The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-06-18
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.


The Portland Civil Service Reform Absocia-
ton, feeling that the purposes and aims of this
and similar Organizations are not sufficiently
we'll understood, and that the Importance Of
the work they are engaged in may be over
looked, desire briefly to call attention to the
scope OF the reform, what has thus far been
accomplished what is desirable TO further
accomplish.
The object OF the reform is to remove from
party control the administrative offices Of the
national government to break down tho idea
that 'to the victor belongs the spoils," to
substitute for this 'spoils system" sys-
tenn based upon merit and business-like prn-
ciples, to give permanency and stability to the
administration of our government, which it
can never have while office is offered as the
reward OF party or personal service, and many
OF the most important offices are vacated by
law every four years.
During the past two years great progress has
been made in the reform. A reform bill known
as the Pendleton bill was passed by the last
Congress. Also law by which political
assessments upon ofice-helders are prohibited.
By the provisions of the Pendleton bill, a ma
tional civil service commission was appointed,
! the subordinate offices in the departments at
Washington, aud in about forty of the custom
|
| Jour own custom house among the number)
were thrown open to appointment by COMPETE
tive examination, and for the past year all
! appointments have been made from the appli-
| cants who took the highest rank in the exam
nations thus established. Moreover, bill is.
now before Congress for the repeal of the law
| hiking four years term for very large num-
Der OF appointed officials. The passage of this
law has been and will continue to be pressed
| by the Portland and other associations.
| The reform bill has put in oDer alton the ma.
| chinery necessary to establish the part of the
CIVIL service to which it applies upon a sound
and ouslness-like basis. 1t now remains for
those interested in this reform to strengthen
the position already gained; to modify. the
present law wherever experience shall show it
to be detective; to extend it's operations so
| that 1t shall bring within its control nearly all
| OF the administrative offices of the government;
TO see that it is firmly fixed as q part of our
| governmental system and that the great prin-
| ciple upon which it is based, merit and not
| favor, shall be fully recognized in all official
appointments and promotions.
| We have referred to the reform only in its
national aspects. The great States OF New
| York and Massachusetts,, seeing the need of
| putting the administration of their affairs upon
| similar basis, have both passed laws base
upon the Pendleton bill, by which their State
and municipal offices are thrown open to COM
petitive appointments. We wish to say that
| Civil Service reform is not an accomplished
fact 1t is in its tentative stage. We desire
| to enlist the moral support and efficient aid of
| all who desire to see pure and efficient adj
mlnlstration of our government, to carry on
the reform to its ultimate eim.
| SIDNEY W. THAxEER, Chairman.
| HENRY ST. JOHN SMITH, Secretary. ;