River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-10
GIVE SERVICE.
Ehe People Believe abe LAW 10 be
Biased ON &Ound Principles.

BASED ON SQUAD fsrincipIes.
The report of the civil service commission,
which will be sab mtted, contains an account
of the manner in which the civil service law
has been executed during the last year and
much valuable infornmflo 81 on this important
subject. / 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 its 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 Al 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 its execution. Thus the rules and
re equations 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
underIies il, aud 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
shall never again return to the system of
making public positions purely rewards for
partisan service.
Doubts may well be entertained whether our
government could survive the strain of Il
continuance of this system, which upon
every change Of administration inspires an
immense army of claimants for office to lay
siege 10 the patronage of the government,
eugrOssng the time OF public officers with
their opportunities, spreading abroad the
contagion of their disappointment and filling
the air with the
TUMULT OF THFIR Discomfort.
oil nH "a m lhae IF
offices, and places exhibited TO the voters Of
the land and the promise Of their hestowal In
recognition Of partisan activity debauch the
Suffrage and rob political action OF its
thoughtful and deliberative character. The
evil would increase win the multip icaton
of officers consequent upon our extension
and the mania for ofIiceholding growing from
its Indulgence, would pervade our population
so generally that patriotic purpose, the sup
port of urincplc,the desire for the public good
and soHctude for the nations well
fare would be nearly banshed from the
activity Ct our party contests and cause
them TO degenerate into ignObie, selfish aud
diszraceful 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-
moralizatOn. One of its effects not enough
regarded, is the freedom it brings to the
political actions OF those conservative men
who. in fear of the confusion ana risk at
in all the public Offices with change
OF party rule, cast their ballots
against such change. Parties seem TO be
necessary ard will continue TO exist. nor can
il be now denied tnht there are legitimate adj
NantageS not disconnected with OihCehOding
winch follow party supremacy. While par
tlSanship continues bitter and pronounced
ana supplies so much OF the motive to senti-
meut and action. it is not fair to hold public
officials in charge OF important trusts respon-
sibe for the best results in performance of
their duties. and yet insist that they shan
only in confidential and important places rely
upon tie work of those not only opposed to
them in political utilization. but so stepped In
partisan prejudice and rancor that they have
no LOYALTY TO their chiefs and no desire for
their sac cess. Civil service reform does not
exact this nor does il require that those in
subordinate positions who fail in yielding
their best service or who are incompetent
should be retained simply because they are In
place,
THE WHINING OF A CLERK
discharged for fndoience or ineOmpetency,
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
vGbcut position as his compensation tor the
most questionable party work The civil serY-
ice law does not prevent tue discharge OF the
indolent or incompetent clerk. but it does
prevent supplying his place with the unnt
party worker. Thus ia both the phases
is seen benefit TO the public service,
and the people who desire good government,
having secured this statute, viii not reiiD~
ouish its benefits without protest; nor are
they unmindfu1 of the fact that its fali ad-
vantages can only be gained through the COM
plete good faith OF those having its execu-
tion in charge, and this they viii insist upon.