Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-05-07
Civil Seryice Considerations.


M NDAY EVENING. MA z, 1885,
Civil Service Considerations.
The president and his cabinet are
ieeply engaged just now in considering
the rules under which the civil service
cornsnission shall perform its task of fill
inp with proper men the subordinate
offices of the country. Roscoe Conkling,
in a speech delivered before social club
where General Grant had called atten-
tion to the need of developing the trade
between the United States and Mexico,
gave it as his opinion that this was
much more important subject to engage
the attention of the administration than
was the question, which appeared to it
50 great, as to what boys or girls should
ill the offices. But if the president should
really be able to determine what girls
and boys should be put in training
to serve the country, the consideration
of the question would be emlnentiy
worthy of his attention. We confess
that we are inclined to agree with Mr..
Conkling that the time the cabinet de
votes to framing rules for the govern,
ment of the civil service commission is
likely to be wasted, as we have but little
confidence in the benefcent working OF
this reform idea, as it has been inaugu
rated in the bill creating the
commission, and as it is pro
posed to be carried out by those
put in charge of its execution
The country is greatly interested II
having its Offices well filled, but we see
no good reason to believe that an exam
ination by civil service commissioner
into the knowledge which candidate
have of grammar, arithmetic, history
reading, writing, and other thing
taught in our schools, will enable tn
commission to give US men better able t.
fill the Offices of the country than thos
who now enjoy them. In fact, we do no
understand that there is any especia
reason to he dissatisfied with the educa
tional requirements of our officials. The
can read, write and spell we'll enough
but might be good deal NOR
active, energetic, honest, and gen
orally better in those qualification
of character which the cOmmissio
will not have the opportunity to consid
er. If the department heads, who do nc
come under the commissioner survei
lance were the men they should be, thei
subQrdinates would be what they ougl
to be and we seq no chance of materis
Improvement in the civil service whic
does not commence at the top with il
reform. Let the chief officers of tt
government be in all respects competen
and they will be the best civil servit
examiners to determine whom to appoir
to places under them and whom t
keep there. They will be prompt
weed out the Objectionable servants al
sure to secure the efficiency of their d
pirtments by keeping only good one
If they want young men to put on pr
batiOn why may they not obtain them :
they graduate from the public schools
the country /? They will but need to Cd
Oh the principals of those schools for II
records of the scholars, and from the
may he assured that their appOinte
have sufficient proficiency
the elements of education whit
are taught in the schools. Tit
will have a record of their chara
ter, too. They will find out how indu
trious and well-behaved they have bee
as scholars. And if such appointment
to office are desirable, the fact that goo
behavior and studiousness in school ms
secure these prizes will be ALI incenti,
to the scholars, which will be valuable
the public schools.
Any manner of appointment of subol
dinates which takes from their superi(
officers the power of appointment an
) dismissal will be Objectionable. TT
responsibility ought to go with IL
power. Appoint good chiefs. Ho
them responsible for their: subordinate
Make promotion the reward of meri
Start with the graduates of the sclioo
aud colleges. Abolish politics in Il
selection. And we will have GOO
civil service.