Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-12-12
CIVIL SERVICE.
President Roosevelt n Firm Believer
in the Merit System.

President Roosevelt n Firm Believer
in the Merit System.
The merit system of making appoint
ments is in its essence as democratic and
American as the common school system
itself It simply means that in clerical
and other positions where the duties are
entirely nonpolitical all applicants should
have a fair field and no favor, each stand
ing on his merits as he is able to show
them by practical test. Written competi-
tive examinations offer the only availa-
BILE means in many cases for applying this
system. In other cases, as where laborerS
are employed, system of registration
undoubtedly can be widely extended.
There are, of course, places where the
written competitive examination cannot
be applied and others where it offers by
no means an ideal solution, but where
under existing political conditions it is.
though an imperfect means. yet the best
present means of getting satisfactory re-
suits.
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 proba-
bly, better than any other branches OF the
government the great gain in economy,
efficiency and honesty due to the enforce
n,ent of this principle.
%>%%>>%%% . . = . . = 80
y / recommend the passage VI d letW "
. which will extend the classified serv- q
. ice to the District of Columbia, or q
q will at least enable the president .
q thus to extend it. In my judgment =
. all laws providing for the temporary q
q employment of clerks should here =
q after contain a provision that they =
4 be selected under the civil service
q law.
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Is ~ H.
tain at home but it is even more impor-
tant to have it applied rigidly in our insu-
lar 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 1nnuence
which he may have at his command IN
short. heed should be paid to absolutely
nothing save the mans own character
and capacity and the needs Of the serv-
ice.
The administration of these islands
should be as wholly free from the suspl-
cion of partisan politics as the admins
tration of the army and navy. All that
we ask from the public servant IN tho
philippines or Porto Rico is that ne re-
fleet honor on his country by the way III
which he makes that countrys RUE
benefit to the peoples who nave como
under II. This is all we should ask, and
u,e cannot afford to be content with less.
The merit system is simply one method
Of securing honest and efficient admins
tration of the government. and IN the
long run the sole justification of any type
Of government lies in it's proving itself
both honest and efficient
a: a d q q . q o . = 80 - . 80
4 The consular service is now organ
d lied under the provisions of a law =
4 passed in 1856. which is entirely in
4 adequate to existing conditions.
& 4 4 q . q . . . O q q <>>~~>
The interest shown by so many COM
mercial bodies throughout the country
in the reorganization of the service IS
heartily commended to your attention.
Several bills providing for new consular
service have in recent years been SUP,
mitted to the congress. They are based
upon the Just principle that appointments
to the service should be made only after
a practical test OF the applicants fitness:
that promotions should be governed by
trustworthiness, adaptability and zeal in
tho performance OF duty. and that the
tenure OF office should be unaffected by
partisan considerations.
The guardianship and fostering of our
RAPIDLY expanding foreign commerce. tho
rrotection OF American citizens resortins
70 foreign countries In lawful pursuit OF
their affairs and the maintenance OF the