The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-24

patriots and statesmen for good administration
during SIX centuries-is expressed in this simple
fact In the beginning, man was in the public
service because corrupt and arbitrary king
wliled him there; at the end he was in that serv-
ice because fair test of his worth gave him the
place as the best man to fill it."
The history of France is in many respects
similar to that of England. Under the kings all
offices We're perquisites of royalty; the purchase
OF offices was legalized, and bureau was opened
for their sale Gradually appointments have, as
in England. become based upon the qualifica
tons OF the applicant. The same method Of
examination has been resorted to, and removals
place In administration, very few removals are
made
In Sweden the government provided many
years ago for the examination of candidates for
Office. The standard of attainment has been,
perhaps, needlessly high. The King has sur
rendered his patronage, and selects the most
competent from those examined. Members Of
the legislature do not interfere. Subordinatas
are as free to vote against the government as
| in it's favor.
But it is the example of our own country
which is most instructive. The Constitution Of
the United States gave the executive power to
appoint and remove civil officers without notice,
trial or cause. The trainers of our government
trusted to the honor of the President tina. this
arbitrary power should not be abused, and by
the hrst Presidents this confidence was not be-
trayed. There were neither removals nor
appointments to subserve party or personal
ends Washington removed only nine persons
all for cause; John Adams nine. jefferson thirty
nine, Madison five, Monroe nine John Quincy
Adams two. The work of removal for party pur-
poses began with the presidency of General Jack
son. In the first month he removed more incum-
bents than had previously been displaced since
the foundation of the government Noless than
two thousand were removed the first year. Gen
eral Harrison. who had censured Jackson's
course In the Seminole war, was recalled from
foreign mission within four days. Samuel
Swartwout, an incompetent and reckless man of
business, sought the New York custom house
and got 1T. Swartwout writes to Jesse Hoyt,
other Office seeker, as follows: Il hold to your doc
thine fully, that no id rascal who made use of
his office or its profits for the purpose of keeping
Mr.. Adams In and General jackson out of power
is entitled to the least lenty mercy, save that
OF hanging. So we think both alike on that
mead. Whether or not | shall get anything in
the general scramble for plumber remains to be
proven; but rather guess | shall" After his
appointment, he dismissed all the Adams men
ana put jackson men In their place. At this time
there was introduced into civilservice the
idea, asGovernor Marcy expressed it, that ito the
victor belonged the spoils, smile take from the
military parlance of a barbarous age, when the
sack1ng OF towns and the plunder of property
constituted the handspring of military opera
lions. The desire for plumber has now ceased to
be an lmpelng motive even In war. How much
CARRIER should the term have faded from the par
lance OF peace! Even at the period of its intro
duction it was reprobated by all good men.
Thomas Benton says: II consider sweeping. re-
movalS as how practiced by both parties great
political evil in country injurious to indi
viduals. to the public service, to the purity of
elections, and of the harmony and union of the
people. De Tocqueville considered removals
reproach to our government
Such has beer the history of the growth of the
spollS system IN America Let now trace the
progress of the better methods by which, it is to
be hoped, this system will soon be wholly over
thrown.
In 1877 the President appointed commission
of investigation. known the Jay Commission,
which reported upon the custom house admins
tration in New York, and in 1873 he insisted
that the pass examinations should give place to
open competition. Experience has shown that
the cost was one-tenth less than that of any
period before.
Since the rules took effect few removals have
been made, and all forcause. The appointments
have been from those standing highest upon the
list. The examinations have had marked in
centlve effect upon persons previously in the
service, particularly upon those aspiring to pro-
motion. There have been fewer scandals con-
nected with the service; less interference with
the elections The average age of competitors
was thirty-seven years Out of four hundred
and seventeen, two hundred and fifty nine had
only 9 conmon-schoQl education one hundred
and twenty-four academic, and forty three had
college training Such we're the results in the
custom house, prior to the present federal civil
service law.
So with the New York postofice. The par
tisan administration of this Office had been no
torious until Mr.. James entered it. Population,
assessments, lncompeteucy, drunkenness existed
everywhere. Mr.. James had to set up his own
tests for employment and instituted pass exam
nations to protect himself from political and
official pressure; but he soon found them in
sufficient. In cooperation with President
Hayes, he established open competitive exami-
nations in 1878, in which physical capacity was
also tested. The New York postoffice is the
model for the country. and only inferior to that
of London, where civil-service rules have been
longer in operation
At last the present civil-service act was enact
ed January, 1883. Vacancies were filled by the
old method until July 16. The commission at
once entered upon the preparation of rules,
which were promulgated in May, when chief
examiner was appointed and entered upon his
duties. The commissioners visited every Office,
except those in California, to select examiners
and supervise examinations. Applicants were
examined and graded by July 16 The conclu-
sions reported in January 1884 were extremely
favorable to the system: assessments diminished
at least one-half; no menaces were employed for
contributions; assessment bureaus were discon-
tinued.
Questions as to the results of the examinations
show that they have operated favorably at the
custom houses in Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia, Baltimore, Chicago, San Francisco and at
the postoffees in Boston, Albany, New York,
Newark, Buffalo, Philadelphia. Rochester New
Orleans, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit st. Louis,
Kansas City, San Francisco and Washington.
Some of the answers stated that there had not
been sufficient time to test the system properly.
but only two adverse reports given We're re-
ceived
The opinions given by members of the Cab
met were nearly all favorable, and President
Arthur in his message says: upon the good re-
suits which that law has already accomplished
I congratulate Congress and the people, and /
avow my conviction that it will henceforth prove
to be of still more signal service to the people,
But it is from the example Of the State Of
New York, where the circumstances are quite
similar to our own, that we can best tell what
the operation of the civil service law will be
here if it should pass. This bill is taken almost
literally from the New York law, and we have
two reports of the working of the system in that
State, one in 1884, and the other about two
weeks. ago. The first report shows that the