The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-24
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
From the N. y. Times.

Senator Wilson's bill regulating the ap-
pointment of inferior officers in the civil SER
vice, is in some respects the best effort that
has been made in the direction of a very i'm
portant reform. Except upon a single point,
it is superior to the plan with which Mr..
Jenckes name is honorably identified, be-
cause guarding against abuses which the
Rhode Island representative failed to touch,
and operating with simpler machinery. And
it is infinitely more efficacous than the bill
of MIR. Trumbull, who aims at arresting the
political Generalization which the present
system entails upon Senators and members,
but without making provision for otherwise
improving the service itself.
Instead of organizing civil service COM
mission, as proposed by MIR. Jenckes, Mr..
Wilson would make all appointments subject
to the approval of board of three examiners
selected by the head of the department. in
which the appointees are to serve. In the
first instance, moreover, the appointments
are to be temporary-th question of con-
tinuance being contingent upon the practical
efficiency and propriety exhibited during the
probationary period. When thus formally
made, the appointments are for four years
certain-any removal meanwhile being con-
tingent upon incompetency or impropriety of
conduct, as reported upon by an examining
board.
The weak point of the scheme is the limita-
tion of the appointment to four years. The
fact that the persons holding Offices are eli
gible to reappointment, without further exa-
mination, upon the recommendation of the
chief of bureau or head of the Office in which
they may be serving, does not essentially i'm
| prove the case. Every four years, under this
bill, the victorious political party might make
a clean sweep of the departments. The test
of fitness is indeed obstacle to the flooding
of the departments with incompetent men,
and is, SO far, a vast improvement upon the
| system as it is. But the loss to the country
arising from the time required to familiarize
the officers with their duties; will be con-
tinued, and the opportunity for wholesale
change will introduce other evils. 1t may not
| be desirable to offer bonuses to young men
to enter the service of the Government;
but if its service is ever to be as
efficient as it ought to be, sense of perma-
nence must be created. Only thus can capa-
BILE officers be induced to give the Govern
ment the full benefit of their capacity. The
fact that every change of the Federal Ad-
ministration will virtually send them adrift,
will naturally induce the best men in the
service to be on the lookout for openings
elsewhere. And the politicians with their
eyes upon the recurring opportunity for re-
warding their friends, will avail themselves
of the discretionary authority vested by Mr..
! Wilson's bill to prevent the reappointment
of incumbents who stand in the way. The
remedy for these forms of mischief is the
making appointments permanent, subject
only to removal for just cause.
Apart from this defect, there are two fea-
lures in Mr.. Wilson's bill which cannot be
too highly commended. One forbids any per-
son holding Office by appointment to take
part in any political committee, convention,
or like organization, "under penalty of sum-
mary dismissal" The other prohibits all
assessments of money upon clerks or other
employees of the Government, anywhere, for
political or other purposes making the supe-
rior official who permits such assessments, or
fails TO prevent them, subject to dismissal
and punishment by fine and Imprisonment.
Both of these provisions are excellent; the
second is of the highest Importance. Put an
end to the levying of assessments in Custom
Houses, in the Post-office or Internal-revenue
service, and in the Departments at Washing
ton, and a more excellent work will be per.
formed than Mr.. Trumbull s bill could posi-
bly, effect
We cannot hope that the reform for which
Messrs. Irumbull, Wilson, and Jenckes are
all working will be achieved at present. The
warmth with which so strong a man as Mr.
Morton reslsts the action contemplated by
the Illinois Senator indicates the tenacity
with which mere politicians will battle AGAINST
a change that would conine their influence tc
legitimate channels. AS against their hostile
zeal, there is little besides lukewarmness and
a disposition to compromise at the expense OF
vital principles. The truth is, that civil ser
vice reform implies not little self-denial ant
disinterested devotion to duty on the part o.
legislators, and these are qualities for which
we can scarcely look until the people realiz,
more vividly than thsy seem now to do th'
damage inflicted by the present system upoI
the morale of the Government and the inte
, rests of the country.