Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-12-18
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
TIMELY WORDS.

The report Of the civil service commission
which will be submitted contains all 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
am Inclined to think that there is no sentiment
more general In the minds OF the people Of our
country than conviction Of correctness Of the
principle upon which the law enforcing civil SER
vice reform is based In It's present condition the
law regulates only part OF the subordinate public
positions throughout the country 1t applies a
test OF fitness to applicants for these places by
means Of & competitive examination. and gives
large discretion to the commissioners as to the
character of examinati ton and many other matters
connected with it's execution. Thus the rules
and regulations adopted by tho commission have
much to do with the practical usefulness OF the
statute and with the results OF It's application.
The people may well trust the commission to
execute the law with perfect fairness and with
no relaxation of the principle which underlies It.
and no weakening OF the safeguards which sur
round it. can DO expected. Experience in it's
ment OF the method of it's execution, but / ven
ture to hope that we shall never again he re-
rnitted to the system which distributes public
public positions purely as
REWARDS FOE PARTISAN SERVICE
Doubts may we'll BIZ entertained whether our
government could survive the strain OF con-
tinuance OF this system. which upon every
change of administration inspires an immense
array Of claimants for Office to lay siege to the
patronage OF government, engrossing tho time
OF public officers with opportunities. spread
ment and filling the air with the turnult Of their
| discomfort. The alurenlents Of an immense
number Of Offices and places exhibited to the
voters OF the land, and tho promise of their
bestowal in recognition of partisan activity.
debauch the Suffrage and rob political action Of
Its thoughtful and deliberative character. The
Ell would increase with the multiplication Of
offices consequent upon our extension. and the
mauia for ofhceholting, growing from its inuuI-
Rence. would pervade our populat ION So gcner-
aiiy that i. patriotic PURPOSE tn support Of
solicitnde for the nations weifars would be
nearly bznished from the activity of our party
contests and cause them to degenerate into igno-
bic. 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 Il decentralization.
One OF its effects, not enough regarded, is the
freedom 1t brings to the political actions OF those
conservative men who, in fear of the confusion
and risk attending an arbitrary and sudden
party rule. cast their ballots against such a
change. Parties seem necessary, and will
continue to exist; nor can it he now denied that
with oficeholding which follows party supreIs,-
acy. While craftsmanship continues bitter and
pronounced, and supplies SO much OF motive to
sentment and action. it is not fair to hold public
officials in charge of important trusts RESPONSE
ble for the best Results In tho berformance OF
their duties and yet insist that they shall rely
III CoNHuCutldt anu Important places upon the
work Of those not only opposed to them in polit-
1cal utilization. but 80 STEPPED in partisan preju-
dloe and rapcor 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 ia yielding their best service, or who are
lncon percent, should be retained simply because
they are il place The whining OF : clerk dis
charged for incidence or iffconpstency, who,
though he gained his place by the worst possible
operation Of the spoils system. suddenly discov-
:rs that he IL entitled to projection under the
sanction OF civil service reform. represents an
idea no less absurd than the clanor OF the APP
pltcsns who claims the vacant position as his
compensati0 for the "a; s.. ~: -
s.. MOST QUESTIONABLE PARTYS WORK. r.
The civil service law does not prevent the dis
charge or the INDECENT or Incompetent clerk but
does prevent supplying his place with the unfit
party worker. Tins In both the phases Is seen
benefit TO the public service. And the people
who desire good goyernment having secured this
statnte will not relinquish It's benefits without
protest, nor are they unmindfuI Of the fact that
Its full advantages can only be gained through
the completa good faith OF those having its ex-
ecutfon In charge, and this they will insist upon.
q recommend that tn e salaries OF the civil serv-
Ice commissioners be increased TO q gum more
nearly colnmensurate to their important duties.