The Portland daily press., 1883-11-16
A Civil Service Decision

One of the points which has been troubling
the civil service commission good deal,
and In regard to which there has sprung up
a wide difference of opinion among the
promoters of the reform, as well as among
the commissioners themselves, is the cues
ton whether promotions, like original APP
polufments, must be based upon examina-
ton, or whether it was the intention of
Congress TO allow the appointing power TO
exercise its own Judgment Internationally
in that matter. To the layman the law
seemed to require preliminary examination
In the one case as much as in the other.
Nevertheless the commission was in doubt
and Attorney General Brewster was asked
for his opinion. Mr.. Brewster's opinion Is
clear and conclusive. He finds that the law
requires preliminary examination for promo
ton as we'll as for original appointment.
This settles the matter, and hereafter ex-
animation must be regarded as condition
precedent to promotion.
The civil service law recognizes the fact
thar an examination such as is possible by
commission can never be entirely conclusive
as to the ability Of the candidate to properly
discharge the duties of the office which be
seeks, inasmuch as it provides that the APP
pointment shall be contingent upon salts
factory service during period of probation.
In the case OF original appointments this is
the only way of settling this matter. All
the candidates for original appointment are
presumed TO be equally unknown to the APP
pointing power and the examination and
the probationary period are for the latters
guidance.
But as regards promotions, the conditions
are changed. The appointing power knows
all the men in the class from which the pro-
motion can be made. Their character and
efficiency he has the means of forming
just judgment of. Why then should he not
be left to select the persons for promotion at
his pleasure in the exercise of his best dis
erection. The reason is because in that case
he would be subject to the opportunities of
political influence, or the entreaties of per-
sonal fayoritism and friendship, and there
Ia no assurance that he would be able to
withstand them and assert his right to dis
criminate In favor of the most capable
clerks. The competitive examination con-
Quoted by an independent hoard will udi-
cate impartialy who are most worthy in re-
pect of certain desirable qualifications. 1t is
probable that In ninety-nine cases in hun
dred it will declare TO be eligible, the ones
whom be would think fit by their experience
and talent. The advantage is that ii would
exclude from consideration the ones whose
only claim is their political or social influ-
snce
Those who know little about the condi-
ton of things in the departments at Wash
iDgton as it was before the new law went in
to operation can have but faint idea of the
extent 10 which every other consideration
was sacrificed to political influence. Eff
cient and faithful clerks were frequently dis
placed for no fault, except that their pollti-
cal hackers were dead or had lost power,
and men were put in their places for no 9th
or reason than that somebody who had pow
or demanded that places be made for them.
We do not say that the substitutes were al
ways less intelligent, less honorable or less
capable; but we do say that their equal or
superior qualifications, if they had them,
were not the grounds on which they were
appointed, and that frequently the change
was loss and detriment to the public SER
Z vice, aHd confessed to be SO by those who
were obliged to make it. The appointing
power, under the new system, need not be re-
CARELESS of the information acquired through
the actual service of clerks who deserve pro
motion for merit as they will seldom
fail to pass such proper examinations as will
be instituted