St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-09
CIVIL SIC RvlCE.
The People Believe the Law to be
Based on Sound Principles.

Based On Sound Principles.
The report of the civil service commission,
which will be submitted, contains an account
of the manner in which the civil service law
has been executed during the last year and
much valuable information on this important
subject. I am inclined to think that there is
no sentiment more general in minds of peo-
pie of our country than conviction of
correctness OF principle upon which
the law enforcing civil service reform is
based. In it's present condition the law reg
ulates only part of the subordinate public
positions throughout the country. 1t applies
the test of fitness to applicants for these
places by means of a competitive examina-
ton and gives large discretion to the COM
missioners as to the character of the exam
ination and many other matters connected
with it's execution. Thus the rules and
regulations adopted by the commission have
much to do with the practical usefulness of the
statute and with the results Of its application.
The people may well trust the commission to
execute the law with perfect fairness and
with as little irritation as is possible, but of
course no relaxation of the principle which
underlies it, and no weakening of the safe
guards which surround it can be expected.
Experience in the administration will prob
ably suggest an amendment of the methods
of its execution, but venture to hope that
we shall never again return to the system of
partisan service.
Doubts may well be entertained whether our
government could survive the strain OF
continuance of this system, which upon
every change of administration inspires an
immense army of claimants for Office to lay
siege to the patronage of the government,
engrossing the time of public officers with
their opportunities, spreading abroad the
contagion of their disappointment and filling
the air with the
TUMULT OF THEIR Discomfort.
The alluremepts of an immense number of
offices, and places exhibited to the voters of
the land and the promise Of their bestowal in
recognition of partisan activity, debauch the
suffrage and rob political action of its
thoughtful and deliberative character. The
evil would increase with the multiplication
of officers consequent upon our extension,
and the mania for officeholding growing from
its Indulgence would pervade our population
SO generally that patriotic purpose, the sup
port of principle, the desire for the public good
and solicitude for the nations well
fare would be nearly banished from the
activity Of our party contests and cause
them to degenerate into ignoble, selfish and
disgraceful struggles for the possession of
Office and public place.
Civil service reform, enforced by law, came
not too soon to check the progress of de-
moralization. One of its effects. not enough
regarded, is the freedom it brings to the
who, in fear of the confusion and risk at
tending an arbitrary and sudden change
in all the public Offices with change
of party rule, cast their ballots
against such a change. Parties seem to be
necessary ard will continue to exist. nor can
it be now denied that there are legitimate adj
vantages not disconnected with officeholding
which follow party supremacy. While par
tisanship continues bitter and pronounced
and supplies so much Of the motive to senti-
ment and action, it is not fair to hold public
officials in charge of important trusts respon-
sible for the best results in performance of
their duties, and yet insist that they shall
only in confidential and important places rely
upon the work of those not only opposed to
them in political affiliation but so stepped in
partisan prejudice and rancor that they have
no LOYALTY to their chiefs and no desire for
their success. Civil service reform does not
exact this, nor does it require that those in
subordinate positions who fail in Welding
their best service or who are incompetent
should be retained simply because they are In
place,
THE WHINING OLA CLERK
discharged for Incidence or incompetence,
who, though he gained his place by the worst
possible operation of the spoils system, sud-
denly discovers that he is entitled to protec-
ton under the sanction of civil service re-
form, represents an idea no less absurd than
the clamor of the applicant who claims the
vabcnt position as his compensation for the
most questionable party work. The civil serv-
ice law does not prevent the discharge of the
lndolent or incompetent clerk. but it does
prevent supplying his place with the unit
party worker. Thus in both the phases
is seen benefit to the public service,
and the people who desire good government,
having secured this statute, Will not relin-
quish its benefits without protest; nor are
they unmindful of the fact that its full ad-
vantages can only be gained through the COM
plete good faith of those having it's execu-
ton in charge, and this they will insist upon.