River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-12-15

with general acquiesenee, but opinion has been
widely divided upon the wisdom arai prseticabiltY
OF the various reformatery schemes which lave
Teen suggested and Of certain proposed regua-
fi0us governing appointments to public Office
The Efficiency OF such regulations has been dis
trusted, mainly because they have scented 10
exalf mere educational an abstract tests above
general business capacity and even special fitness
for the particular work in hand II seems 70 me
that the result that should be applied 70 the man
agement Of the public servies may properly con-
form IN the main 10 such as regulate the cond-
ton Of successful private business General APP
poiatments should be based upon aseeftained TT
ness
The tenure of osiee should be stable and posi-
tiun Of responsibility should 50 fsr practicable
be filled BY the promotion Of worthy and efficient
officers The investigation of all complaints and
the punishment Of all official misconduct should
be prompt and thorough. The views expressed
in the foregoing words are those which viii gov
ern my administration OF tho executive Office
They are doubtless sh3rcd by all intelli cent
and patriotic citizens, however divergent IN
their opinion as t. the hest methoas OF
putting them into practical operations; Tor
example the assumption that the original APP
pointment should be based en- aseertained fitness,
IS not open TO dispute, but the question how IN
practice such fitness can be most eieetualiy OBJ
taned is which has for years excited interest
and discussion. The measure which, with slight
variations in its details, has lately been urged on
the attention of congress and the exeeulYes has
as its principal feature, the scheme Of competitive
examination. Save for certain exceptions which
need not here be specified, this plan would
give admission TO the service in Its lowest grade
aud would accordingly demand that all aeancies
in higher positions should be filled By promotion
alone; in these particulars il is IN conformity
with the existing civil service Of Great Britain,
and indeed the success which has attended that
system in the country of Is birth is the strongest
argument which has been urged for its adoption
here. The fact should no., however, be over
looked that there are certain features Of the
English system which have not generally been re-
eeiyed with favor in this country, even among
the foremost advocates of civil service reform
Among them are: FirstA tenure Of Office
which is substantially life tenure. Second-A
limitation of the maximum age at which an APP
plicant enter the service, whereby all men in
middle life under, are with some exceptions ex-
Guided. Third-A retiring allowance upon going
out Of office. Th-se three elements as i'm
portant factors of the problem as any of the 9TH
ers To eliminate thereir0m the English system
would effect a most radical change in
its theory and practice. The ayowed par
pose of the system is to induce the educated young
men of the country to devote their lives TO
public employment by an assurance that having
once entered upon it, they never need leave it,
and that after voluntary retirement 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
statute which should incorporate all these essential
features | should feel bound TO give my
apprc val, but whether it would be
for the best interests Of the public to
fix upon an expedieut for immediate
extensive application which embraces certain
features of the English system, but excludes or
ignores other equally important measures, it
may be strenuously doubted, even by those who
are impressed as | am with the grave Importance
of correcting the evils which inherit the present
methods of appointments. For example, the
English rule which shuts out persons above the
age of % years from large number CT public
empoyments, is not to be made an essential
part of system. 1t is questionable
whether the attainment of the highest number ot
marks at a competitive examination should be the
criterion by which all applications for appoint
ment should be put to the test, and under similar
conditions it may also be questioned whether adj
mission to the service should be strictly limited to
its lowest ranks. There are very many charae-
tersties which 60 TO make up model civil SER
want. Prominent among them are probably I'M
derstood, good sense, good habits good temper, pa
tience order courtesy. tact reltrelance manly
Difference to the superior officers and manly con-
sderations for interiors. The absence OF these
traits is not supplied by wide knowledge Of
books, promptitude in answering questions, or
by any other quality likely te be brought to light
by competitive examination. To make success OF
such contest therefore an indispensable con
diton of public employment would very likely
result in the practical exclusion of the older APP
