The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-05-24
II FL &c
THURSDAY, MAY "a, 1888.
The CIVIL SERVICE.

mo CIVIL service can pc SUaDIe tnaU
is subject to the control of politics,
for the reason that politics are un-
stable, and that which is controlled
thereby must be unstable to the
same extent.
No unstable civil service can ever
acquire high degree of efficiency,
because unstableness produces fire.
quent changes, and these prevent
the long-continued practice which
begets experience and is essential
to proficiency and efficiency.
No trade, or profession, or line Of
business is learnt in q day. The
mechanic, the professional man, the
man of business acquires his know
ledge and skill by slow degrees and
long practice. The schooling which
simply imparts the theory as con-
tanned in words and books must be
accompanied or followed by actual
practice, in order to the attainment
of skill. No young man, or old
man either, whatever his natural
capabilities or acquired attainments,
is fully competent to fill any posi-
ton in which he has had no expert
ence, or for which he has not been
prepared by experience in some
other position, the duties of which
are similar.
Men are educated for and trained
from boys to the trades, the pro-
fessions, and every line of business.
The absolute necessity for SO doing
is universally recognised. Training
for the offices of government in q
similar way is just as necessary, al
though the fact is not practically
recognised to the same extent.
The training school of the me-
chanic is the workshop, of the doc
tor the hospital, and so on. Each
begins at the elementary parts Of
his trade or profession, and gradu-
ally proceeds to the more complex.
Undoubtedly the same system should
be employed in the public service.
When it is found necessary, as it
may sometimes be in small and
new country like this, where suit
able civil service material is scarce,
to admit into the service persons
without training or any particular
aptitude, they should, wherever
practicable, be placed in the lower
grades and allowed to work their
way up. When once admitted, in
competence, dishonesty, or other
misconduct should alone remove
them.
In the interest of the service,
which is in the interest of the com.
monwealth, every incumbent o1
office should be secure in his posi-.
ton, so long as he faithfully fulfils
its requirements. Neither should
he be removed for good and valid
reasons until the charge against hin
has been definitely preferred ant
proven, and he allowed an oppor'
tunity to appear in his own defence
A public service which is regu,
lated by a political thermometer Car
never be the best for any country.
Competent officials are dismissed
because they are not Sin accord,
and perhaps unsuitable persons put
in their places because they belong
to the political party in power. Blu
leaving out the question of insult
ability, the frequent changes are de
trimental to the efficiency of the ser
vice. When men, who perhaps en-
tered the service without the proper
qualifications, have had the practice
and gained the experience to qualify
them for its duties, they are dis
placed to make room for another SCI
of raw recruits. When these have
acquired efficiency, they are treated
in the same way. Thus the service
suffers and the people are wronged
Besides being the mother of in
competence, this system incites t.
and encourages dishonesty. Th'
knowledge and conviction that th'
term of incumbency may be of shor
duration, is strong temptation