Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-29
The CIVIL SERVICE REFORM BILL.


drastic measure which was apprehended
in some quarters, and in fact it contains
SO many loopholes of evasion that if the
spirit of hostility to it is strong in the Ad-
ministration it is quite possible to render
il dead letter. For though the bill makes
provision for Commission, and for COM
petitive examinations, and for Boards OF
Examiners, there are many provisos and
conditions which can be so construed and
applied as to frustnte the central princi.
pie OF the measure. In the first place
there does not appear to be much gained
by referring everything to the Executive.
Senators and Representatives are, il is
true, no longer to make recommendations,
and can only testify to the character of
applicants. But the President is to make
all the rules of the Commissioners, or, which
amounts TO the same thing, they are to be
ratified by him. Then, again, despite
the arrangements for competitive ex-
aminations, room is lett for the
appointment CT officers without examina-
tion. All that is necessary for this is to
pretend that there were upon given oc-
casion no applications for competition. Ia
the same way the provision that ap.
pointees nominated for confirmation by
the Senate shall not be subjected 10
examination, is calculated to segregate
all the higher offices, and set them apart
for political rewards. But it is clear
that this is alien to the spirit Of civil serv.
ice reform, for that all but the heads OF
departments ought TO be open to competi.
tion and promotion. To decree that nc
man who enters the Civil Service in &C.
cordance with the provisions of this bill
shall be able to rise by his unassisted
merit above the lower grades of Office, is to
degrade and deteriorate the service, and at
the same time TO foster and maintain the
sQolls system by giving all the higher posi-
tions TO persons who are not called upon
to demonstrate their competency.
Again, what is the object Of the "pro.
batioaary term?' When men pass the
regular examinations, and vacancies are to
be filed, why should not those who are
next on the list be at once appointed ?
There is 10 reason in this provision, but
it arouses a suspicion thai it was in
serted to afford a p7etext for removals
without cause. During the probationary
period of course the official would have
no protection, and if that time was suf.
ficiently prolonged the general effect
would be TO produce a state of things but
little different from that which now exists.
Another wholly unnecessary clause is
that which provides that TIE law shall not
90 into effect until six months after its
passage. What is ths reascn for that de-
lay? So far as we can see there is none at
all. The law ought to be put in force at
once, and every man who seeks office
under the Federal Government subsequent
to its enactment ought TO be compelled
TO prove his fitness. Nor is there any
proper arrangement for examining the
present employees. OF course this ought
to be done. II we are TO have reform at
all we must have thorough reform, and the
only way TO secure that is to make every
person now in the employ of the Govern.
ment prove his or her competency. 1t is
certain that there is large percentage Of
incompetent persons in the civil service,
and that element ought to be weeded out az
soon as possible. The country has 10
contract with the present employees. 1t is
free to dismiss them all at any time. And
therefore it must not hesitate to insist that
those who desire to retain their places
should show their fitness.
But there ought not to be any hamper.
ing conditions about measure of thi;
kind. 1t ia not enough to draw line be.
tween the lower and higher offices, and tc
say that the former shall be earned by com.
petition. The latter should also be thrown
open to competition, not only for the reas
ons already given, hut because it is abso
lutely necessary to abolish the Congrss.
sional patronage entirely, and to ccmpe
aspirants for the Senate and House to de
pend upon their personal merits and ex
ertions, and not to trust to the efforts o
henchmen, who are to be rewarded will
Government positions. OF course thert
are many who have been hoping agaias
hope for such reform go long that the
are ready to welcome ard approve even
hall measure. Such may conscle them
selves possibly with the reflection that hal
loaf is better than no bread. But tn
proverb does not hold good in this case
because civil service reform bill whicl
does not absolutely exclude the spoil
system methods must always be in DANCE
of evasion and notification. A it'll
| rift within the lutte ia enough to max
the music mute, and where there is
large element eagerly bent upon battling al
reform endeavors, it will not do to res
content with feeble and imperfect arrange
ments.
It remains to be seen how the House vii
deal with the bill. It can scarcely b.
hoped or expected that it will even equa
the Senate in self-renunciatioD, or that i
will do much to make the measure NOR
effective. Bat should it consent to tn
passage of the new law as it stands it vii
be too soon to throw up our caps and con
gratulate ourselves upon an accomplished
reform. We shall have to wait for thos,
very important executive provisions Fo
the appointment of the Commission FL
the drafting of its rules; for the develop
ment of the system Of examinations. /
will in fact require probably couple o
years Of experiment before we can tel
with any certainty whether The rev sys
tenn is being administered go as to pei th
most good ont of il, or whether it is be
ing so administered as TO cover tie mos
shams and false pretenses. For as i
stands the law is not selt-protec.ive, and i
is, on the contrary, so framed as to b,
liable to not little abuse and evasion.
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