New-York tribune., 1903-06-28
Careers for the Coming Men.
Discussions of the Professions and
Open Young Americans
Public Serx,fce.
y of Repre- and
ommie

Outside or the army ana the navy tnSTe arc
to-day in the public service of the United States
about 100000 men and women Here may be
found the widest range of employment, the most
important including the President himself the
least consequential including those who do the
conmonest kind OF work; the very best wages
and the poorest salaries. the longest hours and
the shortest days the hardest. most exhausting
toll and the easiest. most perfunctory occupa-
ton
This great army of workers IS naturally dl-
vided into those elected for a term or appointed
for a specified period and those who are en-
pIoyed under the Civil Service regulations
The longest term for which any public servant
lie elected is that of the United States Senator.
who represents his State for six years The
longest term of appointment is that of the JUS
tice of the Supreme Court. whose position may
be held for life.
Since the passage of the act. in 1SS3, Provld-
ing for the civil service, the principle Of its reg
uation by law has gained ground steadily until
now there is nothing outside the rules except
confidential positions on the one hand and those
of common day laborers on the Other
I shall first speak of the departmental work,
in which a vast army is employed, and from
which men are constantly being drafted to take
the most responsible places in the government
service The Hon. George 3. Cortelyou, once
stenographer in the Postoffce Department. and
now Secretary of the Department Of Com
merce and Labor, and the Hon NJ E Allies
recently First Assistant Secretary OF the Treas
ury and vice-president Of the Riggs Ma
tional Bank at Washington. who rose through
all the grades from one of the humber posts
are conspicuous examples Of this class The
list Of those who have thus gained prominence
is indeed a long one.
My observation leads me to think that the o2-
,5rrt,ac MIA NJ
is about the same in the government service as
out of it. However the thought is always pres
ent that there is not the same number Of chances
TO get into some other line where ones talents
could be used to better advantage that occur TO
those who have chosen some one Of the CONNER
cial occupations that bear so close kindred to
each other.
1t was this evident limitation upon ones pow
er of adjusting himself 70 the thing he discov-
ers he can do best that forced me to the con-
cIusfon that government civil service. from it's
very nature. carries with it the necessity of a
civil pension if the government would be just
to its servants who have become old and worn
out in the ranks OF it's workers. The greatest
difficulty has been encountered in celebrating a
comprehensive scheme that would commend it
self to the public, and especially to public men
who regard any pensioned place as inconsistent
with the nature OF our institutions. forgetting
that life tenure, the essential primary condition
to pension list, is itself inconsistent with the
original conception Of a wise public service
They seem TO forget, too. that the civil pension
list is the natural and necessary consequent Of
the Civil Service law. and while We have the
one we cannot evade the other. Therefore, 1 as
sert that, notwithstanding the present opposi-
ton there must, in the nature Of things and IN
Justice to lifelong public servants be civil
service pension law.
Our diplomatic and consular service is still the
football of politics. and many good man and
trained servant is compelled to make way for
some less competent successor whose assistance
in the Presidential campaign was the price paid
for his claim TO the place
Consular and diplomatic work is a professional
occupation Of the highest character; and the
best interests Of our country, from every point
of view commercial as well as administrative,
demand that we should hold this branch Of our
service. almost more than any other above party
assault
Here. as much as, if indeed not more than.
in any other calling we need trained men who
by their knowledge and experience shall hold
their posts because they can serve their coun-
trv and countryrnen better than either a ward
politician cIamOrous for the spOils, or a failed
merchant. who may in the days Of prosperity
have been a liberal contributor and now can
hardly do more than check against his party
balance by drawing his monthly salary.
A public sentiment is fast gaining ground that
the dutv Of the President both to the CONNER
cfaI interests Of our great country, whose for
eion commerce now exceeds more than two and
oDe-baIf billions a year, and to the nation
itself which has now come to be the most pow
erfrI political factor the globe. lar, very far
ou+strips all personal considerations and Farty
debts. however intimate and pressing the
may be.
It is a most gratifying sign that our educd-
tfonaI institutions fully appreciating the growth
Of +bis sentiment and the great Importance OF
co,e,7ra, and dirlornatic work TO the public vel
+ara have established special courses OF STUDY
that in time Will give us body Of representa-
+t-ee a+ foreign ports and capitals Of which we
may feel Justly proud. and which viii certainly
excite the emulation of all the otner haLiois u
The Garth There is surely no more interestl-g g
rrorniztng and inviting field in all the realm OF
American opportunity than this. and 10 II the
youth of our land may look with the pardonaoIe
arniration and well grounded hope OF achleVlils
s7,e--ss and rising 10 distinction
Tho ronuIar side OF the public servlce-Lanle-
L. +ba ra+tnral Congress-presents very un-
fa,ent aspect OF the question IN the sources
of selection. the duties to be performed ana lhe
- a,r,irroent for the many sided work OF
either branch 49,
Every boy born and brought up on Amer
| loan soil should far as IN him hes prepare
ht,se1f for the duties Of citizenship IN All us