The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-12-22
A BROAD DISTINCTION.

A BROAD DISTINCTION.
The English Reform of the Civil servess
as Compared with That of the United
States.
The absurd and dishonest manner in
which Mr.. Blaine following the CORE
spondent of the New York Tribune,
has tried to misrepresent the purpose
and nature of the investigation into
the English civil service has had one
good effect. 1t has called attention to
the essential features of the reformed
service both in England and in this
country, and has led to better under
standing of the differences between
the two, and especially of the practical
nature of our own system. The
changes that have been brought about
in the two countries have had some
things in common, but they have also
varied with the causes that produced
them. In both cases the principle OF
admission by open competition and
subsequent probation was adopted;
but in England the evil to be RENE
died was favoritism, partly based on
the pretensions of aristocratic fam
lilies and partially springing from
the use of offices to purchase votes
in Parliament. while in this coun.
try the evil was chiefly partisan
favoritism combined with a certain
amount of chicanery on the part oil
the distributors of patronage. The
difficulties in which the English system
is involved do not arise at all from the
competitive principle, though there
have been mistakes in its application.
but largely from the aristocratic bias
that has survived the reform and
which has tended to form sort of
hierarchy in the service. This in turn
has been rendered more inflexible and
unmanageable by the system of pen
sions dependent chiefly on length of
service which is still a fixed part of the
| English plan. These elements have
combined to make the English service
| bureaucratic, with the incidents Of red
tape, timidity, rigidity and lack of
''go" natural to bureaucracy.
On the other hand, the difficulties to
which the reformed portion of our
service is exposed and it must be re-
membcred that it is still very small
portion-are of quite another character.
They spring from the innate tendency
of the American mind in any occupa-
ton to depend upon its own resources,
to neglect system and strict order. and
to depend on ingenuity, energy and
decision to meet emergencies as they
arise. The American system requires,
therefore, precisely the opposite treat
ment to the English. 1t needs clear
and uniform rules, firmly and fairly
enforced. with constant and vlgilant
supervision and the greatest conslsten-
cy in the application of the rules.
There is no danger of bureaucracy here.
The men employed in public work do
not tend that way; the source of regu-
lation, namely, the legislation of Con-
gress, is too variable to permit
it, and finally the American people
would not suffer 1t in service over
which they have ultimate, though in
direct, control. The common terms
used by the two races indicate the
wide difference in their temper in
these matters The Englishman
growls," Che American '.kicks, y
and the Office holders with us are al
ways so intimately connected with the
general public. are so much part of ii
and in sympathy with it, that there is
no probability, and hardly POSSIBLE
ity, of their becoming ''class" apart.
Moreover, the qualities our officers
have shown, even under the depraved
and demoralizing influence of the
spoils system can, under proper regu-
lation. be made extremely valuable,
and this without the slightest danger
of their usurping privileges not be-
longing to them, or assuming an
offensive bearing.
This needs, as we have said, a more
perfect and harmonious system, with
fair and uniform rules carefully APP
piled by means of adequate inspection
and authoritative central control. l,
is noteworthy that the course of the
Civil-Service Commission has been
steadily in this direction, and more
markedly so since the Administration
OF. Mr.. Cleveland came in than at any
| time before. The present commission
has steadily advanced in it's grasp Of
the duties imposed upon it and the
powers conferred by the law. It has
extended its Investigations, keptclo
watch on the examinations, guarded
more jealousy its own rights, both o.
initiative and Of Judgment on appeal,
and has striyen to inspire the whole
body of officers with whom it deals
with common understanding of and ;
common respect for the vital principles