Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-12
CONCERNING CIVIL SERVICE.
IL Has Come to Stay,
no SCOTSMAN CAN EVER AGAIN BE ELECTED
PRESIDENT.

reporter Of The STAR had the following
talk with Mr.. Henry Strong on the current
topic of civil service reform:
Il am told. Mr.. Strong, that you have made
somewhat of a study of civil service in this and
other countries. II you care in a word to ex-
press your conclusions The EVENING STAR would
be glad to hear them"
'You have not space nor the time at present
10 90 much into history on this subject 1t is
sufficient to say that in all modern Europe an
states where the best government exists, nota-
bly, in those most advanced and enlightened,
civil service is thoroughly established. In
England and France, where the governme mt
is most sensitive to popular opinion, change
Of ministry, as you are aware, is unfelt and I'M
noticed by the occupants of the desks in he
various departments of government. In the
most corrupt periods OF the Greek and Roman
republics civil Office was made reward of
partisan revolutionary violence. 1t is a we'll
known historical fact that in this country the
spoils system was first established about sixty
years ago by Gen. jackson, who, in this
regard, made no distinction between
Seminole camp and Federal office. Up to his
time political rotation did not reach tine cleri-
cal force III the government service. had sup
posed until noticing the recent assaults made
upon it by a few newspapers and prominent
individuals that all intelligent business men
were agreed that civil service. so called. is not
merely the rational business theory as applied
to the public clerical service, but that when
generally adopted and firmly established it will
eliminate from our political system an evil and
danger that Is not only essentially corruptng
in its influence. but which has threatened to
become positive menace to good government
Senator Ingalls, dread of
AN ARIsToCRACY OF CLERKS
is about as amusing anything that eloquent
to propose to the large mercantile house of
John V. Farwell 4 Co. of Chicago that they
should chaIf8e every four years their immense
staff OF statesmen, book keepers and clerks, my
friend the senatorial member of that firm,
would regard the suggestion as simply foolish
and unworthy OF notice. His recent reported
utterances upon civil service are, to say the
least, surprise to his most intelligent con-
stituents, who appreciate his high character.
They conclude h. IS simply another victim of
the reporter. Were the spOIls system applied,
for example. to the railway service of the coun-
try il would amount to public calamity. Ro-
taticn IN clerical service, except dismissal for
derellctlOn or promotion for merit has no ex-
istence and never has had IN any successful
business IL the world. 1t is positively and
wholly without precedent except IN detached
political administration.
THE yOTE-s OF THE COUNTRY
OF all parties, except the few who are seeking
10 ODldlu OlHCt lOT themselves or tnelr party
supporters, are, venture to say, unanimously
in favor OF extending rather than abolishing or
limiting the application of the theory of civil
service as applied to every department of the
government.
In answer to your question about the kind of
examination TO which applicants for Office are
subjected, say think they could be improved.
They are now too much on the primary school
order, not always best suited to test the fitness
of the applicant to discharge well the duties of
he Office. This will doubtless be remedied by
the practical business sagacity OF Mr.. Roosevelt
and his cOnfreres. | don't care to say any
thing further, except, that in my opinion, no
man 1ctO shall Qp1Ilg proclaim rightly dppli-
cable 10 DtOdt77I clru yoUeTHnert that most per-
nictOas and cOryTptbeg barGarOas military
marin, To the victors belong the spoils, can
erer again be President Of the United States, or
should be elevated by any constituency to any
place Of political honor and power demanding
the seh-forgetful intelligence of statesman"