St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-31
FRENCH CIVIL SERVICE.

York Times an interesting and instructive
article on the French system of civil service.
1t is interesting in that it points out the
differences between the French system and
that which the United States has recently
adopted, and which is modelled after the
English system. Mr.. DURAND'S article is
instructive in that it is suggestive of many
valuable improvements which we could
borrow from the French and substitute for
some of the unsatisfactory features of
our civil service regulations. He
shows that the pass or test system adopted
by France is superior and secures more sat-
isfactory results than the competitive sys-
tenn in vogue in England and the United
States According to Mr.. DURAND's ex-
PLANTATION of it the leading feature of the
French system is a fair consideration of all
the interests involved in the employment of
man to do the nations work. The in
quiry what leads any man to work and
what inducements has he to work for the
government in the starting point. The ma
ton finds the answer to this question in the
common instincts of human nature.
First is the necessity for provid-
ing bread and butter, and sec
ondly to provide something in store for old
age. The corner stone of the French sys-
TEN is the settlement of every doubt in the
employees mind on these two points. The
government recognizes the fact that man
must live and that he must lay up some
thing for old age. As to the matter of
bread and butter well understood wages
e IL IL L.,
but this is compensated for by the fact that
the pay is sure and the work is for life.
The government does not undertake to pro-
vide the employe a surplus for luXuries. 1t
only guarantees to him good living. Then
it provides for repose in old age by limiting
his term of service to thirty years at the eX
piration of which he is retired on pension.
1t is also provided that during his term of
service the employee shall only be required
to work a limited number of hours per day.
which are regulated on liberal average of
human capacity for labor.
But in addition to considering these in
stinctS and necessities common to ali who
have to labor, Mr.. DURAND explains that
the government is at the same time provid-
iuS lOl It's UCllCuU aCliIlS upOIl lit
pie that all men who are good for anything
believe in themselves, that they have some
sort of self-appreciation, some conscious
ness of their worth along side of others,
and through this some aspiration for power,
the government gives to its employees a
chance for promotion. This craving for
self-aggrandiZement is turned to a good ac-
mint ht-t 11I.,r AMI A triy
time the emplOye is sure of obtaining a
a higher position and of having his ability
confirmed by the discharge of superior du-
ties and responsibilities. AS Mr.. DURAND
expresses it, ''apart from keeping up a
mans dignity and spirit, as well as prevent
ing his life from becoming too monOtonous,
the great advantage of consulting this great
handspring of human activity is the secur
ing of moral and financial integrity, espe
cially the latter" Officials are required to
watch each others official conduct, and are
allowed to profit by a comrades derelction.
In this way each one is made extremely cir
cumspect and consequently the French
civil service is remarkable for its probty.
Bribery is scarcely possible, and population
is almost unknown.
The government meets its own respOn-
sibility in the matter of the fitness of the
employe whom it provides with bread and
butter and physical repoSe in old age by an
examination of the applicant by competent
judges. Instead of following the English
plan of obtaining the best among several
competitors the sole object is to ascertain
whether the applicant is competent. All
the French government cares to know is
whether the mani is qualified to the work
assigned him. In regard to this Mr..
DURAND says:
Everybody who has looked into this matter
knows how superficial competitive eXamin-
ations are, how much the success of candi-
date depends on srnartness, tact, memory. and
"cramming;" how the slow and sure Oper-
atoms of the reflective mind are apt to be
overlooked in favor Of apparent knowledge
due to quicker but shallower observation
We well know that superior ability is not
fully demonstrated by the graduating schemes
of our colleges. We know that those VINO do
not graduate often prove themselves in after
life superior in talent and capacity to those
who do. But no objections that could adj
vance against competitive examinations
equal those furnished by the late Mr.. AN
THoNY TROLLoPE, as set forth in his interest
ing autobiography, which are the more conclu-
sive because they come from an Englishman
According to the French system, the appli-
cant for a vacant place has to register his
name, take his turn, and abide the issue. If
he proves qualified, his appointment is imme-
diately made out for him. He passes on his
own merits, without jealousy of a rival Or ac-
rimony against his judges. The system works
well. French officials know their business
and do it, or are compelled to do it. 1t would
be going too far to say that no place is now
obtained in the French civil service through
favoritism; but such cases are rare, and
when they do occur, the beneficiary has a
hard time of it in the GOODNESS with which he
is treated by his associates who have got in
on their merits. Another great advantage
of the recognition of these fundamental mo-
tives and principles is that of economy
Considering the work done no employees any
where work so cheaply. This feature of the
French civil service system shows how little
money men will demand for their labor when
they are sure of life employment and CON-
Portable old age. And what numbers apply
for these places!
PASTEUR,S SUCCESS.
PAsTEUR's success in curing the Newark
children will not only strengthen his inocu-
| lation theory but it will also arouse zeal
| in this country for the establishment of a
hydrophobia hospital or laboratory where
! the virus can be kept on hand. PAsTEUR
hos tod hot xxhn n iaT