The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-12-10

to be seriously considered whether the appn-
cation of the same educational standard to
persons OF mature years rs 10 young men
fresh from school and college would not be
likely to cXalt mere intellectual proficiency
| above other qualities OF equal or greater i'm.
portance. Another feature Of the proposed
system II the selection by promotion of all
Officers of the Government above the lowest
grade, except such ~ would fairly be regarded
rs opponents of the policy of the Executive
and the principles of the dominant party. To
an I'D encouragement TO faithful public serv.
ants by exciting in their minds the hope OF
promotion II they are found to merit, l. much
TO be desired; but would il be wise to adopt
rune 50 rigid nS to permit no other mode OF
supplying the intcrme liatC walks OF the ~crv-
tcesy There are many persons who III subOr.
dinatc 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 services in Il
Government bureau has been long continued
are often 50 crHmpcd by routine procedure
as almost to disquulity him from
in5tituting the changes required
by the public interests. The infusion of new
blood from time TO time into the middle ranks
of the service might be very beneficial in its
results. The subject undrr discussion l. ono
of grave importance. The evils which arc
| complained of can not he Crudicatcd at once /;
/ the work must be gradual. The present En-
| glish system is a growth OF years, and was not
| created by u single stroke Of executive or leg.
! iSlativc action. Its beginnings are found in
| an order in counsel promulgated i'll 1870, ana
| It was after patient and cautious scrutiny OF
it, workings that fifteen years later it took its
| pre- ent shape. Five years after the issuance
/ of the order in council, and mt time when
| resort had bean had to connective eNaninn-
| tionS as experiments, much moro extensively
! than has yet been the case in this country,
| select committee of the House OF Commons
made report TO that House which, declaring
! its approval OF the competitive method, dep
| rccatel nevertheless any precipitation in
| its general adoption rs likely to en-
| danger its ultimate success. During
! this tentative period the results OF the two
/ methods of passing examination and compc-
ttive examination We're closely watched ana
! compared. IL may be that before we cOntine
| ourselves upon this important question with
i'm the stringent bonds OF statutory enact.
mont we may probably await the result OF
further inquiry and experiment The sub
mission OF Il portion of the nominations to a
central board of examiners Sc ccted sOlelvto
testing the qualifications OF applicants may,
/ perhaps, without resort to tine competitive
t"st, put an end to the mischief which attends
| the present system of appointment, and it
| may be feasible to vest in such board a
| wide discretion, to ascertain the chHractcrlS
tics and attachments of candidates in these
| particulars which have already referred TO
| us being no less important than mere intel
lcctual attainment. If Congress should deem
! it advisable mt the present session to rStaD-
lish competitive tests Tor admission
to the service, no doubts such as have b en-
suggested shall deter me from giving the
measure my earnest support; and | urgently
rccOmmen 2, should there be n failure TO pass
any other act upOn this subject, that an APP
preparation of So, 900 per year may be made
tor the enforcement OF section ,i5j of the Re
vised Statutes With the aid thus afforded
me, / shall strive to eNecut" the provisions of
that law according to its letter and spirit.
am unwilling, in Justice to the present civil
servants of the Government, to dismiss this
subject without declaring my dissent from
/ the severe and almost indiSCrlminAte cenSurG
with which they have been recently assailcd,
That they are, as Il class. indUlent, inefficient
and corrupt is u statement which has been
often made ana widely credited, but when
tine extent, variety, delicacy and importance
of their duties are considered the great ma
jOrity of the employees of the Government
are, in my Judgment, deserving of high com
mendatiOn.