Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-12-15

for the particular work in hand. It seems to me
that the result that should be applied to the man
agement of the public service may properly con-
form in the main to such as regulate the condi-
ton of successful private business. General ap-
pointments should be based upon ascertained fit
ness
The tenure of Office should be stable and posi-
ton Of responsibility should so far as practicable,
be filed by the promotion of worthy and efficient
officers. The investigation of all complaints and
the punishment of all official misconduct should
be prompt and thorough. The views expressed
in the foregoing words are those which VIII gov
ern nv administration of tho executive office.
They are doubtless shared by all intelligent
and patriotic citizens, however divergent IN
their opinion as to the best methods OF
putting them into practical operations; for
example the assumption that the original ap-
pointment should be based on ascertained fitness,
is not open to dispute, but the question now IN
practice such fitness can be most efectually OBJ
tanned is one which has for years excited interest
and discussion. The measure which, with slight
variations in its details has lately been urged on
the attention of congress and the executive, has
as its principal feature the scheme OF compett!ve
examination. Save for certain exceptions, which
need not here be specified. this plan would
give admission TO thG service in its lowest grade,
and would accordingly demand that all va cancIes
in higher positions should be filed by promotion
alone; in these particulars 1t Is IN conformity
with the existing civil service of Great Britain,
and indeed the success which has attended that
system in the country of its birth is the strongest
argument which has been urged for its adoption
here The fact should not however, be over
looked that there are certain features of the
English system which have not generally been re-
ceived with favor in this country, even among
the foremost advocates of civil service reform
Among them are: First-A tenure of office
which is substantially life tenure. Second-A
limitation of the maximum age at which an ap-
plcant can enter the service, whereby all men in
middle life under, are with some exceptions ex-
Guided Third-A retiring allowance upon going
out of Office These three elements are as i'm
portant factors of the problem as any of the 9TH
ers. To eliminate therefrom the English system
would effect a most radical change in
its theory and practice. The avOwed pur-
pose of the system is to induce the educated young
men of the country to devote their lives to
public employment by an assurance that having
once entered upon it, they never need leave it,
and that after voluntary retirement they shall
be the recipients of an annual pension. That this
system an entirety has proved very successful
in Great Britain, seems to be generally conceded,
even by those who once opposed its adoption. To
statute which should incorporate all these 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 eXpedient for immediate
extensive application which embraces certain
lCGLtTtS VI lllc LlSllSu SYSTEM, DuI eACluueS or
ignores other equally important measures it
may be strenuously doubted even by those who
are impressed as | am with the grave Importance
of correcting the evils which inherit the present
methods of appointments. For example, the
English rule which shuts out persons above the
age OF % years from large number Of public
empIOyments, is not to be made an essential
part of our system. 1t is questionable
whether the attainment of the highest number OF
marks at a competitive examination should be the
criterion by which all applications for appoint
ment should be put to the test, and under similar
conditions it may also be questioned whether adj
mission to the service should be strictly limited to
its lowest ranks. There are very many charac-
teristlcs which go to make up model civil SER
want Prominent among them are probably I'M
derstOOd, good sense good habits, good temper, pa
thence, order, courtesy, tact. ref- reliance manly
Difference to the superior officers and manly con-
siderations for interiors The absence of these
traits is not supplied by wide knowledge If
books, or promptitude in answering questions or
by any other quality likely to be brought to light
by competitive examination. To make success OF
such contest therefore an indispensable con-
ditiOn of public employment would very likely
result in the practical exclusion of the older APP
plicants, even though they might possess qualif-
cations far superior to their younger and more
brilliant competitors. These suggestions must
not be regarded as evincing a spirit of
opposition to the competitive plan, which has
been to some extent successfully employed already,
and the public may hereafter Yindicate the
claims of its most earnest supporters but it ought
to be seriously considered whether the applica-
ton OF the same educational standard to persons
OF mature years, or young men fresh from
school college, would not be likely to exalt the
mere intellectual above other qualities of equal
or greater importance. Another feature of the
prop osed system is the selection by pro-
m Otion of all of the officers of the gov
eminent above the lowest grade except such as
would fairly b: regarded opponents of the
policy of the executive, and the principles of the
dominant party to afford encouragement to faith
fuI public servants by exciting in their minds the
hope of promotion if they are found to be So is
much to be desired. But would it be wise to
adopt rule so rigid as to permit no other mode
of supplying the intermediate walks of the
servants; as there are many persons who fill
subordinate positions with great credit, but lack
those qualities which is requisite for higher posts
of duty. And besides, the modes of
thought and action Of one whose service
in governmental bureau has been so long con-
tinued that they are often so cramped by routine
procedure as almost to diSquaify them from insti-
tu:ing changes required by the public interests,
and infusion of new blood from time to time in
the middle ranks of service might be very bene-
fetal in its results. The subject under discussion
is one of grave Importance, and the events which
are complained of cannot be eradicated at once.
The work must be gradual.
>
years and was not created by single stroke of
executive as well as legislative action. Its be-
| ginning Is found III order in council prOmul-
gated in 1855, and it was after patient and con-
tnuous scrutiny of its workings that fifteen years
later it took its pr esent shape. Five years after
| the issue of the order in council, and at time
| when resort had been to competitive exami-
nations as an experiment much more extensively
than mas yet been in this country select commit
tee of the house of commons made report to that
| house which, declaring its approval of the COM
| pettive method, deprecated nevertheless, any
precipitancy III its general adoption as Hkey to
endanger its ultimate success during the iniative
| period. The result of the two methods of pass
| examination and competitive examination was
| closely watched and compared. It may be that
before We cOnfine ourselves upon this important
question within the stringent bounds OF statutory
enactment, we may proftably await the result OF
| further inquiry and experiment. The submission OF
a portion of the nominations to a central board OF
examiners selected solely for testing the qualifca
| tiOns of applicants may perhaps without res rt
to the competitive test, put an end to the mis-
| chief which attends the present system OF ap-
pointments and it may be feasible to vest in such
a board wide discretion to ascertain the charac-
I tiers and attainmentS of candidates in these par
ticulars which | have already referred to as be-
ing no less important than mere intellectual at
tainments. If congress shall deem it advisable at
| the present session to establish a competitive
| test for admission to service, such as has
been suggested, shall give the measure
my earnest support, and 1 urgently recommend
should there be failure to pass any other act on
this subject, an appropriation of $4,000 pei
year be made for the enforcement of section 753
of the revised statutes. With the aid thus offered
me I shall strike the executive provision OF
| that law according to the letter and spirit. !
am unwilling, in justice to prevent civil servants
of the government to dismiss this subject without
declaring my dissent from the severe and
almost indiscriminate censure with which
| they have been recently assailed; that
they are as a class indolent, inefficient and
corrupt is a statement which had been often
| made and widely credited. but when the extent