Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-06
PASSAGE OF THE rEaDIEroa B1lL.

The House has passed the Pendleton
Civil Service bill by majority and with
promptness which considerably discredits
the recent rumor concerning alleged
strenuous opposition to the measure in that
branch of Congress. But though the bill
has thus passed, and though there may be
no doubt as to the readiness of President
Arthur to sign it, it would be mistake to
conclude that civil service reform would
follow Immediately. In fact all that can
reasonably be expected from this bill is
beginning of that reform, and the chief
cause for congratulation regarding it con-
sists in the fact that when once the new
departure has been made it will be more
and more difficult to go back to the old
spoils system. Still it must be understood
that the scheme which the bill provides is
apt to be very slow in its operation. A
New York journal has estimated that the
Pendleton bill will affect about 10000
places, and that in filling them by com.
petitive examinations, supposing due
diligence is exercised by the Examining
Boards, about three years will be con.
sumed. The Democrats in Congress have
accepted the bill with so little hest
tation that it may be suspected
they do not anticipate a very
great change from its enforcement. 1t is
of course possible that they have acted in
the matter upon sagacious determination
of what is for the best interests of their
party, and perhaps because they realized
that If the next Congress was left to do the
work it never would be done. The most
important end to be secured is the elimina
tion of Congressional patronage from pol
itics. If the bill succeeds in effecting that
it will have done quite as much as the
country ought at present to expect. Ii the
heads of departments are relieved from all
pressure they can probably be trusted to
weed out all incompetent persons who may
now be in the employ of the Government
It ia not necessary that men who have
proved their fitness in the most practical
way. namely, by actual and long continued
service, should be made to pass any exam.
nation. OF course it must be understood
that the most jealous advocates of civil
service reform do not claim that competi.
tive examinations are infallible methods of
selecting the fttest persons for office. All
that is claimed is that this method makes
applicants dependent upon their own mer.
its, and thus affords greater probability
of their fitness than the recommends.
tions of politicians. In the case of
men who are already in the Gov
ernment employ, and who have
demonstrated their competency, it would
be folly to subject them to examination.
For they have learned how to do their
work, and they are doing it as well no
doubt as anyone could do it. If Senators
and Congressman are relieved from the
pressing opportunities of office-seekers by
the new bill, and if heads of departments
are enabled by it to dismiss incompetent
clerks without having to dread the enmity
of politicians, very decided step forward
will have been made, and when the country
has once comprehended the significance of
the reform, and its extent, there will be no
danger of a relapse. 1t is also evident that
the enactment OF such measure must have
a tendency to retire from political careers
great many of the old school of "work-
ers, and to encourage to enter the same
career great many men of much higher
class, who have hitherto been excluded
from public life through the operation of
| the machine"