St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-10
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The PendIeton Act an Excellent
Measure.

The PendIeton Act an Excellent
Measure.
To the Editor Of the Globe:
There is some misapprehension as to what
has already been accomplished in the way of
civil service reform. Many people seem to
think that because congress has enacted
law for the improvement of the civil service,
nothing more remains to be done but to carry
the law into execution. 1t is true q civil SER
vice law has been enacted. 1t is entitled ian
! act to regulate and improve the civil eervice
of the United States;" was approved by Pres
ident Arthur Jan. 16. 1883, and is generally
called the Pendleton act after Il Democratic
senator who took leading part 10 getting it
passed. This law, however, applies only to
clerks, and to such inferior officers
whose nominations do not need to
be submitted to the senate. It does not
tOuch-and this is fact worthy of particular
attention-that large list of civil officers num-
bering about four thousand. whose appoint
ments have to be submitted to the senate, but
these still remain subject to the ''spoils''
system. But although the Pendleton act
REFORMS ONLY A PART
Of the civil service, it is an excellent measure
as far as it goes, and ought to be well under
stood by every citizen. Its purpose is to take
the appointment of inferior officers and
clerks out of party politics and to apply i'm
partial tests of qualification for their admis-
in. OF the three commissioners appointed to
prepare rules for carryidg the law into effect
only two shall be adherents of the same
party. The law provides for open COM
petitive examinations for testing the fitness of
applicants for the public service which eX-
aminations shall be practical in their charac-
ter, and so far as may be, shall relate to those
matters which will fairly test the relative ca
pacIty and fitness of the persons examined
to discharge the duties of the service into
which they seek to be appointed; and ap-
pointments in the departments at Washing
ton shall be apportioned among the several
states and territories upon the basis of popu-
lation. There is a period of probation before
any absolute appointment. Under this law
university or even academical education is
not required to fit a person for entering the
service. The book learning is no more than
q youth with
APTIT UDE FOR LEARNING
can acquire in the common schools or by the
light of the country fireplace. The power of
any head of department to sumnarily dismiss
a clerk is not taken away, but the motive to
dismiss on political grounds is taken away
| because the vacancy must be filed from
| among those who have been examined aud
shown themselves competent Under this
law the son OF a Washerwoman stands just as
good chance for entering the service as the
son of congressman. The law is not only
most praiseworthy reform in separating many
thousands of clerkships from party politics
and in applying impartial tests for entering
| the service, but it is calculated to give
fresh impulse to education. Thousands of
youth all over our country find in it
an inducement for study which before did
not exist. No doubt the success of the law
will depend a good deal, and possibly too
much, ON the good faith of the executive. 1t
is to be hoped, however, that every president
we may have will faithfully carry it into
effect, but If there should be any failure in
the matter dOubt REPRESENTATIVE n
the people
WILL HAVE THE COURAGE
to demand the proper scrutiny. Indeed, con-
gress has shown that it intends to keep an eve
on the matter by enacting that the commits
sioners ''Shall make an annual report to the
president for TRANSMISSION to congress show
ing their own action, the rules and regula-
lions and the exceptions thereto in force, the
practical effects thereof and any suggestions
| they may approve for the more effectual
accomplishment OF the purposes of the act.
With reference to political assessments, it is
true this law provides that no person in the
public service is for that reason under any
obligations to contribute to any political fund
or to render any political service. and that he
will not be removed or otherwise prejudiced
for refusing to do so; also, that it prohibits,
under severe penalties any person in the
public service of the United States from soil
citing for political purposes any money from
any officer, clerk or employe of the United
States. But the law does not, in this regard,
accomplish what it intends, and it ought to
be amended SO as to prohibit any person or
committee of any sort from soliciting, di-
rectly or indirectly, political contributions
from persons in the public service. At
present political committees are composed of
unofficial persons, but who are known to have
great
POLITICAL INFLUENCE
can send circulars to civil officers, clerks and
employees, suggesting contributions. These
officers, clerks and employees thus addressed
know very well that a record is kept of con-
tributions and that a failure to contribute
| will be known to those who are high and pow
| erful in the party. They are thus still Co
creed, though indirectly, to contribute to
party fund. 1 see no harm IN any purely vol
uutary contribution, but the soliciting of po-
Itical contributions, by any person or per-
sons, from officers, clerks or employees ought
to be prohited. This Pendleton act applies,
or in the discretion of civil service reform
president, can be made to apply to the enor-
nous number of 81, 600 inferior officers clerks
and employees, whose annual salaries together
amount to $3S, 100000, and as the clause in re-
gard to assessments applies to everyone in
the civil service, the amount which can still
be assessed for party purposes is not far
short OF 100000. Is it not high time an