Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-12-15

mere educational and abstract tests above GENERAL
for the p.rculsI wOri in hsnd seens 1Snanesss On @
that the result that should be applied to the man
agement OF the public service may properly con
OF successful private business Original apuoint-
ments should be based upon ascertained htness
The tenure OF ONCE should be stable Positions
OF responsibility should, 90 Tar practicable be
hlled by the promotion Of worthy and cficient
oficers. The Investigation Of ell Complaints and
the II punishment a Of all ceisl Misconduct should
the foregoing letter arc those which will govern
my administration Of the executive ONCE They
triotic citizen, however different in their opinion
as the the best method OF putting them into prac-
For example, the assertion that original an
pointments should be based on ascertained fitness
lie not open to dispute. But the question how in
practice such fitness can be enectualy ascertained
Is one which has for years excited interest and
discussion. The measure, which, with a slight
variation In its detail, has lately been urged on
It's principal feature the scheme of competitive
examination, with certain exceptions which need
not here BE- speciaed This plan would permit
LOWEST GRADE,
and would accordingly demand that all vacancies
IN higher positions should be filed by promotion
with the existing civil service system of Great
Britain, and indeed the success which has Attend
eS anss system In the country Of its birth Is tho
ITS adoption here. Tho fact should not, however,
oc overlooked that there are cerrain features OF
received with favor in this countrS even among
the foremost advocates Of civil service reform.
a among them are; First, tenure Of once which
OF the maximum age at which an applicant can
enter the service whereby all men in middle life
cuded Sedet Sie WIN some exceptions, rigidy ex
OF once. These three elements are as important
factors OF the problem as any Of the others. To
most radical change in It's practice. The syowed
purpose OF that system 10 to induce the educated
young men OF the country to devote their lives to
once entered upon It they need never leave H. and
tnat after voluntary retirement they shall be re-
Sipients Of an annual pension. That this system
mas enureiy proved very successful in Great Brit
ain seems to be generally conceded even by those
who once opposed its adoption. To statute
should feel boundto
GIVE MT APrRovAL
out wnetner 1t would be for the best interests OF
the public to fx upon an expedient for immediate
and extensive application, which embraces certain
features OF the English system, but excludes or
ignores other OF equal importance, may be
pressed as am myself with the grave Importance
OF correcting the evils which are In the present
methods Of appointment. If, for example, the
bngilsh rule which shuts out persons above the
age OF 25 years from large number of public en-
ploymcnts is not to be made essential part OF
| ment OF the highest number Of marks at com
petitive examination should be the critcron by
which all applicants should be put to test md
| der similar conditions may also be questioned
whether admission to the service should be strict
ly limited to its lowest ranks.
There are very many characteristics which GO 10
make model civil servant. Prominent among
them are probably industry, good sense, good
habits, good temper, patience, order, courtesy.
taet seifreliance, manly Difference to superior
The absence Of these traits is not supplied by wide
iknowledge Of books or by promptitude in answer
ing questions, or by any other quality likely TO he
nv RnvuV VnaNtN q
make success in such O contest, therefore, an in.
dispensible condition OF public employment
,ssS en- the
possess quancations far superior TO their younger
and more brilliant competitors. Thetc suggcs-
uons must not be regarded as evincing any spirit
OF opposition TO the competitive plap which has
been to some extent
sUccEssyULLY KnPLoYBD
already, and which may hereafter yindicate claims
OF the most earnest supporters. But it ought to
OF the same educational standard, to persons OF
mature years, to young men, which, from school
tellectually proficient above other qualities of
equal or greater importance. Another feature OF
the proposed system is the selection by promotion
grade, except as would fairly be regarded as ex-
ponents OF the executive and principles OF the
fu public servants By % exciting in their minds i the
hope Of promotion II they are found to merit ia
much to be desired, but would It be wise to adopt
plying the intermediate walks OF the servants?
