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

lkNblOll VI bhNb NlAAhhSl W SSAhhNANNt
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In my letter OF acceptance Of the nomih'
ton for the Vice Presidency stated that
in my judgment no man should DO an in
cumbent Of an Office the duties OF which
he Is for any cause unfit to perform, who Is
lacking in the ability, fidelity and integrity
which q proper administration Of such
office demands. This sentiment would
doubtless meet with general acquiescenCe,
but the opinion has been widely divided
upon the wisdom and practicability Of the
various reformatory schemes which have
been suggested, and of certain proposed
legislation gOyerningappointments to pub
lie Office,
The efficiency Of such regulations has
been distrusted mainly because they have
seemed to exact more educational and ab.
stract tests above the general business ca.
pacity, and even special fitness for the par
ticular work OH hand. 1t seems TO me that
the result that should be applied TO the
management OF the public service may
properly conform in the main to such us
regulate the condition OF successful private
business. An original appointment should
be based upon asCCrtained fitness. The
tenure Of office should bestable. Positions
Of responsibilities should, SO far as prac-
tiCable, be filled 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 letter are
those Which will govern my administration
Of the Executive office. They are doubtless
shared by all intelligent and patriotic Citi.
zens, however divergent in their opinions
as 10 the best method Of putting them into
practical operation. For example, the
assertion that the original appointments
should be based upon ascerhlined fitness,
is not open to dispute, but the question
how IL practice such fitness can be most
CfIectuNlly ascertained, Is one which for
years has excited interest and discussion.
The measure which, with slight variations
in Its details, has lately been urged upon
the attention of Congress and tie ExeCu.
tive, has MS its principal feature the scheme
OF competitive examination Save for
certain exceptions, which need not here be
specified, this plan would insure admission
to the service only In its lowest grade,
and would accordingly demand that ali
vacancies in the higher positions should
be filled by promotion alone. In these par.
tiCulars II Is in conformity with the exist.
Ing civil service system OF Great Britain,
and, indeed, the success which has attend.
cd that system in the country Of It's birth
Is the strongest argument which has been
urged for It's adoption here. Tile fact should
not, however, be overlooked that there are
certain features Of the English system
which have not generally been received
with favor in this country, even among the
foremost advocates oil civil service reiorm.
Among them are tenure OF office, which
Is substantially life tenure; Limitation OF
the maximum age which an applicant can
enter the service whereby all men In mid.
die life or older, are, with some exceptions,
rlgidly excluded on retaining allowance
upon going out Of office.
These three elements are rs important
factors Of the problem as any Of the 9th.
ers. To eliminate them from the English
system would effect most radical change
III its theory and practice. Tie avowed
purpose Of that system Is 10 induce the cd
uCated young men Of the country to devote
their lives TO public employment, by an
assurance that, having once entered Iipon
Il, they need never leave Il, and that after
voluntary retirement they shall be the re-.
cipients Of an annual pension. That this
SYSTEM has proved very successful
In Great Britain seems TO be generally
conceded even by those who once opposed
lis adoption. To a statute which slould
Incorporate all OF Its essential features 1
should feel bound to give my approval, but
whether Il would be for The best interests
Of the public 10 fix upon an expedieht for
the immediate and extensive application
which embraces certain features OF the
English system, but excludes or ignores
others OF equal Importance, may be setl.
onsly doubted, even by those who arc
impressed as / am with the grave i'm
pofianCe Of correcting the evils which
inhere In the present methods OF
appointment. H. for example, the
English rule, which shuts out per.
sons above the age Of twenty-five years
from a large number Of public employ.
ments, Is not 10 be made an essential part
Of our system, II is questionable whether
the attainment Of the highest number Of
marks at competitive examination should
be the criterion by which all applications
for appointment should be put 10 test, and
under the same conditions II may also be
questioned whether admission TO the ser.
vice should be strictly limited TO thelowes
ranks. There are very many characteristics
which go 10 make model civil servant.
Prominent among them ate, probably, in.
dustry, good sense, good habits, good
temper, order, courtesy, tact, sell.
reliance and manly Difference 70 superior