Group 3 -- Speech of Senator Logan, December 13, 1882

Such examinations shall be practical in their character, and, so far as may be shall relate, to those matters only which will fairly test the relative capacity and fitness of the persons examined to discharge the duties of the service into which they seek to be appointed.

That amendment proposes that if a man is examined as a clerk in the Quartermaster's Department, for instance, he shall be examined in reference to matters pertaining to the duties that he would be there required to perform. His education would be a part of the examination, as a matter of course. If he is examined for a place in an auditor's office of the Treasury Department his examination would apply to that, us to what knowledge he had of the duties pertaining to that office. If he was examined for a position in the Post-Office Department his examination, after the question of scholarship should be ascertained, would in reference to the duties he Would be required to perform in that Department…

I will give another illustration: For instance, a man is appointed in the Treasury Department to run an elevator. Ho is not a messenger, he is not a laborer, but he is appointed to that position. You would not want to require him to be examined in reference to his scholarship as thoroughly as you would a man who had charge of the accounts in an auditor's office. So in reference to all of these various clerks or other persons employed in the different Departments of the Government; they would be examined and required to give evidence to the commissioners or somebody appointed to examine them as to their capacity to perform the exact duty to which they were to be assigned if appointed. I believe that the best examination to make of men when you put them in the public service is as to their capacity to perform clerical duty, if that is the duty to which they are to be assigned, and so throughout…

I propose that the examination shall be practical, that it shall not only show his scholarship but that it shall show the adaptability of the person to the duty that he is required to perform. Whenever you pass a bill without a provision like this in it you will run against stumps every day. You have got to have your examinations of a practical character or your machinery will not work. At least that is my judgment about it, and the reason I propose this amendment is that it covers every possible case that may come before a commission, from a chief clerk down to a messenger, if messengers have to be examined. I presume under this bill they do not have to be; but if under this bill they have to be examined, this amendment would cover every case that could possibly come before a commission for the purpose of making examination. This examination should be made, as I said, first, in reference to scholarship, and, second, to practically ascertain the capacity of the party who applies for the particular appointment.

Mr. HOAR. I would suggest to the Senator from Illinois whether he would not strike out the word "only," not that it would make any great difference in the meaning, but it might seem to do so…

Mr. LOGAN. Very well; I have no objection to the modification. I do not think it makes any difference. I am perfectly willing to strike out the word "only;" and then it will read:

Such examinations shall be practical in their character, and so far as may be shall relate to those matters which will fairly test the relative capacity and fitness of the persons examined to discharge the duties of the service into which they seek to be appointed.

From The Congressional Record. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1882. 246.