St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-14
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Its Rare Beauties Exemplifed by the
State Board of Railroad Com
missioners.
There Are Twenty Nine Employees at Min
neapolis and Twenty-Seven Are
From Mankato.
This is Gen. j. II. Bakers Home, and
He is the Chairman of the
Board.
They Were Also Required to Do Poltt-
tcal Work. minneapolis Insists
On a Square Deal.

ST am Republican" said well-knowh
grain commission man yesterday, "but L
have been amused at the call in one of the
papers for the applction of the civil service
reform idea to the board of railroad and
warehouse commissioners. This matter can
commend to those good Republicans who
are talking up police commission for this
city. State board of railroad and ware
house commissioners, as eXempilhed IN
Minneapolis. becomes interesting reading;
particularly for the Republican reformers
of this city. who are just now so loud in
their clamors for police commission.
There are within the control OF the ware
house commission. sixty places. VI these,
twenty-nine employees are on duty in Min
neapolis. the remaining thirty-one
being engaged in st. Paul and Du-
luth. The salaries of these minor
officers range from S75 to $50 per month.
Under even the lowest reading of the civil
service reform idea, the employees OF the
Minneapolis Office would be found among
the residents Of the city, but the board, by
an inscrutible rendering of this greatest
Republican ethic. find that the greatest
good of the service is not otherwise. Only
two of the men employed by the board here
are residents Of this city, the other twenty
seven coming from MankatO. 1t is very
good little town, true; but the Minneapolis
public will scarcely be willing to concede to
the citizens of Mankato. at the city'S expense,
! the exclusive possession OF the transcendent
abilities necessary to the ardu0uS duties OF
clerk of the warehouse commission. 1t were
a shame to cast reflection on the cham
p1ons of civil service reform, but when 1t IS
remembered that Gen. James Il. Baker, OF
Mankato. is the grand mogul OJ the board
the situation is more easily cOmprehended.
Twenty seven offices that, in all justice.
should be filled by Minneapolis men, are
given as rewards of political merit ~ by
| Gen. Baker for services rendered III diff
ferent district!
THE MEN KNOW THEIR MASTER.
and are his to command Antecedent to
the recent congressional campaign in the
Second district Gen. Jim had a favorite
| candidate whose chances OF nomination
were placed in jeopardy by the too great
nopularitv of Mr.. Lind. The general.
tre to the reform" instinct that is at
present anmating the Republican bosom,
called all his Minneapolis clerks home to
work the district for his man. They went.
and. while working the Second district
from center to circumference in the interest
of their retainer, they. with the genuine
Republican idea of civil service, drew their
salaries from the state treasury, leaving
the work of the commission to Accumulate
on their unoccupied desks!
And. after the Second district had nOmi-
mated their favorte for congress, the ware
house men were still kept in political har-
ness. Their work. though futile. was
found to be energetic; and so the Mankato
Statesmen. while knowing that the highest
good of the state demanded the Republican
snccess. at whatever sacrifice, again called
his faithful henchmen to his side and the
whole of the twenty-eight Mankato men
worked the MankatO region with might,
and their places in Minneapolis knew them
not until the election was over.
Here we have fair exposition OF the ac-
tuaI workings OF the Republican notion OF
civil service reform. Comment is unnec-
cessary. The facts speak with no uncer-
| tain sound. and tell the people how thor
oughlv insincere their protestations are.
and how little is to be trusted the declaration
of their platform.
Gov. McGill is to appoint three success
sOrs,' continued the speaker, Ito hll the
places of the present board and it might be
Suggested to the citizens of this city that
the next commission should be composed OF
men who will not ignore the interests and
rights of the chief city of the state. And L
NAV be permitted to whisper to his excel
lencv that in politics, peculiarly Ill non
nartisan boards, consistency is jewel. OF
which the present commissioners know not
tho valUeD y