National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-23
PRACTICAL VIEWS or THE CIVIL
SERVICE.


which shall bring within the scope of power
delegated to the civil service commission
by Congress the regulation, and, so far as
possible, the enforcement Of some organ
izcd system OF promotion In the civil SER
vice, which shall be based upon such prin-
ciples OF justice and merit us to leave no
possibility Of unjust and unmerited adj
vancement by mere political or personal
prefefment
Such system is beyond question ns i'm
portant In the establishment of reform as
the law which governs the admissions to
the departments, and the contamination of
such perfection as is hoped for in the civil
service, by the law which places beyond the
power of corrupt influences the admission,
cannot possibly be attained while any por-
tion OF the service Is abandoned to the
very influences which that law was made to
defeat
The first great object of this law having
been quite successfully attained, and It's
enforcement indOrsed and sustained by the
Executive, the principle upon which II is
founded cannot fail TO elicit the com
mendations of all citizens, regardless Of
| party.
Having been now so firmly established as
to place II beyond the hope Of successful
assault by its enemies, IL but remains to
| perfect, as far us possible and consistent,
the machinery by which its functions are
| performed.
In doing this It ia most essential that
while remaining wholly within the bounds
ot absolute safety the system should be so
lar practical In its demands as TO not hope
lessly exclude from It's benefits and from
the possibility OF service in the civil branch
OF the government those of its citizens
who have not been so highly favored as to
have received classical or superior educa-
tions, but whose competency and valuable
qualifications In many respects would GER
tainly fit them to be most capable servants
OF their government, could they enter the
service through such competition as should
require from them fair and honest test as
to their ability to perform the work which
would be actually required OF them In such
department as they desired TO enter.
The writer Of this article has no desire to
comment unfavorably upon the methods
adopted by the civil service commission In
their examinations, nor is he actuated In
the suggestions he makes by any motive
but that OF the hope that improvements
may be reached in the operations of q law
the principles Of which he most heartily
approves.
II II were not possible to make such i'm
provements In the examinations as should
render access to the various departments of
the service less difficult to people Of ordi-
nary business education, should suggest
no plan which could by any possibility re-
move the safeguards against the former
methods OF appointment, but there could
undoubtedly be such reasonable modiflca-
tons made in the examinations for ordl-
nary clerkships as to in no sense impcril
the object Of the law, and which should at
the same time offer some degree Of hope to
the great mass Of capable and deserving
people who are excluded by too rigid re.
quirements from entering the service.
Inc point whichis most generally assailed
by the enemies Of the civil service law, and
which 1t must be conceded is the most vul-
nerable point OF attack, is the matter of ex-
aminations. The opponents OF the law hold
up to ridicule the methods and nature OF the
examinations as being in no degree practical
or applicable to the duties which would be
required Of the applicant, should he be so
successful as to reach above the minimum
in the examination.
While II is undoubtedly true that In a few
branches of the service technical informa-
tion pertaining to the work to be performed
would be perhaps indispensable, yet the
greatest number of places to be filed occur
among the ordinary clerkships or subordl-
nate positions,
For such positions, II must be confessed,
there could be, without the slightest dan
ger, some modification and relaxation of
the rules which should render the examina-
tion less formidable and more practicable.
The examinations are necessarily left TO
the commission TO arrange, but they are
really to great degree In the hands Of the
chief examiner and his assistants, the boards
OF examination in various places.
The Inference to be drawn by the outside
public generally, who have no special in
formation as to the duties of an ordinary
clerkship In the government service, is, that
the work required must necessarily be of n
very difficult and special nature, involving
IN 10 .nII h.
sary for successful examination.
do not wish, by any sort of expression
or implication, to undervalue the position
OF government clerkship, but as am my
self one OF those people, feel that | may
be allowed to represent such facts as am
familiar with without hazardng such re-
thy OF.
After service of ten years In two o. the
largest bureaus of the government, and
with much experience in various branches
OF work therein, as well as familiarity
with and observation of the methods and
requirements OF all grades of clerlkships
am free to confess that between the re-
quirements OF the examinations as they
exist and the education indispensable to the
performance of clerical duty of any grade
there is very vast gulf.
The most convincing proof of this state
ment is shown In the fact that there are at
present great numbers Of very capable and
efficient persons performing clerical duties
IN the departments who could by no posi-
bility pass q successful examination for the
very positions they hold.
While so much Importance Is attached to
the civil service law, In its application to
admission to the clerkships Of the govern
ment there are still left to the old political
methods OF the past one or two branches of
the civil service which 1t would certainly
seem equallyimportant to have included In
the provisions of such law. refer es-
pecially to the consular service.
IL has been constant source of ridicule
to this government from other nations, as
well as from our own citizens travelling
abroad, that in vast number of instances,
in all parts OF the world our government
has been wofully disgraced by its represent
atiyes in the consular service.
These positions have been more eagerly
sought, and more persistently demanded,
than any others under the governments; and,
being wholly outside of any law or regula-
tion in the matter Of appointments, have
become o great degree the reward to de-
cayed politicians and unprlncipled adven-
turers for services rendered in political
warfare in times past.
There is very much In the examinations
for clerkshlps which could with much more
practical .proprety be applied in the test
~ Sopsuiai appointments knOWlelGe
OF geography, together with familiarity
with the political history of our govern
ment, while of no special use to a clerk do
ing machine work day after day at a desk
in a department, would be essentially i'm
portant information to person In the CON
sulnr service.
The importance OF reformation In that
branch Of service cannot be too strenu-
ously urged, and IL is TO be earnestly hoped |
that at very early day the benefits OF the |
civil service law may be extended TO that |
branch, and remove It from the degrading
influences of political and personal favor
!. Il. VAIL.
Campaign Survivors,