National Republican., 1884-03-03
Thc Civil GcrYlCe.


In tho report of the civil service commits
sion, which has just been presented to con-
gross, no claim is made that the efficiency or
tone of the public service has been improved
by the operation of The new civil service law.
Tho number of clerks who have been APP
pointed to places under the competitive system
is so small, compared with the whole number
in the employ of the government, that it
would be useless to attempt to draw any con-
clusions as TO the success or failure of the
experiment. All the departments were filed
with capable and efficient clerks before the
civil service law was passed, and most of them
are still at their desks. Whatever excelleuce,
efficiency, and integrity there may be in the
administration of tho business of the depart.
mcnts, tho credit must bo given to the mon
and women who went in under tho old sys-
TEN, aud not to those recently appointed, but
| few of whom have as yet passed beyond their
period Of probation.
The commissioners ground their elaborate
defense of the new system of appointment,
not upon what has been accomplished within
| the departments, but upon what has been done
outside. 1t is alleged that much smaller
amount of money has been collected from
government officers and employees for political
purposes than in former years. From this
fact is deduced tho conclusion that party,
whether in power or out of pswer, may
maintain vigorous life without levying
assessment upon the humble servants of the
nation, who are least able to defend their
rights as freemen." 1t may bo doubted
whether tho great mass of the persons em-
ployed in tho public service will concur in
this description of their status as officers and
citizens of q free government. Many of them
esteem it duty and a privilege to be per-
mittcd to contribute small portion of their
earnings to promote the success of the party
to which they belong.
1t has become customary of late to speak of
the civil service as though it embraced a very
largo number of persons and exercised con-
trolling influence in politics. The figures
given by tho commissioners dssipate this
error AS near as can be ascertained there
arc 5,652 persons in the departments at Wash
ington subject to the civil service rules
These are drawn from every state and almost
Beside these there are about 1913 persons in
the custom houses and 5000 in the postal
service who como within tho provisions of
the law. Altogether there may be as many
as 10000 persons in the civil service, Of
whom 4s ,43i are postmasters, 4,017 are in the
railway mail service, and 40l0 are in the
internal revenue service. The remainder
are for the most part laborers and messen-
gers, who fill humble places for small pay.
The political influence Of the employees OF
the civil service has been tremendously ex.
aggerated.
The commissioners say that the effect OF
the law has been to greatly diminish the
pressure upon the heads Of departments for
removals. The power of removal remains
just as it was before the law was passed.
except that a subordinate who comes within
it's provisions cannot be removed for refusing
to perform q political service or to pay a
political assessment. With this exception
matter of removals remain undisturbed. But
the temptation to turn out subordinate for
the purpose of making place for some Other
person has been greatly diminished, because
the new appointment must be made
through tho machinery of the civil ser
vice rules A member of congress
from Iowa may want to get a friend
into tho civil service and may solicit tn,
chief of department to mako removal fo
his benefit. But after the vacancy has beer
made the place may be filled by an appicau
from California or Maine. The applicant wh
happens to stand highest on the examination
list gets the place, unless the quota of hi
state is already full, and then the appoint
ment goes to the next in order of merit. TIL
congressman who wants place for n friend
in any of tho classified grades" of the civi
, service is quito as likely to draw q lotter
ticket as to get it.
For this reason neither members Of congres
nor heads of departments are importuned a
they used to bo by persons desiring appoint
monts. Whether the government is justifie
in maintaining a somewhat intricate an
expensive system of competitive examination
for the sole purpose of relieving senators, rel
resentatives in congress, and executive officer
from the importantly of office-seekers, is
, question which will no doubt be fully di.
cussed in the coming presidential campaign
u, South Carolina's Quota Of Arms.
c There is a charge against South Carolina o