Wichita eagle., 1889-12-04

nave OeoQ oAO0&h WIN oh
inadequate engagement in executing the
law. They were assured by me that 8
cordial support would be given them IL
the faithful and impartial enforcement Of
the statutes and of rules and regulations
adopted in aid of it. Heretofore the book
of eligibies has been closed to everyone
except as certifcations were made upon
the requisitlon of the appointing offl-
GERS This secrecy was the source
Of much suspicion and of many
charges of favoritism in the administers
ton of the law. What is secured Is always
suspected and what is open can be judged:
The commissioner with the full approval
of its members has now opened the list OF
eligibles to the public. The eligible list
for classified postoffice and custom houses
are now publicly posted in the respective
Offices as are also the certifcatlons for ap-
pointment The purpose OF civil service
laws was absolutely to exclude any other
consideration in connection with appoint
ments under it than that OF merit as
tested by the examinations The business
proceeds upon the theory that both the ex-
aiming bear is and the appointing officers
are absolutely ignorant as The polt!cal
views and associations of all persons o..
the civil service lists. Is it not too much
to say, however, that some recent con-
gressional investigations have somewhat
shaken public confidence in the imparti-
atty of the selections for appointments?
The reform of the civil service will make
no safe and satisfactory advance until the
present law and its equal administration
are well established IL. the confidence OF
the people 1t will be my pleasure, as 1T IS
my duty, to see that the law IS executed
with frmness and impartlality. Ii some
of its provisions have been frauduiently
enacted by appointing officers our resent
nent should not suggest the repeal or the
law, but reform in its administration.
We should have one view of the matter
and hold it with a sincerity that is not al
fected by the consideration that the party
which we belong to is for the time IN
power.
THE LAWS OPERATION EXTENDED
My predecessor. on the 4th day of Janu-
airy, 1889, by an executive order to take
effect March Is, brought the railway mail
service under the operation of the civil
service law. Provision was made that the
order should take effect sooner in any state
where an eligible list was sooner obtained.
On the 18th day of March, Mr. Lyman,
then the only member of the commission,
reported to me in writing that 1t would
not be possible to have the list of eligi-
bles ready before May l, and requested
that the taking effect of the order be post
poned until that time, which was done.
subject to the same provision contained IN
the original order as to states in which an
eligible list WAS sooner obtained.
THE WORK GREATLY INCREASED.
AS a result of the revision of the rules of
the new classification and the inclusion of
the railway mail service the work of the
commission has been greatly increased and
the present clerical force is found to be in
10. In nd6 .nl
clerks asked by the commission be apprO-
prIated for. The duty of appointment is
devolved by the constitution or by the law
and the appointing officers are properly
held to a high responsibility in its exercise.
The growth of the country and the cOnse-
quent increase of the civil list have magni-
fled this function of the executive disprO-
pOrtionately. 1t can not be denied, how
ever, that the labor connected with this
necessary work is increased often to the
point Of actual distress by the sudden and
excessive demands that are made upon an
incoming administration for removals and
appointments, but on the other hand
it is not true that incumbency
is conclusive argument for contiuu-
ance In office. Impartiality, moderation,
fidelity to public duty, and q good at
tainment in the discharge of 1t must be
added before the argument is complete.
w ACu UuooC AOlOiHs Z ohiSCo
SO conduct themselves as TO convince just
political opponents that no party consld-
GRAFTON or bias affects in any way the dis
charge of their public duties, we can more
easily stay the demands for removals.
THE MERIT SYSTEM.
am satisfied that both in and out of
the classified service great benefit would
accrue from the adoption of some system
L. ,s1o ba die
tinction and benefit that in all private em-
pigments comes from exceptional faith
fulness and efficiency in the performance
of duty. | have suggested to the heads of
the executive departments that they con-
slider whether a record might not be kept
in each bureau of all these elements that
are covered by the terms ''faithfulness"
and efficiency" and rating made show
ing the relative merits of the clerks of
each class. this rating to be regarded as a
test of merit in making promotions.
| have also suggested to the postmaster
general that he adopt one plan by which
he can, upon the basis Of the reports to the
department, and of frequent inspection, to
indicate the relative merit of postmaster
of each class. These will be appropriately
indicated in the official register and report
of the departments That great stimulus
would thus be given to the whole service
do not doubt, and such a record would be
the best defense against removals from
office.
NATIONAL AIDS TO EDUCATION.
The interest of the government in the
education of the people found an early ex-
preston not only in the thoughtful and
sometimes warning utterances of our
ablest statesmen but in liberal appropria-
Al s., h.
support of education in the new states
No one will deny that it is of the gravest
nations concern that those who hold the
ultimate control of public affairs should
have the necessary intelligence wisely to
direct and determine them. National
aid TO education has, therefore, taken
the form of land grants and in that form
the constitutional power of congress to
promote the education of people is not SER
iously questioned. l do not think it can
be successfully questioned when the form
is changed to that of direct grant of money
from the public treasury. Such aid should
be as it always has been suggested, by
some exceptional conditions. The sudden
emancipation of slaves, the bestowal of
the suffrage which soon followed and the
improvement of the ability OF the states
where these new citizens were chiefly
found to adequately provided educational
facilities presented not only exceptional
but uneXampled conditions. That the
situation has been much ameliorated there
is no doubt. The ability and interest of
the states have happily increased. but
a great work remains to be done and
think the general government should lend
its aid. As suggestions of national grants
il aid of education grows chiefly out
of the conditions and needs
of the emancipated slave and his descend
Ants the relief should AS far as uossible
general lines, be applied 10 the need that
suggested 1t. 1t is essential, If much good
l. 10 be ACCOM- nj shed TINT the Svr,, ras : h Y