Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-10

NETHERLANDS CIVIL SERVICE. Some people in this country believe that if ! fixed civil service were introduced here it would prove incompatible with our republi- can institutions. Those who thus think | would do we'll to examine tue workings of l such g service in the republic of Switzerland, | where it has been in operation for at least
 twenty-five years. Mir. Byers, the United States consul at Zurich, describes the civil service of Switzerland, and declares that there is but one voice as to it's advantage to the State.
 The laws governing the civil service of Switzerland are, says Mir. Byers, few, and the service finds it's life and spirit more in the practice of the people than in written statutes. Laws passed in 1855 declared that appointments to federal offices shall be for three years. Literally, this applied to every
 officer in the country except members of the chambers. There were excepted from the
 law all minor appointments, which are made
 indefinitely and during good behavior-in
 other words, for life. Later enactments have
 modified the law of 1855. Supreme judges
 are elected by the Diet and hold office for
 six years. while professors of the Federal Polytechnic are appointed for life. Even those officials whose terms are for three years find no difficulty in having their com missions renewed another term, and another, and another, so long as they can show compe- tency and well performed duty. The re- newal and the continuance is only matter of form. They rest assured that their reten- tion in office depends wholly upon themselves and not upon wire-working and intriguing politicians or party fealty. They can depend. too, in majority of cases, on certain pro- motion as vacancies occur, provided they have advanced in fitness proportionately to the time they have been in the public service. AS to a loss of position, without some sufh- cient cause for removal, it is an unheard of thing. The most bitter party feeling never goes so far to crip- pie the government by dismis. sing competent and faithful servants. When the Democratic party, after the most violent struggle, came to power in the can ton of Zurich in 1869, not dozen of their opponents were turned out of the govern ment service. The same was the case when | the Liberal party achieved victory over the l
 
 principles of incumbents of office were not | considered. There were cases, indeed, when i men remained as secretaries to bureau chiefs | whom they had openly and bitterly battled | in the campaign. With the Swiss offcehold- | er the right to have and to express political l opinions is not sacrificed, and in spite of | constant service he maintains the liveliest in- terest in all public questions, showing the of the oft-expressed fear that men secure in official life may lose interest in l. national affairs.
 In illustration of the economy of govern ment in Switzerland it is mentioned that the total expenses of the government, not count ng interest and debt payments, last year were less than $8, 900. Mir. Bye says, "The astounding difference between the small expenses of Switzerland md our own enormous outlays for govern nent is accounted for by the fact that the Swiss study economy of government, and Ee do not. They have a fixed system, we , lave none; they, owing to the permaaency { if their civil service, secure good servants i or small salaries while we, without any < ystematic service, too often pay large sal i ries for poor servants. The common rules z f economy are all against us, and we blame he evils consequent upon the politicians, Then the fact is the politicians are the crea- ures of false system. In short, the peo- le have handed the government over to the l ohtical hucksters to be managed for them, l eeause they prefer devoting their time to s loney- making | A fixed and trained civil service would of i purse be of great advantage to this country, C 1st as it is to republican Switzerland. And t is to be hoped that the reformers will not ease working until the foundations of such f service are laid.