Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-01

"a tho appendix To this report an al1-
thentic account 0f the colonial govern
ments. We will learn the following
valuable lessons from study Of these
governments:
First-That they are not disturbed
by political changes in the home gov
eminent, the tenure being determined
by good and efficient service only.
Second-That the men sent to gov
ern colonies are selected because OF
special fitness and are promoted, gen
orally from the smaller colonies to the
larger, after demonstrating ability to
deal with difficult problems.
Third-That the officers charged with
the collection of revenue, both internal
and customs duties, are promoted to
those places after faithful and efficient
service in minor grades, and are never
appointed as a reward for political SER
vices at home; that the clerkships in
the customs and other services are I'LL
ed by open competitive examinations;
that the pay is commensurate with the
duties performed, and that persons in
the colonial service are prohibited from
engaging in business enterprises in the
colonies.
1t will be seen that Spain has lost
her colonies through an application OF
the patronage system of government
and 10y contrasting her disagreement
with the excellent government of Hol-
land and Great Britain we will see that
one is expensive and forces the home
government to maintain large armies
to keep in subsection the natives, while
In the other the government is econOm-
ically administered,
THE PEOPLE ARE COMMENTED,
and only small military force is nee
essary. For instance, Spain, with two
hundred thousand men, was not en-
abled to keep in subsection the island
of Cuba, with a population of million
and half; while England in Jamaica
has quoted, by good government, a
more turbulent population, and only
keeps, in the important garrisons OF
that island, less than 400 British SOL
diers.
In the island of Ceylon, with twice
the population of Cuba, the entire Brit
ish force is less than fifteen hundred
men; while Sir Andrew Clarke, by his
wise government in the Straits Settle
ments of the Malay Peninsula, has been
able to bring order out of chaos and
misrule, to put an end to tribal war
fare, and bring prosperity to the peo-
pie without the aid of any British SOL
diers. These examples show In sharp
contrast the application of sound, hon
est business principles on the one side
and the application of the patronage
system of government on the other II
the positions in our recently acquired
territory are given as a reward for
political service at home, we may ex-
pect discomfort, misrule, and expensive
administration.
If, on the contrary, men are selected
because of their ability as administra-
tors, and the service is put upon a
basis of ascertained fitness for the
duties to be performed, and tenure and
promotion are made dependent upon
efficiency and honest service, then we
may expect our administration to be a
boon to these islands, and we will have
cause to be proud of our share in sup
planting the misrule of Spain with a
government in accord with the aspira-
lions of modern civilization. The Com
mission desires to express the opinion
that provision should be made and the
necessary steps taken whereby as soon
as practicable the civil positions in
these islands may be filled in accord
ance with the principles of merit sys-
tenn.