TheneedforimprovementintheGovernmentalmethodsoftransactingbusinessmaybeillustratedbyanactualcase。AnofficerinchargeofanIndianagencymadearequisitionintheautumnforastovecostingsevendollars，certifyingatthesametimethatitwasneededtokeeptheinfirmarywarmduringthewinter，becausetheoldstovewaswornout。Thereuponthecustomarypaperswentthroughthecustomaryroutine，withoutunusualdelayatanypoint。Thetransactionmovedlikeaglacierwithdignitytoitsappointedend，andthestovereachedtheinfirmaryingoodorderintimefortheIndianagenttoacknowledgeitsarrivalinthesewords：“Thestoveishere。Soisspring。”
TheCivilServiceCommission，undermenlikeJohnMcIlhennyandGarfield，renderedservicewithoutwhichtheGovernmentcouldhavebeenconductedwithneitherefficiencynorhonesty。Thepoliticianswerenottheonlypersonsatfault；almostasmuchimproperpressureforappointmentsisduetomeremisplacedsympathy，andtothespiritlessinefficiencywhichseeksaGovernmentofficeasahavenfortheincompetent。Anamusingfeatureofofficeseekingisthateachmandesiringanofficeisapttolookdownonallotherswiththesameobjectasforminganobjectionableclasswithwhich/he/hasnothingincommon。AtthetimeoftheeruptionofMt。Pelee，whenamongotherstheAmericanConsulwaskilled，amanwhohadlongbeenseekinganappointmentpromptlyappliedforthevacancy。Hewasagoodman，ofpersistentnature，whofeltIhadbeensomewhatblindtohismerits。
Themorningafterthecatastrophehewrote，sayingthatastheconsulwasdeadhewouldlikehisplace，andthatIcouldsurelygiveittohim，because“eventheofficeseekerscouldnothaveappliedforityet！”
Themethodofpublicserviceinvolvedintheappointmentandtheworkofthetwocommissionsjustdescribedwasappliedalsointheestablishmentoffourothercommissions，eachofwhichperformeditstaskwithoutsalaryorexpenseforitsmembers，andwhollywithoutcosttotheGovernment。Theotherfourcommissionswere：
CommissiononPublicLands；