The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-07

pofntmenf.
II, for example, the English rule which
shuts out persons above the age OF twenty.
i've years from large number OF public
employments Is not 10 be made an essential
part Of our own system, II Is questionable
whether the attainment OF the highest
number OF marks at competitive exami-
nation should be the criterion by which all
applications for appointment should be put
TO test. And under similar conditions il
may also he questioned whether admission
to the service should be strictly limited to
its lowest ranks.
There are very many characteristics
which go TO make
MODEL CIVIL SERVANT.
Prominent among them are probity, in
dustry, good sense, good habits. good tenn
per, patience, order, courtesy, tact, self
reliance, manly Difference to superior Off
GERS, and manly consideration for interiors.
The absence Of these traits il not supplied
by a wide knowledge OF books or by
promptitude in answering questions, or by
any other quality likely to be brought to
light by competitive examination.
To make success in such contest, there
fore, an indispensable condition Of public
employment would very likely result In the
practical exclusion OF the older applicants.
even though they might possess Gualifica-
tons far superior TO their younger and
more brilliant competitors.
These suggestions must not be regarded
as evincing any spirit Of opposition to the
competitive plan, which has been to some
extent successfully employed already, and
which may hereafter vindicate the claim OF
/ it, most earnest supporters. But it ought
TO be seriously considered whether the APP
/ plicatiOn OF the same educational standard
TO persons OF mature years and 10 young
men fresh from school and college would
not be likely to exalt mere intellectual pro-
/ fciency above other qualities Of equal or
/ greater importance.
| Another feature Of the proposed system
IL the selection by promotion OF all officers
OF the Government 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 faithful pub
! lie servants, by exciting in their minds the
hope OF promotion, il they are found to
merit il, is much to be desired.
But would it be wise to adopt a rule so
rigid as to permit no other mode of sup
plying the intermediate walks Of the SER
vice?
There are many persons who fill subordi-
nate positions with great credit, but lack
those qualities which are requisite for
higher posts Of duty; and, besides, the
modes OF thought and action OF one whose
service in governmental bureau has long
continued are often so cramped by routine
procedure as almost 10 disqualfy him from
instituting changes required by the public
interests. An infusion OF new blood,
from time to time, into the middle ranks of
the service might lie very beneficial in its
results.
SUBJECT or GRAVE IMPORTANCE.
The subject under discussion is one OF
grave importance. The evils which are
complained OF cannot be cradicated at
once the work must be gradual.
The present English system is a growth
OF years, and was not created by a single
stroke of executive or legislative action.
lis beginnings are found in IN order in
council. promulgated in 1850, and it was
after patient and cautious scrutiny OF its
workings that fifteen year later it took its
present shape.
Five years after the issuance OF the order
in council, and at time when resort had
experiment much more extensively than
has vet been the case in this country, Sc
lect committee of the House OF Commons
made report to that house, which. de-
claring its approval OF the competitive
plan, deprecated. nevertheless. any pre-
cipitancy in it, general adoption - likely
to endanger it, ultimate success.
During this tentative period the results
OF the two methods of pass examination
and competitive examination were closely
watched and compared. 1t may be that
before we cOnfne ourselves upon this I'M
portant question within the stringent
bounds OF statutory enactment we may
pr0ftably await the result OF further in
quiry and experiment.
The submission Of portion OF the nOmi-
nations to a central board OF examiners Sc
lected solely for testing the qualifications Of
applicants may, perhaps, without resort 10
the competitive test, put nm end to the mis-
chiefs which attend the present system OF
appointment, and it may be feasible TO vest
in such a board wide discretion TO ascer-
tain the characteristics and attainments OF
candidates in those particulars which
have already referred TO rs being less inn
pOrtant than mere intellectual attainment.
l '
the present session TO establish competitive
tests for the admission to the service, no
doubts such as have been suggested shall
deter me from giving the measure my earn
est support. And
URGENTLY RECOMMEND.
should there be failure 10 pass any other
act upon this subject, that an appropria-
ton Of $4,000 per year may be made for
the enforcement OF section 1853 OF the Re-
yiscd Statutes.
With the aid thus afforded me, | shall
strive TO execute the provisions OF that law
according to its letter and spirit.
am unwilling, in justice to the present
civil servants OF the Government, TO dis-
miss this subject without declaring my dis
sent from the severe and almost indscrimi-
nate censrre with which they have been
recently assailed. That they are as class
indolent, inefficient, and corrupt is state
ment which has been often made and wide
" credited; but when the extent, variety,
delicacy, and importance OF their duties are
considered, the great majority OF the en-
ployes OF the Government are, in my iudg-
ment, deserving OF high commentator.
The continuing
DECLINE OF TIE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF the United states is greatly 10 be de-
plored. In view OF the fact that we fur
nish so large y proportion OF the freights
OF the commercial world, and that our
shipments are steadily and rapidly in-i
creasing, it is cause Of surprise that pot
only is our navigation interest diminish
Ing but il is less than when our exports
and imports were not hall so large as now,
either in bulk or value. There must be
some peculiar hindrance to the de-
yelopment OF this interest, or the
enterprise and energy OF American
mechanics and capitalists would have
kept this country at least abreast OF
our rivals in the friendly contest for ocean
supremacy. The substitution OF iron for
Nnnd and OF steam for sail hive wrought