The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-21
CIVIL SERVICE In INDIANA.
A League To Be Organized for Applying
the Service in This State.
An Interview with Governor Porter. Who
Thinks that Civil Service Should Open
the Way for Ambitious Young Men.

service League. Inc OBJECT Is 10 Drlng ABOUT
the Inauguration of civil-service system az ap-
piled to the State government and the public
institutions The progress made is not suf
fciently definite to give the details
Of the organization. Present efforts
are confined, it is understood, to
getting signatures to call for convention or
meeting, to consider the movement. When that
occurs, it is supposed. the league will be fully
established Senator Foulke, Governor Porter
and other gentlemen Of prominence have been
mentioned as leaders in the project, and follow
ing this intimaton a reporter Of the Journal
called on Governor Porter last night The
object of the visit being stated the gentleman
said it was an to give him any prominence
in the movement at this time.
"Can you give me an idea as to the conditions
now attending the proposed league, or the pro-
gramnle to be adoptedW
II cannot. believe nothing has been done
beyond seeking signatures to call for public
meeting. When that is to take place l cannot
say-probably within month. Senator Foulke,
1 think, is among the principal projectors of the
league cannot name those who are associated
with him, but. while l have taken no active
part in the matter the movement has my sym
pathy"
"Would 1t be asking too much at this time
Governor, to have you give an opinion as to
civil service, its benefits or disadvantages, the
limit of it's exercise and it's relation to the peo
pie under our government"
'Your question is so comprehensive that I do
not like to meet it with expressions that have
not come from careful reflection. This l cannot
give now The subject is one of such impor
lance as to require earnest study. But, as
have said before, the organization of league,
and the movement that will attend it, in the in
terest of civil-service reform have my sympathy.
There is one feature of civil service relating to
its benefits, that has been little spoken of,
if at ALL A right system of the
kind should open the way for ambitious
young men-sons of working people. young
man whose thoughts, studies and incli nation
lead him to consider the question of Cover nment
and nourish desire to take part in govern
mental business, should find in civil service the
means whereby his ambition can be fulfilled.
There is nothing sentimental or fnical in civil
service Justly applied it would benefit the
worthy children of workingmen, whose means
are not sufficient to advance their sons and
daughters to those positions to which their am
bition leads them. When the people be
made to see that system of the kind has in
it a practical benefit to themselves and do
not regard it as a sentiment or fncal theory
of thinkers and purists great deal will be &C.
complished in advancing the service An in
stance occurred in my own official life. I had
with me a yroung man of poor parents, who
could not assist him in carrying out the wishes
of his ambition. He had great desire to go to
Harvard. He worked in early morning at hum
BILE employment. read law during the day, be-
sides studying general branches I took him
with me to Washington when I was first ap-
mi nfQ IrSfC nfr of thn TpaoC Ho
obtained clerkship of moderate grade, but
his general intelligence and aptness for
work of the kind soon advanced him to q high
class position Within six months he was thor
oughly familiar with all the vast machinery of
the Treasury. In addition to his duties he kept
up his studies, both law and general. After this
he was graduated at leading college He is
now practicing law in a distant city, and his ex-
thorough knowledge of all its great Details pecu-
liarly fit him for cases that would bring him in
contact with that department 1t is young mon
of this kind who would not only derive benefit
from civil-service system. but bring to the
government intelligence and special aptitude in
its affairs"
"You think, them if this view Of civil service
was presented to the people it would in time
obiterate all idea of sentiment regarding it"
During a campaign l had occasion to speak
in one of the southern wards of the city My
audience was attentive, but not through any
great interest. l spoke of civil service con-
veying the idea have described to you Imme-
diately noted the difference There was an
awakening among my hearers. There was a
sparkle of the eye and brightness of face that
showed they were more interested in that topic,
as it was presented, than at any time during the
evening. Civil service, like all great reforms,
must have it's periods of depression. It cannot
be achieved in year or few years. Fulillment
of reforms, great philosopher of the day says,
comes from undulatory forces. Each wave is
higher than the one preceding it, until the object
10 af tafn nod IUl1 10 M On
the occasion Of a visit to President Hayes told
him of the little interest, ] had observed in pub
lie speaking, the people manifested in this
subject. He replied that he had no doubt Of it.
Civil SERVICE he said, is partially fol-
lowed; but to bring it near to the people, adj
ministration that will overthrow it is necessary.
When that is done. popular feeling will grow in
its favor"
'"What rule should be adopted as the basis of
the services"
"Capability should be the rule for government
place. In face of this all sentiment as to the
service vanishes. But do not favor an exclu-
sion from participation in the conduct of the
government Of men active in politics warm
advocacy of principle should not deprive
of Office. but capability and honesty are to be
considered However, when q man is once in
Office think it is more fitting with his charac
ter as an official to show less partisanship.
There is another view of civil service which has
escaped general consideration. In the average
length Of administration for any one party each
gets just representation In the government
The Democratic or Republican party comes in
and finds fair distribution of Offices to its adj
herents. Each in turn retires, leaving the serv-
ice to be readjusted with proportion of the
places retained by men of the opposition. So in
the end each party has about equal chance in
the government"
30 you think the service can be benefcial,y
applied in this State?"
II presume the gentlemen interested in the
| movement contemplate legislation founded on
civil service in New York and Massachusetts,
have a copy Of the New York law,
but cannot place my hand on it
| just now. The political representation in
| our State educational boards has been, since Mr.
HandrickSc I'D in;S Ten