New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-08
i LECTURE ON CIVIL SERTICE.

The subject Of the lecture at the Cooper
Union last night was "a Civilized Civil Service one
Thing watch Must Learn from England" and 1t was
delivered by Frederick ". whitridse. Some Of the
points n aae by the speaker were as follows;
Civil service does NOT, Ia the first place, pro
nose to deprive the people OF OF their inne rent
rights nor to interfere with either the judiciary the
legislative department Of the Government II has moth
n 20 do the Army the Navy II IS concerned for
the present only with the civil in contradlsncon % the
military or naval employees Of the executive department
OF the Government It does propose TO deal even
with the whole OF them. Up 10 the time OF President
Jackson Federal officers appointed for the
rirDos. Of dschargng duties or their Offices and if
thev were members Of the prevailing political party they
were Not appointed 10 make their places vantage
ground for partisan service Character efficiency and
fidelity were the only test Since that time has been
the practice OF the President and his suborlnates 10
make tucr appointments office FROM members Of their
own political party faction, a. q reward for political
-crvcc- in accordance with what has TO De known
a. The -pols system. That came IL vogue in 1882
Up 10 that time civil service was conducted upon the
entirely different theory vAlch underlles this reform
Washington. answer 10 request 10 appoint personal
4u,lpotc friend office, said: ny private feelings
b.,vr nothing 10 no VITA the case. not George
Washington. nut President Of The United states "A
f;rprrr Wa-hiugtOu. | would DO THIS man any kind
u,rs i'm NV power A. President OF the UuItcd states,
can do nothing And during the eiEut years ~ NJ Al
miuistrlou lie removed Jul nine persons from office.
The result %. the present system mas been 10 dstOrt
and drUurh uoltlf- 10 has degraded the service OF
the Government itself and through the system or pOn
cal assessments It. ha- furnished dre't amt most pro
line and H-idous source 81 cDrruptlOh pom cdrtnl
consideration study OF tnc evils growing out or ts
,uos system, 10 seem, 10 that We should suDru-
tut- the system which las been adopted III
,riv,fe busiur--. and by every Government
outside Of ucatueulOm, except 0ursi civil service,
IN short, Ia when employees small oe appom'od
FOR the purpose OF di-cuar-iug tueir dunes, and
not the reward Jr nductE"ht Tor poulcdl services
.ery Tee % when appointments are made IOf dsccF'
tanned fitness not through political iuFuri anu INTO
wine, every L " good character nas the same chauce
religious socIal Affiliations finally, service I'D "hch
man may remain ~ be- pcases as long az ne $ ehclrhJ
ana behave. himself which he is Tree 10 vote ~ nc
uirases and in when proposition 10 pay . or per
salary TO his employers uncle wound De CON
-Idcred not "A necessity put JOKE.
Inc first step IN this reform would De 10 repeal the law
Of 1870, wnicn limits the term OF the more IMPORTANT
Offices 20 years. I'M. step wound greatly bc-
crease the amount spO- to Toe divided, und greatly
Increase dhcultesOi tAe division II Wound follow
tutp tAat the Tenure ONCE Acts should also be re-
DAVIS 0r Madison. Ihe second stsp would De To provide
means for assisting President and other appointing
officers 10 the fitness uf those 10 ne appointed
and Tor securing every AI the same thdcc 20 enter
and rise 10 the service. The efficient remedy Is plainly
TO be found 10 establishment 10y law or cOmnsslOb
which -U.u ascertain the illness OF each applicant by
mean, oi some impartial est which shall be open 10 all
without regard party place o. birth, color or creed
-ucu commission would make the necessary recoui
ucudat.ou-, Nucu now furnished by senators ana
tou-Tc--iutu The alItst test would hr IN competitive
eNluiuaf gus The nlrl step TINS reform r. 70 pro
Ea!t absolutely, Tie leV}luE OI political dS1csoHicuts
Ine rpraAeT closed by say iuE;
tulcSs only these political eVus, pul nose We see
around U.s. are s0us, th- reform OF the tNu service
Is necessary IL not visionary, because the "a
pereucr u nations has demonstrated tuat II s practical
Il b. not uurepuDlcan DcCauac upon is principles 1He
Iuc-e principles true, ana II Is our duty 10 see tAAt
shall prey AL