| Show MERIT SYSTEM TO PREVAIL IN EN THE MAKING OF FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS The merit system syna of making appoint appointments meats ments s iT ftp f e as and American as th the comment common system itself It simply means that in clerical and other where the duties are entirely all applicants should have a fair fuir field lidid and no favor each standing on Ms merits as he is able 4 to show them by practical test teat Written competitive examinations offer the only available means in many cases for ap applying applying plying this system In other cases as j where laborers are employed a system of registration can cn be widely extended There are of course places where the written competitive examina examination tion cannot be applied and others where it offers by no means an Ideal solution but where under existing political condi conditions ft it is though an n imperfect mens yet the best prent means of getting sat est results Wherever the conditions e permitted the application of the merit system in its fullest and widest sense the gain to the government has Keen ileen Immense The rue navy yards and postal service illus I probably better than any other branches of the te government the great join gain In economy and honesty due to the enforcement of this principle Extend Classified Service I recommend the passage of a law which will extend the classified service District of Columbia or will at least enable the president thus to ex er extend tend it In my Judgment all laws pro providing viding ridIng for the temporary employment of clerks should hereafter contain a pro provision provision vision that they b be selected under the civil service law lawIt lawIt It is Important to have this system ob obtain tain tam at home hom but it is even more im important Important to have It applied rigidly In our insular possessions Net an en office should be filled in the or Porto Rico with any regard to the mans par partisan partisan affiliations or services with any regard to the U political social or personal Influence which he may have at his command in short heed should be paid to nothing save the mans own character and and the needs of the service The administration sf Cf these Islands should b be as wholly free from the sos sus suspicion of partisan polities politics as the admin administration of the army and navy All that we ask from the public servant In pi the Philippines or Porto Rico is that he re reflect hoot honor on his country by Ui th way in which he makes that rule a benefit to the peoples who have come under it This is all 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 adminis administration of the government and In the tho thelong long rite ran the sole ef of City any tyPe tyse of government Mes ea in its proving itself both honest and efficient Reorganization of Consular Service The consular service is now organized under the provisions of a law I m in 1856 1556 which id 10 entirely inadequate to ex existing exIsting conditions The interest shown by JK o many commercial bodies through throughout out the country is the reorganization of the service is heartily commended to your attention Several bills providing for a anew anew new consular service have in recent years been submitted to the congress They ate based upon the just principle that ap appointments appointments to the service should be made only after a practical test of the applicant applicants cants cant s fitness that promotions should be governed by trustworthiness adaptability and the zeal in the 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 the protection of American citizens resorting to foreign countries fn it lawful pursuit of their affairs and the maintenance of the dignity of the nation abroad to make it essential that our consuls should be men of character knowledge and enterprise It is true trub that the ser see service vice is now in the main efficient but a standard of excellence be perma permanently maintained until the principles set forth in the Mite bile submitted to o othe the congress on this subject are enacted Into law S |
