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

ignorance of the masses ard the superstition Of
the people
places; under Henry VIII a considerable part Of
the House of Commons consisted of the Kings
household offices. 1t soon appears, however
that a considerable portion of the patronage of
the crown had passed into the hands of Parlia-
ment, just as the appointing power delegated to
the President by national Constitution, has
passed by custom from the executive to Con-
gress. Under Edward vi reform made some
temporary progress
Under Mary and Elizabeth patronage patents
were given for various favors, such as the privi-
lege of importing wine free of duties. Under
James l and his favorite Buckingham, charters
and moDopolies were openly sold. This was
continued under Charles / with even greater ag-
gravation, until the great revolution put a
temporary check on this venality The policy
pursued by Cromwell during his protectorate
was closely akin to our spoils system. as intro
duced by President jackson At that time Eng
land was divided into something like two great
parties, the Puritans and the Cavaliers. Crom-
well was reformer but he was also partisan
Money and court favoritism no longer controlled
his appointments, and these were made not
wholly regardless Of merit But the opposite
party was not only excluded from patronage
but all Royalists and Catholics were dis
franchised. After the restoration came a
carnival of corruption greater than before.
The revolution followed, and a better era was in
augurated, upon the accession of William III.
At this time party government had its origin,
yet appointments to Offices, high and low were
made from the party in power. Members of
Parliament required pledges from the Ministers
that patronage should be distributed among
them. The electors required similar pledges
from the members From this resulted the
bribery of voters, both by money and by prom
lses OF Office. In III we find stockholders buy
ing and selling seats in Parliament at the market
price of one thousand guineas In Queen
Annes reign, patronage passed almost wholly
from the crown to Parliament, and that great
representative body became in its turn tyran-
nlcal and corrupt. New offices were created and
the emoluments of Office were increased that
parliamentary patronage might be extended.
Under George / and Ii corruption grew; it was
the main instrument of the governments of Wal
pole, Pelham and Newcastle The saying of
Walpole that "all men have their price" passed
into political proverb.
When Walpole fell the relief was not perma-
nent; it was only the who was removed
the system remained Partisan government for
spoils was not abolished, and on the accession of
George LII the monarch attempted person.
ally to avail himself of Wapole's methods
Toward the close of his reign and during the
regency, matters grew better Many statutes
were passed to suppress corrupt practices at
elections. STILL all officers continued to be ap-
pointed through the patronage of political lead
ers in Parliament The demands of members
for patronage became so excessive and so con-
ficting that finally Patronage Secretary of
claims In some instances there were opened
regular books of account, crediting the member
with the amount of his parliamentary influence,
and charging him with the patronage which he
was permitted to bestow. The character of the
civil service under this system was execrable.
During the administration of Lord Melbourne
the higher officers in the various departments
found that they could not work with such gross
ly incompetent materials as the patronage of
Parliament had furnished to them They de-
ma 6aA hot fnr Cd TO- kaiY
respective departments should be required to
undergo some sort of examination as to fitness.
Melbourne accordingly instituted pass exam
nations in some of the larger Offices. There
was no competition, and official fayoritism still
controlled nominations yet the reform did
much, in the words of John Stuart Mill, Sin
keeping ounces out" These examinations
were so successful that they were extended from
one office to another, until competitive examina-
tons were introduced. An order was made by
the Queen in council May q, 1855. appointing
three commissioners with power to select assist
ants. All applicants for position in the civil
service were to be examined by this commission
and receive certificate emitting them to ap-
Pointmonte, with certain opeeifod ozeop tions,
after six months probation. Competitive ex-
aminations were held by the board from the
beginning of its duties.
The commissioners reported in March 8, 1856.
1.-The principal subjects of examination
writing arithmetic, geography, composition,
history and bookkeeping; but some of the ex-
aminations included one or more languages; to
which were added such practical subjects as the
clerk most needed on entering particular Office.
A just system CT marking and grading was
adopted, according to which the relative stand
ing of those examined as between themselves,
was so made up that both the degree of excel
lence in each subject and the relative, practical
importance Of that subject, were embraced as
factors. Those who stood the highest in quail
ications got the appointments" So large a
portion of those nominated by the patronage of
Parliament were found incompetent that on ex-
animation in 1855 for clerkship in the Council
of Education, twenty -one out of thirty-one can
didates were rejected Gradually, however, the
character Of the applicants improved. Men of
bad repute feared to present themselves where
every one who competed searched the records of
their lives. Ridicule was heaped upon the in
competents and those who were not qualified
ceased to seek from members of Parliament the
patronage which merely enabled them to enter
upon hopeless contest. Members of Parlia-
ment. thus relieved from much irksome
solicitation, began to appreciate the de-
STABILITY of the new methods On the Oath of
April the Commons resolved that ''this House
has observed, with great satisfaction, the zeal
and prudence with which the commission has
proceeded in applying remedy to evils of a seri-
Gus character, the previous existence of which
has now been placed beyond dispute" In 1860
parliamentary committee of fifteen, of which
John Bright and Sir Stafford Northcote were
members, made an exhaustive report. Their
unanimous conclusions were as follows:
l. Though the pass examinations conducted
by the Civilservice Commission are far more eff
fective than pass examinations as before con-
Quoted in separate Offices they are yet greatly
inferior to limited competition.
2. Limited competition would be much i'm
proved if more persons competed, and more
should, therefore, be nominated for each compe
tition.
3. Open competition, wherever it be practical
ble should be introduced, after the plan of those
which had lately been shown to be satisfactory
in the East Indian service. The salutary sys-
tenn of probation, according to which no one was
to be appointed until after a trial of six months,
was retained.
On the 4th of july 1870 when matters seemed
ripe for the final overthrow of patronage, the
government made the following order in coun-
Gil: Gall appointments which it may be neces-
sary to make after the 31st of August next shall
be made by reason of competitive examinations
according to regulation open to all persons of re-
CURED age health. character and other qualifica-