Year: 1871

The following dispatch was published in
the Chicago Tribune of Saturday:


WASHINGTON, July THE Civil Service
endeavoring to reduce their theories to q
practical working basis. 1t has been dis
covered that not only is the bare question
itself intricate and difficult of treatment,
but that it is hard to bring the various men,
bers of the commission up to advocating
radical and sweeping measures of reform.
Whatever suggestions are made are met
with objections, both ON the score of i'm
practicability and policy. Several MEM
bers of the commission do not believe that
any plan can be ever successfully inaugur.
ated which looks to separating appoint
ments from political patronage, and con-
templates any fixed tenure to Office.


These two latter considerations are re-
garded by some of them as inseparable from
our form of government. The particular
question which has been under discussion
for the last ten days is, shall the commis-
sion recommend to the President that ad-
missions TO the civil service of the United
States, with customary exceptions, be deter
mined by competitive examinations, open to
all applicants, irrespective of politics
While no vote has been reached on this pro-
position, the discussion has gone so far as
to develop plan which meets with favor





This plan contemplates establishing an ex-
amining board, which is to hear and deter
mine claims of applicants. The board is to
consist of members of recognized reputation
and fitness, which latter are to be appointed
by the President. 1t will have power to
hear and determine claims of all applicants,
granting to the latter prizes or certificates
in accordance with their merits or qualifica-
tiOns, as the examination may have demon
strated.


The examination will inquire into the
character. personal fitness and general
qualifications of all aspirants to position,
and in other respects will initiate the Eng
lish and German systems, where applicants
pass satisfactory examination, and will
receive from the board certificates which
entitle them to the first vacancy in that
particular grade of Office for which they
apply. No person is to receive an appoint
ment in any branch of the service cOntem-
plated by regulations unless he can first
produce certificates as above indicated, and
he is then to serve a certain probationary
term of some six or twelve months, accord
ing to the nature of the Office, in order that
his aptitude may be ascertained. This plan,
in its general details, will contemplate pro-
motions and a corresponding series of exam
nations to govern such purpose. Its effect, if
adopted by the commissioners, will be to
make the tenure of office dependent en-
tirely upon the good behavior of occupants.
and to separate appointments from political
patronage. No vacancies can be made ex-
cept for causes specified, nor can they be
filled except by competition, in which merit
alone will be in future recognized.


Under the section authorizing their ap-
pointment, which was very loosely drawn,
even though the President should approve
their work under it, it is conceded it will
require further Congressional legislation to
make it operative. If the construction is
sustained, that the system of appointments
is to remain, as heretofore, with the heads
of the various departments, bureaus. etc,
Congress will be required to extend the
operation of the rules to all these-as at
present the only official to whom they will
apply, if they are accepted, is to the Presl-
dent. There are numerous other considera-
tions in connection with this whole question
which embarrass the commissioners at every
step, especially in view OF their limited
powers. 1t is now thought the board will
have made sufficient progress by the latter
part of next week TO have finished prelim-
mary programme. This will be submitted
to the President, and an abstract furnished
for publication.