Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-07


civil service OF Great Britain, and indeed the sue
cess which has attended that system in the country
OF its birth is the strongest argument Wiiei mas
been urged for its adoption. The TACT shouid nov.
however be overlooked, that there are features OF
the English system which have not generally been
received with favor in this country, even among the
foremost advocates OK civil service REFORM
Among them are: First, a tenure OF ONCE whien
is substantially life tenure second, limitation
of the maximum age at which an applicant can en-
ter the service, whereby all men IN middle me or
under are, with some exceptions, rgidly exciu6ed'
third, retiring allowance upon going out OF once
ihese three elements are important factors OF the
problem as any ef the Others To eliminate these
from the English system would effect most radical
enange In its theory and practice. The avowed
purpose OF that system is to induce the educated
Young men OF the country to devote their lives TO
the puoiic employment by assurance that having
once entered upon it they need never leave it, and
tnae after retirement, they shall be the recipients
OF an annual pension. That this system, as an en-
ufety mas proved very successful in Great Britain
seems to be generally conceded there nv those who
once opposed its adoption. To a statute which
should incorporate all its essential features shoud
teeI pound 10 give my approval; but whether it
would be for the best interests Of the public to fix
upon expedient for immediate and exten-
sve applicat on, which embraces certain feat
ures. of the English system, but excludes
or ignores others Of equal Importance Toar
be seriously doubted, even by those i'm.
pressed, as am myself, with the grave Importance
OF correcting the evils which were in the present
methods OF appointment. Ii, for example, the Eng.
fish rule which shuts out persons above the AGE ~
fifty years from large number of public employ
ments not TO be made esse1t nj Part Of our sys
ten, it is questionable whether the attainment sf
the highest number of marks at a competitive ex.
animation should be the critic ron by which all an
plicatons for appointment should be put to the test
and under similar conditions it may also be cues
toned whether admission to the service should be
strictly limited to its lowest ranks. There are
very many characteristics which go to make model
civil service Prominent them prnhahlv
industry, good sense, good habits, good temper
patieace order. courtesy, tact, sclfreliance manly
Difference to superior officers and manly considera-
ton for interiors. The absence of these traits is not
supplied by wide knowledge of books or by promp-
ttude i'll answering questions or any other quality
likely to be brought to light by competitive
animation To make success on such contest,
therefore, an indispensable condition Of public
ployment, would very likely result in the political
exclusion Of the older applicants, though they
might possess qualifications far superior to their
younger and more brilliant competitors. These
suggestions must not be regarded evincing any
spirit OF opposition to the competitive plan which
has been TO some extent successfully employed al
reade, and which may hereafter vndicate the claims
seriously considered whether the application
OF the same educational standard to per-
sons OF mature years, to young fresh
from school and llege, would not be
likely to exait mere intellectual proficiency above
other qualities OF equal or greater importance. An
other feature OF the proposed system is the selee
ton by promotion of all officers of the Govern
inert 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. fo afford encouragement to faithful public
servants by exciting in their minds the hope oil
promotion, il they are found to merit it, 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 service?
There are many persons who fill subordi-
nate positions with great credit, but lack those
ftia= NrrhIn -.
of duty, and besides, the modes Of thought
and action OF whose service in
Governmental Bureau has been long continued are
often SO cramped by the routine procedure as al
most to disquaify him from nstituting the changes
required by the public interests and the infusion Of
new blood from time to time into the middle ranks
OF the service might be ve-y beneficial in its re-
suits The subject under discussion is of grave i'm
port1nee. The evils which are complained Of can
not be eradicated at once. The work must be grad
ual. The present English system is the growth OF
years, and was not created by single stroke of OK
ecutive legislative action It's beginnings are
foun1 in an order Of the Council promulgated in
1885, and it was after patient and continuous scru
tiny OF its workings fifteen years after that il took its
present shape Five years after the issuance OF the
order in the Council, and at time when resort had
been made to competitive examinations as an exper-
iment much pore extensively than has been the
case in this country, select committee Of
the House of Commons made q report to that
House, which declared its approval Of the competi
tive method, but deprecated, nevertheless, any
preciptancy in its general adoption as likely to en-
danger its ultimate success. During this tentative
period the results OF the two methods of pass
lnation and competitive examination were closely
watched and compared 1t may be that before we
confne ourselves upon this important question
within the stringent bounds OF statutory enactment
We may profitahly await the result of further in
qulry and experiment. The submission of portion
OF the nominations to Central Board of Exam.
