The Iola register., 1901-12-06
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The President would Extend II TO
New Urnncbps of the Government.


The merit system OF making appoint.
ments Is in its essence ms democratic ana
American as the common school system
itself II 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 sho"
them by practical test. Written compct-
tive examinations offer the only await
able means in many cases Tor aPplyina
this system. In other eases as where
laborers are employed, a system OF regis,
tration undoubtedly can bc widely eN
tended. There a-u, of course, places
whore the written competitive eNamina-
tion cannot he applied and others where
II offers by no means an ideal solution.
but where under existing political condi'
tons il is, though an imperfeet means.
yet the best present means Of getting
satisfactory results
Wherever the conditions have permitted
the application Of the merit system in Is
fullest and widest sense tho gain to the
government has been immense. Tho navy
yards and postal service Illustrate prob
ably better than any other branches Of
the government the great gain In econ
omY efficiency and honesty due to the
enforcement Of this principle
! recommend the passage OF law
which win extend tho classified service 10
the District of Columbia or will AT least
enable the president thus To extend II
In my Judgment all laws providing ioI
the temporary employment of clerks
should hereafter contain N provision that
they be selected under the civll service
law.
Applied to the Colonies.
It is important to have this system oh.
tain at home, but II is even more impor'
tant to have II applied rigldly in our In.
sular possessions. Not an office should
be filled in the Philippines or Porto Rice
with any regard to the mans partisan
affiliations or services, with any regard
TO the political social OF personal infu-
ence which he may have at his command
In short, heed should be paid TO abso.
nutely nothing save the mans own char.
acter and capacity and the needs Of the
service.
The administration of these island,
should he as wholly free from the sus.
pcion OF partisan politics as the admin.
istration OF the army and navy. All that
We ask from the public servant in the
Philippines or Porto Rico Is that he re.
fleet honor on his country by the way in
which he makes that country's rule
der IL. This Is an that we should ask
and We 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 its proving It.
self both honest and efficient.
The Consular Service.
The consular service is now organized
under the provisions Of law passed in
1856 which is entirely inadequate TO exist
ing conditions. The interest shown by SO
many commercial bodies throughout the
country In the reorganization Of the serY-
Ice rs heartily commended TO your atten-
tipn. Several bills providing for 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 a practical test OF the appli-
cants fitness; that promotions should be
governed by trustworthness, adaptability
and zeal in the performance Of duty, and
that the tenure OF office should be unaf-
fected by partisan considera ions.
The Guardianship and fostering Of our
rapidly expanding foreign commerce. the
protection Of American citizens resorting
TO foreign countries in lawful pursuit OF
their affairs and the maintenance OF the
dignity ot the nation abroad combine 10
make II essential that our consuls should
be men Of character, knowledge and en-
terprlse. II is true that the service Is now
in tho main efficient, but a standard OF
excellence cannot be permanently main-
tanned until the principles set forth I'm 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 our
minds to recognize the indian as an indi-
yldual and not as member OF tribe.
she general allotment act is a mighty
pulveri2ing engine to break up the tribal
mass. II acts directly upon the family
and the individual Under its provisions
soma 6Q00o Indians have already become
Continued on page T.