Report of the Philippine commission to the President. : January 31, 1900[-December 20, 1900] [Vol. 1, no. 1]

REPORT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

113

nical aptitude or skill to perform the duties of the office to be filled.
The competitive examination will secure the selection of the fittest
candidate, while it offers equal opportunities to all; and though it will
be a novelty to the Filipinos, who have been accustomed only to the
patronage or spoils system of appointment, it can not fail to commend
to them a republican form of government whose civil service is regulated by justice to all applicants for admission and directed solely to
the welfare of the community.
In the Philippine civil service there should be, besides provisions for
tests of fitness before appointment, regulations to insure promotion
upon merit and a tenure of office during efficiency and good behavior.
It would be peculiarly detrimental to the public service in a territory
circumstanced like the Philippines if on political ground natives were
liable to removal from office as soon as they had learned its duties.
However it be in the United States, it is absolutely essential to good
government in the Philippines that the natives should hold office during efficiency and good behavior.
A small number of American officials will be necessary for the Philippine service. The highest, according to the form of government
recommended by the commission, may be divided into two classes.
In the first group belong the governor, secretary, attorney-general,
certain judges, and other high officers of the Territorial government.
To the second group belong the directing heads of the postal, customs,
and other departments of the federal service in the Philippines. It is
not meant that in practice these groups should be isolated and kept
apart, as they are in the States of the Union. Indeed, there are
obvious advantages, including harmony of action and centralization
of responsibility, in unifying as completely as possible all the branches
and departments of government over which the Americans are to preside in the Philippines.
The members of the first group will be appointed by the President;
those of the second, probably transferred from the home service. In
neither case will there be examinations. Now, in neither of these
groups is there any necessity for limiting the term of office except, of
course, in the case of the governor, whose term should be long enough,
however, to enable him to accomplish something. Under the scheme
of government recommended by the commission, half the senate is to
consist of appointed members, and it is assumed that the attorneygeneral, secretary, and other heads of departments would be appointed
senators. It would be extremely unfortunate if, when these officials
had come to understand the language of the people and to appreciate
their character, as well as to have gathered valuable experience, their
places should be taken by novices, for whom the same elementary
training would once more be necessary, and with whom, again, it
would be balked of its proper fruition. The same considerations
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