political appointee whatsoever should under any circumstances be
forced upon us. After arrival at Manila early attention was given to
the drafting of a civil service act by Mr. Taft, who was fortunate in
having the assistance of Mr. Frank M. Kiggins, chief of the examining
division of the United States Civil Service Commission. The passage
of this act and its strict enforcement led to very favourable comment
in the United States. In his first annual message President Roosevelt
said:--

"It is important to have this system obtain at home, but it is
even more important to have it rigidly applied in our insular
possessions....

"The merit system is simply one method of securing honest and
efficient administration of the government, and in the long run the
sole justification of any type of government lies in its proving
itself both honest and efficient."

Secretary Root also gave us his fullest support, calling attention to
the fact that the law which we had passed was of a very advanced type,
and that under such circumstances as confronted us, the securing of
the best men available should outweigh, and indeed practically exclude,
all other considerations.

Our action met with the unqualified approval of organizations
which especially interest themselves in the maintenance of clean
and efficient public service, such as the Cambridge (Massachusetts)
Civil Service Reform Association [485] and the National Civil Service
Reform League, whose committee on civil service in dependencies spoke
in very high terms of existing conditions in the Philippines. [486]

In its first annual report the Civil Service Board called attention
to some of the more important provisions of the Act in the following
words:--

"Competitive examinations must, whenever practicable, be held for
original entrance to the service, and promotions of employees
must also be based upon competitive examinations, in which the
previous experience and efficiency of employees shall be given due
consideration. The examinations for entrance to the service must be
held in the United States and in the Philippine Islands, and applicants
are required to be tested in both English and Spanish.

"Disloyalty to the United States of America as the supreme authority
in the Islands is made a complete disqualification for holding office,
and every applicant for admission to the service must, before being
admitted to examination, take the oath of loyalty. By an amendment
t