The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-18
PRAISES CIVIL SERVICE LAW
Intrusion of Political C0nsidera-
ton is Detrimental
AN ADDRESS By THE PRESIDENT
To Representatives of Several Civil
Service Observation-Disclosures at
m to Make Exceptions to the
General Rules That Have Been Laid
Down.

Washington. May 15.-President
Roosevelt delivered an address AT the
White House this afternoon TO repre-
sentaCives Of several state and munic-
ipal civil service commissions, and of
he national civil service reform
league, who met here toGay for a con-
ference with the commissioners of the
general government with a view 10
considering questions for the better
ment OF civil service throughout the
country. The president said:
4 have grown increasingly 20 feel
every year that | have spent in public
life the Importance of the movement
which o gentlemen here represent.
1t is important that the friends Of the
movement, that those like O who
stand in the public eye as symbolic
ing it, shall make it evident beyond
possibility of misunderstanding that
you are anxious to see commonsense
business methods obtain in the hand
ling of the law. The enemies of this
movement for reform are always on
the watch to find some imperfection
which they can dilate upon, and en-
large out Of all proportion, and insist
that 1t is representative of the move
ment. For that reasO it is particn-
larly incumbent upon you who are en-
gagged in the actual administration of
the laws, national, state Or municipal
to make it clear so that nc one can
fail 70 see that you are concerned
chiefly in securing the effective bust
ness administration of the public SER
vice. One of the gratifying things OF
recent years has been the rapid spread
of interest in the whole movement, and
because of that interest it is peculiar
ly incumbent upon you to see that
there is not a chance for the oppo-
nents to say that it is not practical.
The efficiency of the service with hon.
esty as, of course the keystone of eff
fciency, must be the prime test of what
you do.
ITO the great general rules that you
lay down you will find at times that
it is necessary to make exceptions.
There are many places in which it is
possible to follow the rule of a coln-
petitive written examination absolute
ly, undeviatingly; for entrance to
positions as clerks, stenographers, let
ter carriers, railway mail clerks, etc.
for instance. But in making promo
tons the system of written competl-
tive examinations does not secure the
best results. Moreover, in the inter
est of preserving the necessary fexi-
bility which will permit you to meet
special ~eXigencieS special exceptions
have to be made to meet special cases
Some time, though more rarely, classes
Of exceptions will have to be made.
Do not be afraid at all to make these
EXCEPTIONS; but be sure you are max.
ing the exception for proper reasons
In other words, do not believe for Che
moment that any system Of rules car
be devised under which it will be pos.
sible to shield yourself from the duty
of exercising your own Judgment, your
own independence.
after considerable experience in al
most every kind of governmental work
l have never yet found any position OF
any branch of the service as regards
which the intrusion of political rea-
sons in making appointments does not
do damage. The result is always bat
vhen the appointment has to be com
D. 7ated with the question of politics
1t :. true at present it is impossible K
disas. .ciate certain classes of appoint
ments from such considerations, anG
as yet no way has been devised to Sc
cure such disassociation. Yet it re
mains true that, whether avOida1l'
Or unavoidable, the intrusion of Pc
litical considerations into the chOics
Of men whose duties are purely min
isterial is always detrimental to thu
service.
81 am now naturally brought int
relations with a great number of i'm
portant Offices in different branches @
the government throughout this coun
try, and / continually have to conside.
the question of the efficiency witt
which they are handled. Practical,
without exception l find that an oflc
, in which there is laxness in the ad
| ministratiOn of the civil service law
where there is an effort to circumven
| the law, where there is effort to ge
around it, is an Office in which poo
service is rendered.; the chance 70
fraud, for speculation, for dishonest.
is always greater in such an Of6c'
| than in the Office where the law is vel
| and faithfully observed. If the appoint
| ing officer administers the civil ser
vice law in a spirit of hostility to it
if he tries to evade it or violate it, i
| has been my experience that in tn
great majority of cases ~ineficiency an;
corruption are sure to obtain. And
while of course it is true that n
mere observance of the civil service
lew can never result in a thorough.
| efficient administration of any Office
vet | am inclined more and more :;
feel that the observance in letter AM
| spirit Of the civil service law IS tn
first requisite in obtaining clean, de
| cent, efficient governmental service il
any branch of the government"
| Complaint Against Bell Telephon