The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-07


supplied bys wide knowledge Of hooln Of
hg promptttnd0 In answering questions, OF
By any othar quality likely to be brought
70 Light BY competitive examination.
To make success In such contest, there
fore, the indispensable condition OF public
employment would very likely result In
the practical exclusion Of the older appli-
cants, even though they might possess
qualifications iur superior to their younger
and more brilliant competitors,
These suggestions must not be regarded
as evincing any spirit OF opposition 10 the
competitive plan which has been to some
extent successfully employed already and
which may hereafter viHdicate the claims
otthe most earnest supporters, but it ought 10
be seriously considered whether the appli-
cation OF the same educational standard to
persons Of mature years, to young men
fresh from school and college, would not
be likely TO exalt mere intellectual pro-
ticiency above other qualities OF equal or
greater importance.
Another feature OF the proposed system
is the selection, by promotion, OF all the
officers OF the Government above the Lowest
grade, except such US would fairly be re-
garded us exponents OF the policy OF the
Executive and the principles OF the domi'
nant party, To afford encouragement tc
watchful public servants by exciting in
their minds the hope OF promotion, j
they are found 20 merit 1t, is to be desired
But would it be wise to adopt q
rule so rigid US to permit no other mode o.
supplying the intermediate walks OF the
servants,
There arc many persons who I'LL subor-
1inate positions with great credit, but the
lack OF qualities which is requisite for
the higher posts Of duty, and besides the
matter OF thought and action OF one
whose service in Government bureau ha!
been long.cOntinued, are often SO CrampeL
by routine procedure us almost to dis
qualify him from instituting the changes
required by the public interests, and the
infusion OF new blood from time to time in
the middle ranks OF the service might b.
very beneficial in its results. The subject
under discussion Is ono OF grave import
ance The evils which are complained o.
cannot be eradiCated at once, Tho work
must begradual,
The present English system is u growth
OfycarS, and was not created by singlt
stroke Of execution or legislative action
It's beginnings are found in an order o.
council, promulgated in 1855, and it was
after patient and cautious trial OF its work
ings that fifteen years later it took III
present shape. Five years after the is
suanCe Of the order in Council, and at q
time when resort had been had to com
competitive examinations as to the expert
menl, much more extensively thar
has yet been the case in this country,
select committee Of the House OF Com
mons made report to that House In
which they declared their approval Of thu
competitive method, but deprecated, never
theless, any preCipitanCy In Its genera
adoption, and 1t Is likely to end under IL
ultimate success. During this period the
results OF the two methods OF examination
and competitive examination were closely
watched and compared. 1t may be that
before we conflne ourselves upon this i'm
portant question within the stringent
bounds OF statutory enactment we may
probably await the result Of further in.
Quiry and experiment. The submission Of q
portion Ofthe nominations to central board
Of Examiners selected solely for testing the
qualifications Of applicants may, perhaps
without resort to competitive test, put or
end to the mischief which attends the
present system Of appointment, and It may
be feasible to vest in such board wide
discretion TO ascertain the characteristics
and attainments OF candidates in those
particulars which have referred to as be.
ing no less important than mere intelleC.
tual attainments, II Congress should deem
II advisable at tho present session to estab'
lish competitive tests for admission to the
service no doubts such MS have been sug.
gested shall deter my giving the measure
my earnest support; and | urgently recon.
mend, should there be failure to pass any
other aCt upon this subject, that nm appro.
priation OF S25, 900 per year may be made
for the enforcement OF section l73 OF the
Revised Statutes. With the aid thus af-
forded INC | shall strive 10 execute the pro-
visions Of that law according 10 its letter
and spirit
| am unwilling to do injustice to the
present civil servants OF the Government
aud dismiss this subject without declaring
my dissent from the severe and almost In.
discriminate Censure with which they hive
been recently assaicd; that they are, as n
class, indolent, inefficient and corrupt, Is n
statement which has been often made and
widely credited, but when the extent and
dellcacy and Importance Of their duties
are considered, the great majority Of the
employees OF the Government are, in my
judgment deserving Of high commenda.
ton.
DIR MERCHANT MAXINE