There are many persons who fn
sUBoRDrSATE POSITIONS WITH GREAT CREDIT,
but like these qualities which are requisite 70 '.
higher posts OF duty, and besides the modes Of
government bureau has been long continued, is
often so cramped by routine of procedure as al
most to disqusiffy him from the changes required
py public interests, an infusion Of new blood
from time to time in the middle ranks of the ser.
vice might be very beneficial to fits resulte. The
euo)ect under discussion is one of great import
ance. The evils which are complained of can NOT
De eradicated at once; the work must he gradual
Inc present English system lie agrowth Of years,
tive or legislative action. It's beginnings are
found In an order In council promulgated in
lso and u was ater patient and cautious scrutiny
OF lts workings that fifteen years later II took its
present shape. Five years after the issuance Of
the order in council and at time when resort
pertinent much moro extensively than has yet
been the case In this country, select committee
OF the house OF commons made report to that
mouse, which, declaring It's approval Of the COM
petitive method, deprecated It nevertheless
ANY precipitation In It's general adoption is likely
10 endanger its ultimate success. During this
OF examination were closely watched and com
pared: 1t may be that before we conhne ourselves
upon this
IMPORTANT QUESTION
within the stringent bounds of statutory enact
ment we may probably await the result OF further
inquiry and experiment. The submission Of a
examiners selected solely for testing the quaihca-
tions OF applicants may perhaps, without resort
to the competitive test put an end to the mis-
Cnie, Ce, which attend the present system OF ap-
pointments, and IL may be feasible to vest In such
board wide discretion to ascertain the cbnrac-
tersics and attainments of candidates in these
na mo- Is.s Wnlcn = nave already referred to as be
tainment. II congress should deem Il advisable
| AT the present session TO establish competitive
tess Tor admission to the service, nothing shall
deter me from giving the measure my earnest sup
port, and urgently recommend should there be
a failure to pass any other act upon this subject
made for the enforcement Of section ] .7S3 OF the
revised statutes. With the aid thus afforded me.
law accordingly 10 its letter and spirit. VI '"''
am unwilling In justice to the present civil
servan.s t OF t1e government to dismiss this sub.
and almost indiscrminate censure with which
they have been recently assailed that they are as
class, 1ndolent and inefhcient corruptionists a
| statement which has been often made, and widely
credited. When the extent, variety, delicacy and
| Importance OF their duties are considered. the
are, in my judment, deserving OF high commen.
dation.
| Questions which concern the very existence of
| the government and the liberties OF the people
were suggested by the prolonged Illness OF the
late president and his consequent incapacity 10
In the second article Of the constitution in the
NTH clause Of the first section that in case OF the
removal OF the president from his Office or DEATH
resignation, or inability TO discharge the powers
and duties Of said ofice, the same shall dcvolvc
on the vice president What IL the intention Of
the constitution in it's specification Of Inability
to discharge the powers and duties OF said Office,
| are Of the contingencies which calls the vice
president TO the exercise Of presidential function
e the inability delegated in lie nature TO long
| tinued Intellectual incapacity, or has broader
importi What must be Its extent and duration
How must its existence be established? Has tho
president whose inability is the subject OF In.
quirys any voice In determining whether or not II
existsi OF is the decision Of that momentous
eE1 delicate question confded TO the vice presi
dem, or ts it contemplated by the constitution
that congress should provide by law precirely
| what should constitute inability and how and by
what tribunal or authority IL should be ascertained
| II the inability proves 70 be temporary In its
nature and during its continuance the vice pre al
dent lawfully exercises the functions Of the execu.
tivef BY what tenure does he hold his once
| does he continue as president for the remsindes
Of the four years term or would the elected presi
DENT his inability should cease I'm the interval
be empowered 70 resume the once; and, ifhavinE
such lawful authority, he should exercise II wouid
the vice president be thercupon empowered 70 re-
sumo his powers and duties a. such. I cannot