Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-28
Civil Serrice Reform.

Discussion of the civil service problem still
occupies the senate. Two bills looking towards
reform are before that body-Mr. Trumbulps
forbidding senators and representatives from
recommending persons for appointments, or
otherwise interfering with the disposal of offices
in the executive departments, and Mr.. Wilson'S
which is modification of Mr.. Jencke's famous
civil service bill, ard seems to be the simplest
and most sensible measure of the kind yet pro-
posed. 1t requires all applicants for office to be
examined by board of three examiners APP
pointed by the head of each department; if
approved by the examining board, they are re-
ceived on probation for three months, at the end
of which period, if their performance of duty is
satisfactory, they will receive appointments for
a term of four years, and may be continued in
the service longer if the head of the department
chooses to retain them. All persons employed
in the civil service are TO be prohibited from
paying money for political purposes, or from
taking any part in political movements.
This bill proposes no very marked changes
from the present system except in the tenure of
Office AID in the prohibition to clerks to engage
In politics. This prohibition is certainly novel,
and its necessity is not at once apparent.
Nothing short of necessity could justify it. The
right to have political opinions, to express
them, and to work as opportunity offers for
their advancement, has never been denied to any
of our citizens. To deprive those engaged in
public employments of this right seems almost
as Objectionable, to some persons it will seem
even more SO, as to admit to such employments
only those whoentertain certain opinions for the
time dominant.
The necessity of reform in the civil service
is considerably exaggerated in much that
is written aud said on the subject. The
impression is given that members of CON
gress spend most of their time at the depart
ments, insisting on the appointment of their
friends and retainers to Office, and when mere
importantly will not serve theirpurpose, they are
in the habit of threatening the administration
with the withdrawal of their support, breach
in the party, and other dire consequences of
their displeasure, If their demands are not CON-
piled with. The heads of departments are un-
derstood to be occupied chiefly with the labor of
weighing the conflicting claims of applicants for
clerkships, turning out here and there man
whose friends are few or uninfuential, to make
room for another whose supporters are too pow
erfIl and earnest 20 be denied, and having but
little time or care for the real business of their
office. The clerks too, we are told on the same
authority, are much more numerous than the
actual work to be done would require, and are
generally ignorant, idle and inefficient.
If these statements that are made every day
in congress and outof it were substantially true
it would be wonder that the public business is
done at all. We know, however, as matter of
fact, that it is DONE and that it is done carefully
and well, and with a reasonable dispatch. Any
one who has had occasion to address proper
inquiry to any of the departments e.