peants even though they might possess qudlif
cations far superior to their younger and more
brilliant competltt RS. These suggestions must
not be regarded as evincing spirit of
opposition to the competitive plan, which has
been to some extent successfully employed already,
and the public may hereafter yindieate the
claims of its most earnest SUPP oriers but it ought
to be seriously considered whether the app lea
ton OF tho same educational standard to persons
of mature years, or young men fresh from
school college, would not be likely to exa. the
I al
| or greater Importance. Another feature of the
| proposed system is the selection by pro-
| motion of all Of the officers of the gov
| eminent above the lowest grade except such as
| would fairly be regarded as opponents OF the
policy of the executive and The principles of the
| dominant party to afford encouragement to faith
| fuI public servants by exciting in THEN minds the
| hope of promotion il they are found to De so, u
much to be desired. But would it be wise TO
| adept rule rigid as to permit no other mode
| of supplying the intermediate walks Of the
| servants there many persons who fill
subordinate positions with great credit but lack
! those qualities which is requisite for lSgher posts
| of duty. And besides, the modes of
| tn ught and action Of whose service
| in COVE rnmental bureau has been so long con-
! tinued that they are often so cranped by routine
| procedure as almost to disquaity them from instl
tu:ing changes required by the public interests,
and infusion Of new blood from time to time in
| the middle ranks of service might be very bene
| is one of grave Importance and the events which
| are complained OF cannot be eradicatei at once.
| The work must be gradual
| Inc present English system is growth Of
| wears and was not created by single stroke OF
| executive as well as legislative action. Its be-
| ginnn. is found III an order in council promul-.
| gated in 1855 and it was after patient and con
| tinueus scrutiny OF its workings that fifteen yeas
later it took is esent shape. Five years after
| the issue of the order in council, an at a time
| when resort had been to competitive exami-
| nations as an experiment much more extensively
than has yet been In this country select commit
tee of the house of commons made report to that
house which, declaring its approval Of the com
petitive method, depreciated. nevertheless, any
precipitancy in its general adoption Ms likely TO
endanger its ultimate success during the iniatiye
| period The result of the two methods of pass
! examination and competitive examination was
1 closely watched and compared Ii may be that
| before we eonfne ourselves upon this important
| question within the stringent bounds Of statutory
enactment we may proftably await the result OF
| further inquiry and experiment. The SUBMISSION OF
n portion of the nominations TO a central board OF
examiners selected solely for testing the qualifca-
| tions OF applicants, may perhaps without resort
to the competitive test, put an end to the ms
| chief which attends the present system OF APP
pointments and it may be feasible to vest IN such
| a board wide discreet to ascertain the eharae-
| tiers and attachments of candidates in these par
| tculars which | have already referred to as be-
ing no less important than mere intellectual at
tainments III congress shall deem it advisable at
| the present session to establish competitive
test for admission to service, such as has
been suggested, / shall give the measure
my earnest support. and urgently recommend
| should there be failure to pass any other act on
| this subject appropriation of S25 600 per
| year be made for the enforcement OF section 1893
of the revived statutes. With the sid thus offered
| me / shall strike the executive provision of
| that law according to the letter and spirit.
am III willing, in justice to prevent civil servants
Of the government to dismiss this subject without
| declaring my Dissent iron the severe and
| almost indiscrrninate censure with which
| they have been recently assailed that
| they are as a class indolent, inefficient and
| eorruUt is "A statement which had BEEN often
| made and widely credited, but when the extent,
variety delicacy and importance f their duties
are considered, the great majolIty Of the en-
poyees Of the government are, IN my judgm Mt,
deserving OF high commentator.
! ALASKA.
! regret to state that the people of Alaska have
reason to complain that they are as yet unpro-
vded with any form Of government by which
ife and property can be protected. While the
extent of its population does not justify the APP
plicatien of the costly machinery of territorial
administration, there immediate necessity
for constructing such form Of government rs
| will promote the education of the peop'e and
secure the administration Of justice.
THE CONGRESS LIBRARY.