Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-14
VALUABLE TESTIMONY TO CIVIL SERVICE
REFORM

Tht Ietolmld system Of administering tie
civil service Of the Government las row
been in force for abou. year. In that time
such officers as the members OF the Cabinet
Lave been abe to gain quite as deep an in
S. hi into it's workings, and to foru quite as
valuable opinion OF its me;ils, as those news
paper editors who oppose it, And all the
Cabinet oficers say that the reform has al
ready made an appreciable Improvement in
the service, and tha! it promises still
greater benefit in he future testimony
which is the more notable and weighty in
, that 10 member OF the Cabinet has ever taken
an active part IL the civil service reform
agitation and that one at least Mr.. Chandler)
and perhaps others have openly scoffed at
the reform. Now this same Mr.. Chandler
says that the good effect OF the law IN pre-
venting pressure for places and in giving
heads Of departments, bureaus and offices
their time for the performance OF their du-
ties has been manifested throughout the
public servlce'-a statement quite remark
able, coming from such source. Secretary
Frelinghuysen 'ais: The pressure Of
olllce seekers. and those recommending them
has ceased 10 tax attention for pub
lie affiirs." Secretary Eolger says that
"il is beyond doubt that the solicitation for
appointments has slmost entirely ceased,
and is kept up only rarely aud from iguor-
suce, bringing relief to persons in official or
! Influential positions from the opportunities
of ffice-seekeis and their friends" Secre-
turY Teller, who was cerIaiuly no en.husias.
tic advocate of The reform, says that 81
have seen very peIceptib'e dIminutiol Of
the pressure on the department for Apo Mt
ments, thus not only allowing the heads q
> departments 10 devote their time to othel
purposes than that Of listening 10 the i'm
! poEtunltles of applicants, but also saving
Senators and members OF Congress from lht
, disagreea5le duty OF soliciting appointments
r at Tie demand Of their constituents, even
T when they knew it was impossible for tn,
I head Of the department to comply Will
r their requests' Secretary Lincoln says thai
= 'the result of the operation of the law mos
II apparent to myself is the cessation of per
r sonal applit atlons for appointments which
n before the Law became operative, cOnpelIet
+ the head Of the department to give up n,
d irconsidcrGbe portion Of each day to lhei
,, confederation Postmaster General Gre
d sham declares that "the law hiss relieved b.
department 10 4 marked degree from III
D opportunities Of persons seeking positions, o
70 ~,f fltArQ pVUiuU than, oi,,i,- f.
II aud Attorney General Brewster says that 90
10 has relieved the department from importuni
r ties and personal applications that were ne
- unpleasant to bear, but that consumed
Id great deal OF time"
X The only criticism upan the method
lg of the Civil Service Commissions
e. is that made by Secretary ChanC
Of Ter, and that, oddly enough, lie not II
q well.worn complaint that no enc but co
Il. lege professor can pass the competitive e,
Id animation, but that too low a standard III
be been adopted, With this defect correcte,
les Secretary Chandler thinks that 'the syss
he after it is fairly and fully 10 operation "
en- certainly supply the best men for he duI
be of the places to be filed wand lie adds
,ly believe that the experiment should be pc
&c. severed in, that it will grow stronger in
vs. actual benefits to the governmental ssrv
and in public favor, aod ii should be fair
and cordially sustained by the Executive a.
Congress
va y Attornsy-Gsns Brewster was original
'dly5 opposed to the rsiQyp, hus hs dow say
! my knowledge Of aSbhs service and I