Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-29
Civil Scry Cc Reform.

Some special effects and conditions
OF the new system are worthy of notice.
| The theory of its enemies that it would
| I'LL the service with mere boys and girls
| iindS It's answer in the fact that the av-
crage age of all those examined has
| been 80 years, thus showing an average
| period Of nearly II years of practical
| life between leaving the schools and en-
tcring Office. J he prediction that col
lrgc-brcd men would monopolize APP
! p"ntmcnts is answered by the fact that
Of j.JGG applicants as to whom the rec
| ord is complete, the education was as
| follows: 1920 only in common schools:
l,u96 in part in high schools or acadc.
ml"si 81 in part III business colleges;
40 in part in colleges. More than 70
per cent, therefore, had only public
school education. This friendly rcla-
ton between the merit system and the
public school system will greatly
strengthen both. In no way can ma
ton do more to advance the dignity
and success of the public schools OF the
people than by making excellence in
the good character they develop, and
the studies they teach the tests for the
honor and profit of holding its offices
and enjoying its salaries. The youth
Of the country will be quick to see that
the new system makes character and
attainmcnts more effective than parti-
san activity or ilunkysm for securing
appointments. 1t will be impossible
for politicians to ridlcule successfully
the schoolmastcr ; test, or TO make that
OF tn" patronagc-monger or the politi-
clan appear more reputable. 1t will
never be possible to justify the taxing
OF all the people for educating all the
children, and then to deny that super.
ior excellence in that education is an
irrelevant test for Office. How effective
the tests of the merit system are in Sc
curing practical men for the public
work is shown in the facts given in that
report, that Of the lO9 in the depart
mcnts ut Washington who served their
six months probation lO7 had won per-
manent appointments; and that of the
more than 900 appointments under the
rules there only 8 were removed in a
whole year! Neither the civil service
law nor the rules in any way limit the
authority 10 remove, except that rule 2
forbids removals for refusing to pay
political assessments or to render politi-
cal service. Every official in depart
mcnt may be removed once year or
once month, If the appointing power
thinks it good policy to do so. 1t would
raise less opposition TO remove all the
600 appointed under the rules at Wash
ington than it would to remove 20 pro-
teges OF as many great officers or poll
uclans. But more enlightened public
opinion has unqucstonably put some
saIutary limits 10 the abuse Of the
power Of removal. Most of the unius-
,iiabc removals are made not to get
Anderson out, but to put Snooks in.
The power to put in the Snookscs Of
the lords OF politics no longer exists,
and therefore the worthy Andersons
are not SO likely to be removed while
they are both faithful and efficient. 1t
is hardly necessary to add that system
which thus arrests the dcspotism and
monopoly of the politician class, which
destroys patronage by enabling the
people 10 work their own way
20 Office, which forbds more than
two members of the same family being
appointed to the departments at WASH
ington, yet allows removals at discre-
ton, is fatal to every form Of bureau
cracy. have no space for doing JUS
ticc to the difficult work Of the COM
mission in its more trying stages, now
happily past, nor for indicating apro-
pirate extensions of the examinations.
The new system is permanently cstab-
lishcd. a merit service in place Of
partisan service will be more and more
demanded by States and cities Tho
people will triumph over the politician.
Those seeking high Office in the future
will more heed the new power in poll
tics. We are 10 have new political
science, the science Of administration.
-DO,mm u. EatJn, ~ Aoyih american
RecieW.