The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-11-14
The Collector and His Appoint
nents.

Our remark yesterday, in referring TO
what the Collector of the Port said In an in
teryiew regarding his appointments, that it
did not appear whether he had given weight
TO political or partizsn considerations in Sc
Letting persons for appointment from the
list OF those who had successfully nassed
the civil service examination, had particular
reference to the point to which the Presi-
dent has lately given consideration resulting
IN an amendment TO the rules formerly pro-
mulgated. by which amendment Officers
who have appointments to make from
number DESIGNATED by the Commission as
eligible are prohibited from taking account
OF the political utilization of the candidates
in making their selection Perhaps the
nomination of Winter inspectors was made
before the rule went into effect, but we no
ticed that nothing was said in the interview
on this point. We suggested that possibly
IT was because the person who questioned
the Collector had not given him an oppor-
iunily 10 speak of this matter We had
nothing in mind beyond this, for we do not
know anything about the politics of those
who have passed the examination, or of
those who have been selected by the Col
lector.
mere is, however, one passage in the In
teryiew which has some significance in this
relation, to which we desire to call atten-
ton. 'sIn fact" the Collector says, II have
thus far nominated, either for a permanent
or temporary appointment, every person re-
siding within the district land such alone
are entitled to an appointment) who has at
tanned the requisite standard before the To-
cal examining board" 1t appears, there
fore, that everybody who is eligible has re-
ceived some appointment, and with
regard to The temporary appointments
the Collector was under no obligation of
law to recognize the candidates presented BY
the examining board. If any Democrats,
or GreenbaclSers, or Prohibitionists passed
the examination successfully they have
been taken in.o the service,-so far as the
Collectors action could do it--in some ca
pacity. If no members of these parties have
qualified under the law that cannot be
charged to his neglect.
We suppose that persons who have
passed the examination and who are
taken into the service for temporary
duty do not forfeit their standing as
candidates for the permanent service, unless
they are found to be unfit. While the tenn
porary service may not shorten their proba-
honary term when they are appointed to
another position, it will certainly give an op-
portunity to find out something about their
qualifications by actual trial. The Collec-
tor has shown an excellent spirit in making
the appointments which were to be made
from the list of those who had passed
the examinations; and this is all the more
credtable TO him in view of the fact that he
has never made much profession of convic-
ton that reform of the partisan methods
of appointment, heretofore prevailing in the
in the civil service, was desirable. But now
that the Republican party is committed by
its platforms, its legislation and the declara-
atoms of the administration to the new sys-
tenn be is too wise man to kick against the
pricks. We confidently expect to count him
among its devoted advocates one of these
coming days.