St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-20
THE PERpLExryG PRoBLEm.

Among the many perplexing problems con-
fronting Mr.. CLEvRLAND's administration
! none will require more serious study and
delicate handling than that of civil service
reform. 1t will not only be his duty In con-
formity with the policy outlined for him by
! the platform upon which he was nominated
to carry iuto effect the provisions of the civil
service law, but it will practically be his work
to inaugurate the reform. So far as the
present administration is concerned the civil
service law has for all practical purposes
been a dead letter. The effort OF the ARTHUR
administration seems to have been to pre-
serve an appearance of executing the letter
of the law and at the same time to defeat its
spirit. There is every reason to believe that
Mr.. CLEVELAND is, what Mr. ARTHUR was not,
a genuine believer in the virtue of civil service
reform aid will consequently have his heart in
the work
The evils which the reform in the civil
service is expected to remedy have become
patent. The people want the open competi-
tive system because it restores to them 4
tight that dangerous classes have deprived
them Of. Tney want all applicants 70 have
an equal chance, and they want the appoint
ments in the civil service removed from the
demoralizing control OF political influences
and personal favoritism.
A manual of the civil service prepared by
Mr.. JOIN NJ. CoMsToCK, chairman of the
government board of examiners in
the custom house at New York, gives
some interesting information relating 10 the
non-elective positions in the civil service.
His schedule shows that the total number of
persons enrolled in the public employment is
115,928 OF this number more than one
half, or 1906, are connected with the post
the remainder as clerks or carriers. OF the
postmastcrs 1920 are appointed by the pres
ident with the consent of the senate for the
term of four years, aud the remainder by the
postmaster general at will. OF the other de-
partments the treasury is accredited with 49,,
7S5. the war Office with 10,0SS, the navy
4, 1922, the interior $500, the state 459, and
justice 442. The number of clerks and
other employees whose appointment is
regulated by the civil service act is about
$4,000. The entire number of officials ap-
pointed by the president alone, or ''by and
with the advice and consent of the senate"
is given at 1890, much smaller number
than is commonly supposed. The bulk of
the appointments, IN number, are made by
the heads OF departments and the responsible
executive departments.
Many Improvements in the system are to
be made, and study of details TO bring il to
perfection will require thought and wisdom.
The plan for examinations as now
adopted is open to criticism. ANY
bright, intelligent school boy, fresh from his
books, would be more apt TO pass creditably
than would a capable and fit man whose
knowledge of geography, history and mathe
NAUTICAL puzzles had grown a little rusty.
What is wanted is plan of examination di
rected TO ascertaining the general informa-
ton and capacity of the applicant, and his
probable ability to do the work required of
him, rather than to testing the memory in
regard to irrelevant subjects, or mere cyclic
pedic knowledge.