaks Of the enormous sums which
600 for first payments The great temptation
TO The presentation Of fictitious claims afforded by the
act that The average sum obtained upon each appli-
cation is 81 300 leads him suggest the proprety of
making some special appropriation for the preven-
ton OF fraud. He advises appropriations for such
internal improvements as the wisdom of Congress
may deem to be Of public Importance. Afber men,
iioninx the necessity for improving the Mississippi
river he takes the .ubjec, of civil service reform
and says: In my letter accepting the nomination
the Vice Presidency i stated that in my Judgment
no man should be the incumbent of an office the du-
hes of which he is for any unfit to perform who
Is lacking in the ability. fidelity integrity which
proper administration of such Office dernands' This
sentiment would doubtless meet with general acqui-
escenee but opinion has been widely divided upon
the wisdom and pracicsbty of the various reforma-
tory schemes which have been suggested and of
tain proposed regulations governing appointments
to public Office. The efficiency OF such aious has
been dstrnsted mainly because they have seemed 10
exali mere educational and abstract above gen.
era business capacity and even special fitness for the
particular work in hand. II seems to that the
rules which should be applied the management
OF the public service may properly conform in the
main TO such regulate The conduct of successful
private business. Original appointments should be
based upon ascertained fitness. The tenure of Office
should be stable. Positions OF responsibility should
far possible be filed by the prom, on OF worthy
n tlnal pfal all
plants and the punishment OF all official misconduct
should DC prompt and thorough.
THE PRESIDENTS PRokIsE
The views expressed in the foregoing letter are
Executive Office. They doubtless shared by all
intelligent and patriotic citizens. however divergent
IN their opinions to the best methods of putting
them into practical operation. For example, the as
sertion that original appointments should be based
upon ascertaned fitness is open to dispute But
the question how in practice such fitness can be most
efectually asceTtaned Is 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 Execu
tive, has as its principal feature the scheme of COM
petitive examination. Save for certain exceptions.
which need not here be specified, this plan would
give admission 10 the service only in its loves;
grade. and wosld accordingly demand that all
cancies IN higher positions should be filled by promo
tion alone In these particulars it is conformity
with the existing civil system of Great Brit
ain. And. indeed. the success which has attended
that system in the country OF birth is the strongest
argument which has been urged for adoption
The TACT should not. however. be overlooked that
there are certain features of the English system
which have not generally been received with av or
IN lhls country even among the foremost advocates
OF civil service reform. Among them First. a
tenure OF office which Ia substantially life
second a limitation Of the maximum age at which
an applicant can enter the service, whereby
all in middle life older are with some
exceptions, rgidiy excluded, third a retiring allow
ance upon going out of office These three clements
inn he
Others To eliminate them from the English system
would effect mos, radical change in its theory and
practice The avowed purpose OF that system is to
induce the educated young of the country to de-
vote their lives TO public employment by
ance that having once entered upon they need never
leave II. and that upon voluntary retirement
they shall be the recipients of annual PEN
sion- That this system as an entirety has proved
very successful in Great Britain be generally
conceded, by those who once opposed its adop-
ton To statute WHICH should incorporate all its
essential features should feel bound to give NV ap-
proval but whether it would be for the best
of the public to fix upon expedient for immediate
extensive application which embraces certain features
of the English system but excludes ignores Others
of equal importance may be seriously doubted even
by those who are impressed a. am myself. with the
grave importance OF correcting the evils which inhere
IN the present methods of appointment. II for
ample. the English rule which shuts out all per-
sons above the age Of twenty-five years from large
number Of public empoyments, IS not TO be made
whether the attainment of the highest number of
marks at a competitive examination should be the
,,,,id =. -, -. -. "a -, -. ;,r i;,; "
n nav aIsa he ouesionaJ xhasbs- oi,,i.son -, ~.
er,ic. shoujd T.. ,r;ctIy ni,sd 70 49, Iox,e~, rant
"
THE ENGLISH SYSTEM.
The present English system is n growth of years
and WAS not created by SINGLE stroke of execu.iye
a, I.,;sla,ix. acio, II. be,nin.,. 70 ,ou,d in an
: - E =; -, ..,r,-,S - ,cS, - :, -. e..
u . aei =" - - 80 - . " - 80 eS
iauent ana cautious scrutiny oil us iha' NJ
teen years later it took its present shape Five
after the issuance of the order in cooncil and a
lime when resort had been had to com petitiye exam
,.,ions "a an .x,eri,,en, n,ucl p,ors e,tensivelv
- -. -, -. ,i,a -. =; ~; aO,,,,,-,. -
'n'" les - ~ - " 80 $50
eomh'ee Oh tue mouse oi Io'ntiohS "Aue report 10
hat House, which, declaring ITS approval OF the
com petitve plan. deprecated. nevertheless any pre-
=.