Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 5.djvu/407

Rh state what vouchers you would think essential, and what system of records you would keep, in order that the accounts might be in proper form?

(6.) Given, the necessary character, ability and acquaintance with the duties of the position of weighmaster, what do you consider the most important qualification for that position?

(7.) What simple way is there of testing the accuracy of a beam balance?

Will you kindly ask yourself whether these questions should come under the head of “merit” or of “fitness,” and why, if “merit,” they should be asked by one board, and if “fitness” by another? And so you may go through this whole record, which I beg leave to commend to your study, and you will find that, as soon as this novel distinction is practically tested, it turns out to be a mere piece of hair-splitting pettifoggery.

But this hair-splitting has been resorted to for a purpose. So far “merit and fitness” have been tested together in one competitive examination, by boards independent of the appointing officers, which independent boards ascertained the results, made the ratings and certified the candidates rated highest on a scale of one hundred for appointment. This method, honestly executed, gave every person, however lowly or uninfluential, a fair chance, for there was no arbitrary favoritism or political influence in the proceeding. But now, under this bill, only what is called “merit” shall be examined into by civil service commissions independent of the appointing officers, and however successfully the examined candidate stands the test, he shall at best receive only a rating 50 in 100—that is to say, he shall be considered only half qualified for appointment, the other half of qualification to be rated by another authority that is to examine him for what is called “fitness.” And who is that other authority? The appointing officer himself.