Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-12-17

uli lOluDAuillOo anu blt vi MI VI
Hcial misconduct should be prompt aud thOr
ough. The views expressed in the foregoing
letter are those which will govern my admin.
tstration oftho executive Office, They are
doubtless shared by all intelligent and patif-
otto citizens, however divergent in their
opinion as to tho best methods of putting
them'into practical operation. For example:
The assertion that original appointment
-shonid be based on aseel tained fitness is not
open to dispute, but the question how in
practice such fitness can be most eifectually
ascertained is one which has for years cxcit.
ed interest and discussion, The measure
which with Slight variations in its detail
has lately been urged upon the attention of
Congress and the Executive has as its princi-
pal feature the scheme of competitive exam
nation, save for certain exceptions, which
need not here be specified This plan would
provide for admission to the service only in
its lowest grade and would accordingly de.
mand that all vacancies in higher positions
should be filled by promotion alone. In these
particulars, 1t Is in conformity with the ex-
isting civil service system of Great Britain.
and indeed the success which has attended
that system in the country of its birth is the
strongest argument which has been urged for
its adoption here, Tho fact should not, how
ever, be overlooked that there are certain
features of the English system which have
not generally been received with favor in this
country, even among the foremost advocates
of civil service reform. Among them are:
]. Tenure of office, which is substantially
life tenure.
g. Limitation of the maximum age at which
an applicant can enter the service, whereby
all men In middle lie or under are, with some
exceptions, Iigidly excluded.
B. A retiring allowance upon going ont of
office.
These three elements are rs important fac.
tors of the problem as any of the others. TO
eliminate theretrom the English system
would effect radical change in its 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, having once entered upon
it, they need never leave it, and that after
voluntary retirement they shall be the re.
cipients of an annual pension That this sys-
tenn, as an entirety, has proved very success
full in Great Britain seems to be generally
conceded even by those who once opposed
its adaptation. TO statute which should
incorporate all its essential features,
should feel bound to give my approval
but whether it should be for the best
interests of the public TO fix up,
on an eXpedient for immediate and extensive
| application which embraces certain features
OF the English system, but excludes or ignores
| others OF equal importance, may be seriously
doubted even by those who are impressed, rs
/ am myself, with the grave importance of
correcting the evils " hich inhere in the pres
ent methods OF appointments. If, for exam
| pie, the English rules, which shuts out per.
sons above the age of twenty five years from
II large number OF public employments. is not
| to be made an essential part of our system, IL
! is questionable whether the attainment o.
| the highest number of marks at competi-
tive examination should be the criterion by
| which pplications for appointment should
! be put to test, and under similar conditions il
may also be questioned whether admission to
| the service should be strictly limited to its
| lowest ranks. There are very many charac-
| teristics which go to make model civil ser
| want. Prominent among them are prObity
industry, good habits, good temper patience,
| order, courtesy, tact, self-reiuncc, manly
| upfprpnpn IN Snnpripr officers and manly
sideratOn for interiors. The absence of these
| traits Is not supplied by wide knowledge OF
| books, ORGY promptitudc in answering ques-
! tons, or by any other quality likely TO be
! brought to light by II competitive eXamina
! ton. To make q success in such contest,
| therefore, an Indispensable condition of pub
! lie employment, would very likely result in
| the practical exclusion of the older applicants,
even though eymight possess qualifications
| far superior to their younger and more brill
liant competitors. These suggestions must not
! be regarded as evincing any spirit of opposi
ton to the competitive plan, which has bcento
| syme extent successfully employed already,
| and which may vindicate the claims
| of the most earnest supporters. But it ought
| to be seriously considered whether the appli
cation of the same educational standard to
| persons of mature years as to young men
| fresh from school and college would not be
| likely to eXalt mere intellectual proficiency
above other qualities of equal or greater i'm
| portance. Another feature of the proposed
| y
| 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 public scrv
ants by exciting in their minds the hope of
| promotion if theyare found to merit, is much
to be desired; but would it be wise to adopt a
| rule so rigid as to permit no other mode of
| supplying the intermediate walks of the serv-
ices? There are many persons who fill subor.
| dinate 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 n
Government bureau has been long continued
are often so cramped by routine procedure
rs almost to disqualiiy him from
mstituting 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 under discussion is one
of grave importance. The evils which are
complained of can not be cradicated ut once
the work must be gradual. The present En-.
glsh system is n growth of years, and was not
created by single stroke of executive or leg.
islative action. Its beginnings are found in
an order in counsel promulgated i'll 1875, 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 eXamina-
tons as experiments, much more extensively
than has vet been the case in this country, Il
select committee of the House of Commons
made report to that House which, declaring
its approval of the competitive method, dep
rccated nevertheless any precipitation in
its general adoption as likely to en-
danger its ultimate success. During
this tentative period the results OF the two
methods of passing examination and compc-
titve examination were closely watched and
compared 1t may be that before we contine
ourselves upon this important question with
in the stringent bonds of statutory enact
further inquiry and experiment. The sub
mission of Il portion of the nominations to n
central board of examiners selected solely fol
testing the qualifications OF applicants may,
perhaps without resort to the competitive
test, put an end to the mischief which attends
the present system of appointment, and il
may be feasible to vest in such n board q
wide discretion, to ascertain the Characters
tics and attainmentS of candidates in these
particulars which have already referred to
ms being no less important than mere intel.
loctual attainment. If Congress should deem
it advisable at the present session to estab.
lish competitive tests for admission
to the service, no doubts such rs have bt ell
suggested shall deter me from giving the
measure my earnest support; and | urgently
recommend, should there be failure to pass
any other act upon this subject that an APP
preparation of S25, 900 per year may be made
for the Enforcement of section / ,753 of the Re
vised 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 civi
servants of the Government, to dismiss this
subject without declaring my dissent from
, the severe and almost indiscriminNte cenSurC
with which they have been recently assailed
That they are. rs class, indolent, inefficient
and corrupt is n statement which has been
often made and widely credited, but wher
/ tile extent variety delcacy and importance
, of their duties are considered the great ma
jority of the employees of the Government
arc in my Judgment, deserving of high com
, mendatioL.
Questions which concern the very exist
ence of the Government and the liberties o.
, the people were suggested by the prolonged
, illness of thelate President and his conse
lquent incapacity to perform the functions o
his Office. 1t is provided by the second arti
, | clio of tho COnsliIntiOn. in the fifth clnlse %