Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-12-05
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The President Would Extend 1t to
New Branches of the Government.

The merit system of making appoint
ments is in it's essence as democratic and
American as the common school system
itself. 1t simply means that in clerical
and other positions where the duties are
entirely nonpolitical all applicants should
have fair field and no favor each stand
them by practical test Written Compel
tive examinations offer the only avail
able means in many cases for applying
this system. In other cases, as. where
laborers are employed, system of regis
tration undoubtedly can be widely. ex-
tended There are, Of course, places
ton cannot be applied and others where
it offers by no means an ideal solution,
but where under existing political condi-
tons it is, though an imperfect means,
yet the best present means Of getting
satisfactory results.
Wherever the conditions have permitted
the application of the merit system in its
fullest and widest sense the gain to the
government has been immense. The navy
yards and postal service illustrate prob
ably better than any other branches of
omy. efficiency and honesty due to the
enforcement of this principle.
recommend the passage of law
the District of Columbia or will at least
enable the president thus to extend it
In my judgment all laws providing for
should hereafter contain a provision that
they be selected under the civil service
law.
Applied to the Colonies.
It is important to have this system OBJ
tant to have it applied rigidly in our lID in
sular possessions. Not an office should
be filled in the Philippines or Porto Rico
with any regard to the mans partisan
Affiliations or services, with any regard
to the political. social or personal influ-
ence which he may have at his command.
In short heed should be paid to abso-
lutely nothing save the mans own char
acter and capacity and the needs of the
service.
The administration Of these islands
picion of partisan politics as the admin
istration Of tho army and navy. All that
We ask from the public servant in tho
fleet honor on his country by the way in
which he makes that country's rule a
benefit to the peoples who have come I'M
and cannot IS aord to b ~e confen t
less.
The merit system is simply one method
tration Of the government, and in the
long run the sole Justification of any
type Of government lies in its proving it.
self both honest and efficient.
The Consular Service.
The consular service IS now organised
under the provisions Of law passed in
1856. which is entirely inadequate to exist
Ing conditions. The interest shown by 50
MANY commercial pooleS throughout the
country in the reorganization Of the serv-
Ice Is heartily commended to your atten-
ton. Several bills providing for a new
consular service have in recent years
been submitted to the congress. They are
based upon the just principle that ap-
pointments to the service should be made
only after Z practical test Of the appli.
cant's fitness that promotions should be
governed by trustworthiness, adaptability
and zeal in the performance of duty, and
that the tenure Of ONCE should be unaf-
feeted by partisan considerations.
The guardianship and fostering OF our
rapidly expanding foreign commerce, the
protection of American citizens resortinS
to foreign countries in lawful pursuit OF
their affairs and the maintenance OF tha
dignity Of the nation abroad combine to
make It essential that our consuls should
be men of character, knowledge and en-
terprise. It is true that the service Is now
In the main efficient, but a standard Of
excellence cannot be permanently MAIN
tanned until the principles set forth in the
bills heretofore submitted to the congress-
On this subject are enacted into law.
The Indian Problem.
In my judgment the time has arrived
when We should definitely make up OUT
minds to recognise the Indian as An indfl
vidual and not as q member Of q tribe
The general allotment act is mighty
pulverizinI engine to break up the tribal
mass. It acts directly upon the family
and the individual Under its provisional
some 0.eoo Indians have already b0saAD
s fCon&;nno<3 IN 9;x<h paooo