The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-12
THE 63d ANNIVERSARY
THE SOCIETIES HELD THEIR
ANNUAL CELEBRATION.
IT WAS MORE LIKE A COMMENCEMENT
The Young Debaters and Orators We're In
spired 10 Do Their Best, ard Their
DeIiyerances Were Said 10 be
&c 4ba u;rhcct Order.
of the Highest Order.

cial)-This is the G3rd celebration OF the
literary societies of Wake Forest Col
lnge. The first anniversary ever held
was Il great success and year by year
they have become better and more pop
ular so that it would not seem to be
putting it too strong to say that through
all these G3 anniversary occasions to-
days debate and the orations tonight
were equal to if not superior to any
vet had. Indeed so charming day ana
so many Of the trustees and alumni Of
tine college were here it seems more like
Il commencement than an anniversary.
The young gentlemen debaters and or
ators seeing this and knowing that much
was expected of them were inspired to
do their best and 10 one who heard the
debate and orations can say that they
were not of the very highest order.
4 he query for discussion was SHOULD
all government appointments be subject
to civil service regulations"
The President. Mr. Il. l.. Womble
called the societies to order at 2:30 this
d. m. and Mr.. J. l.. Jarvis the secreta-
ry. announced the subject for discussion
and Mr.. Jackson Hamilton, of the af-
iirmatiye in happy effort said in part:
1t, is claimed. Mr.. President, of those
opposed to Civil Service Regulations
that such system would end in filling
the service exclusively with young men
fresh from the academies and colleges
or with those who have failed or broken
Gown.in some of the learned professions.
This idea arises from a total misconcep-
ton of the nature of a paper examin-
alton. For places requiring special
knowledge and special aptitude for duty,
there are special examinations to asccr-
tain those special qualifications and
then the appointment is made on proba-
ton only.
1t is not the purpose of a Civil Ser
vice to educate it's citizens, but the rela-
ton between ignorance and crime is SO
close and familiar, that the wisdom and
economy of a system which by encourage
ing education, elevates the character
and promotes the efficiency of the pub
lie service. can not be denied.
In order to better understand what
is meant by Civil Service Regulations.
it is necessary to know the evils that
necessitated these regulations. and for
the correction of which evils these reg
ulations were instituted and made part
of our laws These evils are the evils Of
what is known ais the spoils system
or rotation in office. All the appoiu-
tive offices must either be subject to
Civil Service regulations or not subject
TO Civil Service Regulations. There
is no half way ground. 1t must be
evident either that an appointment must
he subject to Civil Service or not sub
10 (fixiI Gat.trioo IL
can not both be and not be subject to
Civil Service Regulations. If an APP
pointment is subject to no regulations
whatever it is of course subject only
10 the spOilsmen and falls under the
evils Of what is known as the spoils sys-
TEN. Then it is the spois system that
my opponents are forced to uphold The
very fact that they oppose Civil Service
Regulations compels them to support
the sp0ils system. The opposite of Civil
Service Regulations is the spoils system
and vice versa.
There are about 100000 Offices in the
national government which are filled by
appointment. Now how shall these APP
pointinentS be made? Shall they be made
according TO the wllilns and fancies
of political leaders. political bosses and
machine politicians. or shall they be
made subject to definite rules and regu-
lations.
The offices belong to the people who
are the source Of the government itself:
but they belong to all the people and
not to individuals
All the offices may be divided into two
classes; those that are elective and those
that are nOn-elective or appointive
With these Of the first class. those that
are elective and are concerned with the
policy of government with the issues
that may be before the people, and with
the execution and making of our laws.
with these we are not to deal We are
this evening TO discuss the advisablity
OF making those governmental positions
which are appointiye and have to do
merely with the mechanism of the gov
eminent, subject to Civil Service Regu-
lati0ns.
What we wish to get at this evening
is the underlying principles of Civil Ser
vice Reform and not the technicality of
the regulations in detail Civil Service
Regulations are intended to ascertain
the knowledge. merit. fitness and capa-
bility Of the candidate for appointment.
The means most generally used to- ascer-
tain these qualifications. are investiga-
ti0ns, examinations and probations
We do not propose to discuss an ideal
system; neither do we propose to dis
cuss a system in which the only regula-
ton to and requisite Of office is an ex-
animation merely of a literary nature.
Our question for discussion is Civil Ser
vice Regulations. and not simply COM
netitive examinations. Civil Service
Regulations consist rot only of examin-
ations both competitive and non-com-
petitive. but also of Investigations
tests and probations.
If by the regulations for admission
to the Civil Service. nothing were I'M
derstcod but mere test of literary pro-
ficiency. they might be reasonably on
posed as unsatisfactory. But on the
other h'nd it is equally undeniable that
candidate is none the less excellent
because Of his general intelligence A
country which declares that where tech
,,nical skill is equal, it will appoint