The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-12-14
edge Of books or by promptituslc in
answering questions or by any other

cuHc Va obthS VI ~ hfttuHt al
answering questions or by any other
quality likely to be brought to light
by competitive examination. fo
make success in such a conies;
therefsre an indispensable condition
of public employment, would very
likely result in the practical cxclu-
sion of the older applicants even
though they might possess qualiti
cations fisr superior to their younger
and mes brilliant competitors.
These sls ststions must not be re-
garded as esincing any spirit OF OPP
position to the competitive pan
which has been to some extent sue
cessfully applied already, and which
may hereafter vindicatc the claims
of its earnest supporters. But it
ought to be seriously considered
whether application of the same ed
ucational 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 importance.
PROMOTION WITHIN THE SERVICE.
Another feature Of the proposed
system is the selection by promo
ton of all officers of the Govern
ment above the lowest grade except
such as would fairly be regarded as
opponents of the policy of the Exec
utive and the principles ofthe dem-
inant party. To afford encourage
ment to faithful public servants by
exciting in their minds the hope of
promotion if they are found to mer-
it it, is much To be desired hut
would IL be wise to adopt u rule 50
rigid as TO permit no other mode Of
supplying the intermediate ranks of
the service ? There are many persons
who fill subordinate positions with
great credit but lack those qualities
wich are requisite for higher posts of
duty, and beside the mode Of
thought and action of one whose
service in q government bureau has
been long continued, are often so
cramped by routine procedure as
almost to disqualify him from insti-
tuting changes required by the pub
lie interest, and the infusion of new
blood from time to tiale into the
middle ranks of the service might
be very beneficial in its results. The
subject under discussion is one of
grave importance. Evils which are
complained of cannot be eradicated
at once. The work must be gradu-
al. The present English system is
a growth of years and was not Gre
ated by single stroke of executive
or legislative action. Its begin
nings are found in an order in coun-
Gil promulgated in 1856, 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 a time when resort
had been had to competitive exami-
nation Us an experiment much more
extensively than has yet been the
case in this country, 4 select COM
mittee of the House OF Commons
made report to that House, which,
declaring its approval of the com
petitive method, deprecated never
theless any precipitancy to It's gen
eral adoption as likely TO endanger
its ultimate success. During this
period the results of the two meth
DDS of examination and competitive
examination were closely watched
and compared. 1t may be that be-
fore we confine ourselves upon this
important question within the strin-
gent bounds of statutory enactment
We may profitable await the result
of further inquiry and experiment. |
The submission Of a portion OF the
nominations to central board of
examiners selected solely for testing
the qualifications of the applicant
may perhaps without resort to
competitive test put an end 10 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 char |
acteristics and attainments of
candidates in those particulars, I
which | have already referred to ~
being no less important than mere
attainment. If Congress /
should deem it advisable at Its pres
ent session TO establish competitive I
tests for admission to the service, 80 /
doubts such as have been suggested /
shall deter me from giving the meas
ure my earnest support and | ur-
gently recommend, should there be
a failure to pass any other act upon
this subject, that an appropriation
of $4,000 per year may be made
for the enforcement OF section 1853
of the Revised Statutes. With the
aid thus afforded me | shall strive
to execute the provisions of that
law according to the letter and spir-
it. | am unwilling, in justice TO the
present civil servants OF the Govern
ment, to dismiss this subject without
declaring my dissent from the sc
we're and almost indiscriminate cen
sure with which they have been re-
Gently assailed, that they are as a
class indolent, inefficient and cor
rupt. 1t is statement which has
been often made and widely credited,
but whri the extent, variety. delica-
;y and importance Of their duties
are considered, the gre 1t majority Of
the employees of the Government are
in my Judgment deserving OF high
commentator.
THE NAVIGATION INTERESTS
The continuing decline of the
merchant marine of the United
States is to be greatly deplored. In
view OF the fact that we furnish so
arge proportions of the freights Of
he commercial world and that our
shipments are steadily and rapidly
Increasing, it is a cause of surprise
hat not only is our navigation IN
crest diminishing, but it is less than
l. 4