Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-20
CITY AND DISTRICT.
Civil Service Reform.
SENATE BILL l8.

civil service of the United States" having the
above number
Another struggle has been going on in the
country for many years past between those who
wish to reform the civil service and those who
wish to defeat reform.
The general purpose of the proposed reform
has been to secure a more capable and more
honest personnel to the service than it was be-
Geyed existed under the system in vogue All
were agreed as TO this, but all were not agreed
as to the best means for bringing this end about
Various methods have been suggested, dis
cussed and dropped. But the agitation has
gone on. The people seem to have been i'm
pressed with the belief that something was
wrong with the system which had regulated
their civil service. They appear, also. TO have
been considering earnestly what the exact
abuses are which ought to be redressed. They
have been anxiOus. too. to learn what remedies
ought To be applied when the weak places in
she system were aScertained-
| believe no one can have studied carefully
the political history of the country during the
past six years without coming to the conclusion
that the people Cor ut least that portion of the
people who are Intent on refOrm) have made up
their minds "a to the particular abuses that
need correcting. Nor will there be much differ
ence of opinion as to what those abuses have
been concluded To be.
They are 1st the undue influence of politics
and polit icians upon the status of the civil ser
want; and. ID the consequent insecurity of his
tenure of office.
1t is quite generally believed that the people
spoke pretty loudly in the last general elections
In favor of reform in this direction. The meas
ure of reform they intend to have is one which
shall divorce the service from the control of
politics. and shall secure to the teryant tenure
of office during such time he may be tit to
hold office When these reforms shall have been
enacted the danger of political assessments"
an institution will have passed by. For. II
the politician is no longer potential to secure
the removal of the civil servant. no element OF
coerci,A will attach to any request for -pecuni-
airy ass!stalce to carry elections which may be
made of him by the politician.
And this is the only abuse that can reason
ably he urged against the custom of requesting
contributions for political purposes from the
civil servant. Eliminate the element OF cOer-
cion, and there can be no argument made against
political contributions from him that will not
apply with equal force to contributions from
any or every other person in the land.
But if it is clear that the people wish the ser
vice divorced from politics. and desire to make
secure the tenure of the servant, it is equally
clear that the pending Senate bill will accom-
psh neither of these things. Indeed. it is not
Intended to accomplish anything OF the sort
The Senate measure. if enacted. will still leave
the whole service under the control of
the particular political party which may
happen to be IN power. Upon change
OF administration wholesale removal
sure the persons who ill the vacancies thus ere
ated must pass through the wicket gate of COM
petitiye examination But what republi-
can will care to compete for place
IN service controlled by democratic
administration when his removal may at any
time be demanded for political cause by any
democratic member of Congress? Or what dem
ocrat will present himself for examination when
he knows if successful one day, he may be re-
moved the next, merely because he is a demo-
cTat?
The measure. while ostentatiOusly elaborate
In regulating the entrance of the individual to
the civil service Is curiously silent as to the
manner of his exit. But it is subject to quite as
important criticism in another direction. The
persons who present themselves for competition
will all belong TO the party In power, because
their tenure will still depend upon political in
f1uence- But under the new law the number of
citizens from whom selections will be made in
stead of being enlarged (the chief merit caimed)
will be materially limited. No competitive exam
ination upon subjects in which all are equally
proficient, or substantially so, would be OF any
use. If the examination test Is of a
low grade. large numbers Of Compel
ftOrs would pass equally well, and we
should have the same sQuabble for selection
that is so much to be deprecated under the
present system If, on the other hand, the grade
~ made a h Oh One you subject Your scheme to
the charge that the service is to be mOnOpOlized
by the wealthy. because better educated class
Besides, it is well known that many persons
who could not pass high grade examinat ion
would make better clerks than the best COL
legians in the land. This declaration, think,
will bear the test of experience.
The principal fault with the Senate measure of
reform is that it does not REFORM or at least that
1t reforms in direction which the people will
hardly approve when they come to understand
It's effect. 1t also has the deInert of being too
elaborate and complex. 1t commences at the
wrong end of the problem. The people are not
so sOiicitOuS about how man is to get into the
service as they are about how he shall be
treated when he gets in; and above all that no
injustice is perpetrated upon him in the matter
OF his removal.
A bill, that if enacted Will remedy the real
evils complained Of can be prepared in five sec
lions. Such bill 10 respectfully submitted:
BILL.
,, For the Better feeyuation of ths Civil Service.
ss a. tSS r e. 1 snd as 2 t
sl:l reafter b. mi -de.nesnor. punishable by fine
cosre any '5 judge as Of fs% 6nIsed
s or o 70 e or sk b nor 81 the s Of
rent located at wash ngton city. District Of Column
to prohibit such member Judge from rec m
PRESIDENT or Of tie heads of the executive depart
ments.
Sec That all appointments to the respective Offices
coriance with the atoms prescribed by the head
the department il which such appointment is to be
Clerships Of all cases and grades in either
snils ia the office OF the PTesident
lie q Tn a States s she sthe s IN fee
OF clerks employed III ally office in question shall be
Third All postal clerkshps and route agencies con-
necte win the railway postal service, and cer hips
IL post Offices where the number Of clerks employed in
any Office IN question shall be ten
Sec s. hat no removals shall be made except for
sIne Of the following eaqse.: Infety to the
ment inteinperaDce habtual profanity; inattention
to or neglect Of duty ncapacity for the duties of the
Once; dsobedloacc Of official nstructons conduct
I'M eeoIlling an officer AID gentleman. Prior any
removals for elrhar OF the aforesaid casee OF
the chsrSes Which may he made by chief OF divis-
Ion OF superior Oice- With specifcatons shall de-
nvered IN Writing to he person charged. left adj
dressed 20 MIN at his usual place of residence
Tune shall be specified within vhish he shall writ
ten reply ProCdd, That the officer having ty
70 alpCln: aHu fer shall authority in
al cases. when i'll his judgment the public interests
oiTe II 20 s1lnsr1ly SUSPEND the apPointee in cues
toI pending the Investigation and IL found guilty of
the char b the appointing auth Orty, lie shall Be
moved from hls ofhce. otherwise be shall continue
RE same. -
Sec A. That the President shall DESIGNATE three off,
Gers. who SIN have confirmed by Senate Of
whom no. more than one shall be taken from one
executive department. vii service board VIII IN
tis cha s1 specifications, with The answer thereto
III any, shall be referred in all complaint for
reInoy as provided IN the eighth section of act
~hch ot-d snail inquire into the same the facts
"a report The same IN writing, with their usios
theTeon 10 ie pointing oiic whose decision shall
he rendered. uiCn such finding xnj report and accord
ns "a the teil9s thereof Each member OF sad board