The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-12-13
CIVIL. SERVICE.
Reform in the Administration Rather
Than Repeal of the Law.

On the ith Of March last the civil service
commission had but IL single member. The VA.
etnces We're filled on the 7th day of Nav,
and since then lie commissioners have been ill.,
duStronsly, though with inadequate force ell
gagged in executing the law. They were assured
by me that II cordial support would lr given
the. in the faithful and impartial enforcement
al the statute. and uf ri!es and regulations
adopted IN AMI OF II. Heretofore the book
oi e'gi''ies has been closed to every one, except
as crrtiiicatons were made upon the requistion
of the appointing officers. This secrecy was tho
source OF much suspicion and OF many charges
of favort;>n in the administration of law.
What is secret is always suspected and what is
open tan l,c Judged. The commission, with the
the list ul rli"bcs to the pubic The cli;ibles
for classified rostoiiices and customs are
are also the ,, civilizations for mp
Sivil service law wv . absolutely
with appointments under it than that Of merit
rs tested by the examinations THE business
pr",rc.is upon the theory. that both the exam
soriates of nll persons on the civil service lists.
i It is mot "t much , to Say however that
ti""s nave son,"Mln i' Shaker, "'Sg pYc
confidence in the impartaty Of the selections os
FOR appointments. The reform OF the civil SER
until liz" present a." AID its equal ndminstri,-
ton are well established in the confidence Of tile
people !, will be my pleasure. as it is my duty,
to see that the law Is executed
WITH FIRMNEss AND IAipARrIAIITy.
II some of its provisions have been frau,lulcntly
eyl,inl by appointing officers, our resent ment
law, but reform in its administration.
We shoullrtve ono view of the matter, ami hold
it with u sincerity that is not affected by the
is for the TING in power. My predecessor on the
18th day OF January. 1889. by an executive or.
der, der to take effect Mar, H. brought crway
service law. Provision was male that the or
der should lake effect so,,,ier in amy state where
~ eligible l;;t was sooner obtained. On the
member Of the commission reported to INC il,
writing that II would not he possible to have
the list Of elis:hlss ready before May l. and NJ.
post poned until that time. which WIS lone
subject 20 the same provision ontaincd in the
original order as to states in which eligible
list was obtained. As result of the revision OF
~ rules ni the iiew classification and of the in
clustoh OF the railway mail service the work 0f
commissioner has been greatly increas e and
IL present ccrcic forr is found to be inn adequate
recommend hat the additional clerks asked
,li,y OF appointment is t!evoivr by the consti
tuition nr by the law, and .he appointing officers
,rr properly held to II i,is! responsibility In its
exercise. The growth Of the country and the
consequent
have mlgiliiied this function OF theexecutive dis.
pr"portinllntely. Ii cannot be de denied, how
ever, that the labor connected with this ueces.'
sary work is increased often to tho
poim. OF actual distress by the sudden
and excessive demands that are made upon an
incoming administration for removals and up.
roihtm'mts. l;l,t IN the other hand it is not
true that nr'i!nhciicy isi conclusive argument
Tor y continuance in Office lniplrtialitv, mod
GRAFTON, fidelity to public duty and IL good at.
ta.hlnent III the 'iistlargc of it must be added
before III" argument is complete. When those
teal opponents that no party consiIcra
tioa or bias efforts i'll any way the
, discharge Of their public duties. we can more
easily stay the demands for removals.
am satisfied that both i'll and out of class.
fled service. great benefit would accru from the
| adoption OF some system by Which, the officer
would receive the distinction and benefit that
IN ali private employmcnts comes from cXcei,.
tional iait hfulness and efficiency in the perform.
| the executive departments that they consider
whether record might not he kept in
each bureau of all the clements TINT
are covered by the TENS .fathillness,"
T; and "elicirny," and IL rating made showing the
relative merits of he clerks of each class, this
atrg to III regarded as a test of merit in max.
| III: promotions. ! have also suggested to tho
postmaster general that he adopt some
/ iau by which he can, upon the basis
OF The reports TO the department.,
tive merit OF post masters OF each class. They
viii hc appropriately Indicated in the official
register and report OF the department. That /.
great stimulus would thus he given to the above
service. do not doubt. and s:ich record would
be the bcst defense against removals fom Office.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, Washington ID. G., Dec. q,
| 1889.