The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-12-14

most advocates Of civil service reform.
Among them are
L. A tenure Of Office which is sub
stantially a life tenure.
2. A limitation Of the maximum age
at which an applicant can enter the
service, whereby al men in middle life,
on older, are, with some exceptions,
rigidly excluded.
3. A retiring allowance upon going
out of Office.
These three elements are as inn
portant factors of the problem as any OF
the others.
To eliminate them from the English
system would effect n most radical
change in its theory and practice. The
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-
inc entered upon it, they need never
leave it. and that after voluntary retire
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 n bill which
should incorporate all its essential fea-
lures l should feel bound to give my APP
prevail But whether it would be for
the best interest of the public to fix on
an eXpedient for immediate and extern
sive application, which embraces GER
tain features of the English system, but
excludes or ignores others of equal inn
portance, may be seriously doubted,
even by those who are impressed, as l
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 a large number of
public employments, is not to be made
an essential part of our system it is
questionable whether the attainment of
the highest number of marks at a com
petitive 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 go to make a
model civil servant. Prominent among
them are probity, industry, good sense,
order, courtesy, tact, self-reliance.
manly Difference to superior officers,
and considerations for interiors. The
absence of these traits is not supplied
| by wide knowledge of books, or by
promptiude in answering questions,
or by any other quality likely to be
brought to light by competitive exami-
nation. To make success in such 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 rs evincing any
spirit of opposition to the
competition plan which has been to
some extent successfully employed
already, and which may hereafter vindi-
cate the claim of its most earnest sup
porters. 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 be likely to 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
ernment above the lowest grades, ex-
cept such as would fairly be regarded as
exponents 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 rule so
rigid as to permit no other mode of sup
plying the intermediate walks of the
service? 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
OF one whose service in governmental
bureau has been long continued are
often so cramped by routine procedure
as almost to disqualify him from
lnstltutlng changes required by
the public interest, and in
fusion 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 be eradicated at
once. The work must be gradual. The
present English system is growth of
years, and was not created by single
stroke of executive or legislative action.
It's beginnings are found in an order in
council promulgated in 1855, and it was
after patient and cautious scrutiny of its
workings that fifteen years later it took
its present shape. Five years after
the issuance Of the order in council
and at time when resort had been had
to competitive examination as an ex.
pertinent much more extensively than
has yet been the case in this country. a
select committee of the house of com.
mons made a report to that house
which declaring its approval of the com.