liners, selected solely for 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 it
may be desirable to vest in each Board a wide dis.
erection to ascertain the characteristics ,snd attain
ments of the candidates In these particulars
whic have already referred TO as being Of less i'm
portance than mere intellectual requirement. if
Congress should deem it advisable at the present
session to establish competitive examination for
admission to the service, no doubt such
as have been suggested shall deter me
from giving the measure ruy earnest support
And urgently recommend should there be a failure
to pass any other bill upon this subject that an ap
preparation OF 900 per year be made for the
fore5ment of Section 1853 of the Revised Statutes
With the aid thus afforded me- shall strive 10 exc
cute the pEOvisious Of that law according to The let
ter and spirit | am unwilling, in justice to the
present civil servants of the ysrnment to dismiss
this subject without declaring my di sent from the
and almost indiscriminate censUre with which
tley have been recently assailed-that they are as
class, iGdolent, inefficient and corrupt. 1t is
statement which has often been made and widely
credited, but when the extent, variety decacy and
Importance of their duties considered the ma
jarity of the employees Of the Government are in
my judgment, deserving of high commendation
THE MERCHANT MARINE.
The continuing decline of the merchant marine Of
the United States is to be greatly depiored In view
OF the fact furnish largea proportion of the
freight Of the commercial world, and that our ship
ments are steadily and rapidly increasing it is q
of surprise that not only is our navigation in
terest diminishing but it is less than when our ex-
ports and imports were not half so large as now,
either i'll bulk or value. There must be a peculiar
hindrsnce to the development of this interest or the
enterprise and energy Of American merchants ard
capitalists would have kept this country at least
abreast of rivals in the friendly contest for
supremacy. The substitution OF iron for wood, and
OF steam for sail, have brought great revolution in
the trade of the world but these changes could not
have been adverse to America il We had given the
navigation interests portion of the aid in protec
ton which has been so wisely bestowed upon our
manufactures. / commend the whole subject to the
wisdom Of Congress, with the suggestion that no
question OF greater magnitude or further reaching
Importance engage their attention
In 1875 the Supreme Court Of the United States
declared unconstitutional the statutes OF certain
States which imposed upon ship-owners or consion.
ees tax of 81 5ofor each passenger arriving from
foreign country, or in lieu thereof required bond
to indemnify the State and local authorities against
expense for the future relief or support of such mas
sengeTs. Since this decision the expense ATTENDING
the care and supervision OF emigrants has fallen on
N.
AS a large majority ri such enigrants immediately
upon their arrival proceed to the inland States and
Territories to seek permanent homes it is mani.
testify unjust to impose upon the States whose
shores they first reached the burdens which they
now bear. For this reason, and because of the ma
tional Importance OF the subject, | recommend
legislation regarding the matter
regret to state that the people OF Alaska have
reason to complain that they are still uuprovided
with any form of government by which life or prop
erty can be protected. While the extent of its pom
uation does not justify the application OF the costly
machinery OF Territorial administration there Is
an immediate necessity for constituting such form
OF Government as will promote the education OF the
people ard secure the administration of Justice
The Senate at the last session passed bill proyd-
ing for the construction of building for the library
OF Congress, but it failed to become law The pro
vision for suitable protection for this great coec
nected with 1t, has become subject Of national i'm
per;ance, and should receive prompt attention.
THE POTOMAC FLATS.
The report Of the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia herewith transmitted, will inform YOU
fully Of the condition OF the affairs of the district
the vital Importance of legislagtion for the
and for the establishment of the harbor
lines along the Potomac rverfront. 1t is represented
that in their present condition these marshes closely
AFFECT the health of residents of the adjacent parts
OF the city, and that they greatly the general
aspect of the park in which stands the Washington
Monument. This improyen cnt would add to that
park, aud the park south of the Executive Mansion
large of valuable land, and would transform
what is believed to be dangerous nuisance into
They recommend the removal of the steam rtiiway
lines FIR the surface OF the of tho o;f,