The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-12-07

upon going out of office. These three
elemen are as important factors OF
the problem as any OF the others
To eliminate these from the Engilsh
system would effect a most radical
change in it's theory and practice.
The avowed purpose of that system
is to induce 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, recipients of an annual pen
sion. That this system as an en-
tirety has proved very successful in
Great Britain seems to be generally
conceded there by those who once
opposed its adoption. To a stat
ute which should incorporate all its
essential features I should feel
bound to give my approval, but
whether it would be for the best
interests of the public to fix upon an
expedient for the immediate extern
siVe application, which embraces
certain features of the English sys-
tenn, but excludes Or ignores others
Of equal Importance, may be Sc
riousIy doubted, even by those I'M
pressed as l am myself with the
grave Importance of correcting the
evils which exist in the present
methods of appointment. If, for eX-
ample, the English rule which shuts
cut persons above the age of25 years
from a large number of public en-
Payments is not to be made an eS-
sential part of our system. 1t is ques-
! tiOnable whether the attainment OF
the highest number Of marks at a
competitive examination should be
the criterion by which all applica-
lions for appointment should be put
to the test, and under similar cOndi-
lions it may also be questioned
whether admission to the service
should be strictly limited to its low
est ranks. There are very many
characteristics which go to make a
model civil service officer. Among
them are probably industry, good
sense, good habits, good temper,
patience, toll, courtesy, tact.
self reliance, manly defer
ence to superior officers, and
manly consideration for interiors.
The absence of these traits is not
supplied by wide knowledge of
books or by promptitude in an
sWering questions, or any other
quality likely to be brought to
light by competitive examination.
To make success on such a contest
therefore, an indispensable cOndi-
ton Of public employment would
very likely result in the practical
exclusion of the older applicants,
even though they might possess
qualifications far superior to their
younger and more brilliant cOmpe-
titors. These suggestions must not
be regarded as evincing any spirit Of
opposition to the competitive plan
which has been to some extent sue
cessfully employed already, and
which may hereafter vindicate the
claims Of its ardent supporters; but
it ought to be seriously considered
whether the application of the same
educational standard to persons of
mature years, to young men fresh
from school and college, would not
be likely to eXalt more intellectual
proficiency above other qualities of
equal or greater importance. An
other feature Of the proposed sys-
tenn is the selection by promotion of
all officers of the government above
the lowest grade, except such as
would fairly be regarded as expo
nents Of the policy Of the Executive
and the principles Of the dominant
party. To afford encouragement to
faithful public servants by exciting
in their minds the hope of promo
tiO;i if they are found to merit it, is
much to be desired; but would it be
wise to adopt rule SO rigid as to
permit no other mode Cf supplying
the intermediate wants Of the ser
vice? There are many persons who
fill subordinate positions with great
credit, but lack those quail
ties which are requisite for
the higher posts Of duty, and
besides the modest thought and
action Of one whose service
in governmental bureau has been
long continued are often 50 cramped
by routine procedure as almost to
disqualify him from instituting
changes required by the public in
terests and the infusion Of new blood
from time to time into the middle
ranks Of the service might be very
beneficial in its results. The sub
ject Under discussion is one of grave
Importance. The evils which are
complained of cannot be eradicated
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. Its beginnings
are found in an order in council
promulgated in 1856, and it was af-
ter patient and courteous scrutiny
Of its workings that fifteen wears
later it took its present shape. Five
years after the issuance of the order
in council and at a time when resort
had been made to competitive
examination as an experiment,
much more extensively than has
yet been the case in this country a
select committee of the House of
Commons made a report to that
House, which declaring it's approval
Of the competitive method, depre-
Gated nevertheless any precipitancy