Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-06

L
sum OF 81 $50 Multiplying this amount nv me
~, wncle ole number OF probable admissons gives sssos
| mLNo as the sum required for f,rst payrnenIsr
| This represents the sum which must be paid upon
Claims which were filed before July l. $50 and arc
noW penang, and entitled to the dement's OF the an.
| reas act From this amount cSs5o0oa0oN NAV be
| aeducted from ten TO fifteen millions for casesI
under the law would be entitled 20 succeed 90 the
pvnSion, ieaving $xS,0noo as tie probable
| In these estimates no account has been taken M
@ sl,s S,'W cases nlei since June 30 1850 and now
RSsun,ng, which must receive attention current
ouSahess, nut which do not involve the payment of
any any arrears beyond the date OF ming the claim OF
ss s NUMBER Is estimated that SO per cent win DO
As has been stated, with the present force OF the
IsAuh bureau. 6s5 clerks, II IS estimated that IA
msns,n nske SIX years TO dispose OF the claims now
IL is stated by the Commissioner OF Pensions thar
cs,sny 9 ., 20 clerks INCREASING the adud-
| .auhS lorce rather than the mechanicaD double
the amount OF work could be accomnlished. so
that these cases could be acted unon within thrse
| years ~ S
Aside from the considerations or tusttce which
may De urged for speedy settlement OF the Claims
now on the files OF the Pension onice it is no less
/ important on the score OF economy, fnasmuch as
fully onethird OF the clerical force OF the ONCE is
now wholly occupied In giving attention TO cor
whose cases have been on the files for the psse
eighteen years. The fact that sum SO enormous
mSnds for s me msst de-
congress and the Executive TO give cautious eon-
Sderauon 20 any similar project In the future. The
great temptatton 10 the presentation OF fictitious
claims afforded by the fact that the average sum
obtained upon each application Is 81 900 leads me
appropriation for the prevention OF fraud
advise appropriations for such Internal I'm.
provements as the wisdom OF Congress NAV deem
to be OF public Importance. The necessity OF i'm
proving the navigation of the Mississippi river
lus.nss special aliusion TO that subject sug-
gest the adoption OF some measure for the removal
OF obStructionS which now Impede the Navigation
OF that great channel or commerce
"a. In my letter accepting the nomination for the
Vice Presidency, stated that in my Judgment sno
man should be the incumbent OF an ONCE the
duties OF which he is for any cause unit TO per.
form-who is lacking In ability, fidelity or integ-
| rlty which proper administration of such offic0
demands" This sentiment would doubtless meet
| with general acquiescence. but opinion has been
widely divided upon the wisdom nd practicability
oi The various refoTnatory schemes which have
been been suggested and OF certain proposed regula-
/ IONS governing appointments 10 public office.
1.-The efficiency OF such regulations has been dts.
trusted, mainly because they have seemed TO ex-
alt mere educational and abstract tests above gem
eral business capacity and even special ftneSs for
the particular worl In hand. IL seems 10 me that
the rules which should he applied TO the manage-
ment OF the public service may properly conform
In the main 10 such regulate the conduct OF suo.
cessful private business:
"Original appointments should be based upon
aScertained fitness.
"The tenure OF Office should be stable
"Posltions OF responsibility shoald. so far as
practicabe, he filled by the promotion OF worthy
and efficient officers.
"The Investigation OF all complaints and the
]
| prompt and thorough"
The views expressed in the foregoing letter are
those which will govern my administration OF the
Executive Office. They are doubtless shared nv
an lntelligent and patriotic citizens, however
divergent In their opinions 10 the best methods
OF putting them into practical operation.
FOR example, the assertion that "orfginal ap-
Rnl RolhILnents should be based upon ascertained
ntneSS' Is not open 70 dispute
But the question how I'm practice such fitness
can be most eflectually aScertained. is one which
has for years excited interest and discussion. The
fCrhf tJnrs I'm EfuA a
tails, has lately been urged upon the attention OF
Congress and the Executive, has as its principal
feature the scheme OF competitive examination.
Save for certain exceptions, which need not hero
be specified this plan would allow admission to
cordfngly demand that all vacancies I'm higher DO.
sitions should be filled by promotion alone In
these particulars IL IS in conformity with the ex-
| listing civil service system OF Crest Britain And
| indeed the success which has attended that sys-
| TEN In the country OF its birth is the strongest
argument which has been urged for its adoption
here
Thsfact should not, however he overlooked that
Ihere are certiln features OF the English system
which have rot generally been received with favor
In this country, even among the foremost advo-
| Gates OF cfvil-seryice reform.
Among them are:
1. tenure OF Office which is substantially life
tenure.
2. A limitation OF the maximum age at which an
applicant can enter the service, whereby all men
In middle life or older, are with some exceptions,
rigidly excluded.
B. A retiring allowance upon going out OF Office
IheSe tiree elements are as i'm portant factors OF
the problem any or the others. To eliminate
them from the English system would effect a most
radical Change In its theory and practice.
Tne avowed purpose of that system is to induce
their lives TO public employment by an assurance
that having once entered upon IL they need never
leave IL, and that after voluntary retirement they
shall be the recipients OF an annual pension That
this system as an entirety has proved very sue
cesful In Great Britain seems TO be generally con-
ton.
To a statute which should incorporate all its es-
sential features should feel bound to give NV an.
prevail But whether il would be for the best IN
terests OF the public 10 nix upon expedient sor
nledaG ana eAtansiye application, which em.
excludes or ignores others Of eqnsl import nee,
may be seriously doubted, even by those who are
impressed, as am myself, with the grave import.
ance OF correcting the evils which inhere in the
present methods OF appointment
III, Tor example, the English rule which shuts
cut persons above the age OF twenty-five years
from large number OF public empoyIneRts is not
10 be made an essential part OF our own system, it
Is questionable whether the attainment OF the
highest number or marks at a competitive exami-
nation should be the criterion 10y which all appl-
cations for appointment Should be put TO test
And under similar conditions. il may also be aues-
toned, whether admission 10 the service should 10
strictly limited to Its lowest ranks.
There are very many characteristics which GO to
make model civil servant Prominent among
them are probity. Industry, good sense. good
habits, good temper, patience, order. courtesy,
tact, self-reliance, manly deIerence to superior
officers and manly considerable for interiors The
absence OF these traits is not supplied by wide
ing questions or by any other quality likely 10 be
brought TO light bv competitive examination
To make success in SUCH contest, therefore, an
indispensable condition OF public employment,
would very likely result in the practical exclusion
OF the older applicants, even though they might
possess qualification far superior 10 their younger
and more brilliant competitors.
These Suggestions must not be regarded AZ
evincing any spirit of opposition to the compet-
tive plan which has been TO some extent success
fully employed are dy, and which may hereafter
vindlcate the Claim OF Its most earnest spporterH
But 1t ought TO be seriously considered whether
the application OF the same educational standard
to persons OF mature years and 20 young men fresh
from school and college would not be likely to
exalt mere intellectual proficiency above o'her
qualities OF equal or gre ttr Importance.
Another feature OF the proposed system is tbo
selection by promotion OF ali officers d the gov.
eminent above the lowest grade, except such 40
would fairly be regarded as exponents or the pol
ley OF the Executive and the principles OF tho
dominant party.
To AFFORD encoursg cement TO faithful public ser.
wants by exciting in their minds the hope OF pro-
motion, IL they are found 70 merit it. is much to
be desired.
But would Il be wise to adopt rule so rigid 40
to permit no other mode or supplying the inter.
mediate walks OF the service?
There are many persons who NIL subordinato
ut 1nE