Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-27
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.l ]

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.1
LAKE CHAUTAUQUA. \. Y, July 90
Fair Chautauqua left off her theological
discussions and Prot. Burnham this alter
noon to receive in political ethics with
the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt as instructor.
At 2:3O George Vincent stepped forward
and introduced the United States Civil
Service Commissioner with the following
words: "Itake great pleasure in introducing
to you an able, brilliant, live, young Ameri-
can, who is not afraid to enter politics and
works to make them better"
M. Roosevelt said that it was embarrass-
ing to face this audience under ordinary
conditions and doubly so after such an In
PRODUCTION, though myself a staunch party
man. l shall have to quote the words
Of Senator ingalls,, who SAYS that
politics are not run according to
the decalogue and golden rule. We con-
slider that it has place in politics and that
men shall not lie, cheat, swIndle or buy
votes. In so speaking the Senator says that
men should lie cheat, steal and buy votes.
IF you hire man to steal for you he will
as a matter of business expedieney for
himself steal from you.
This is the class of men whom you will
find opposed to reform. They do not offer
any real argument or meet the issue fairly.
There are at least 1000, 900 men In the
United States who, desiring office, are
actuated by self-interest in opposing civil
service reform. The general public takes
general. but not active interest in its conrse.
read letter of gentleman the other day
who insisted that the Government had been
built up without civil service and we did
not need 1t now to tear 1t down. Literally
such a statement would mean that our Gov
eminent had been made and perpetuated by
means of the only other agent, the military
service. They are so ignorant that they do
not know how to state their own side of the
question.
We wish to destroy mercenary purposes
in politics, I believe that a choosing by
merit will give measurable benefit to our
civil service and immeasurable benefit to the
pure in our political life. No intelligent
man can see but two sides to the question of
reform. The one the mercenary work for
some political chief, the other the merit sys-
TEN.
HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.
We have not an ideal service, but it is
much better than the one it supplants. We
have it in practical operation, and where
you find a well-managed Office you will
find it up to the civil service law.
Under the postmastership OF Mr.. Sexton,
of Chicago, Mr.. Hendricks, of Brooklyn,
we have an excellent service because the
law is observed. But in Milwaukee under
Mr.. Paul, Baltimore under Mr.. Jones,
where the service is not lived up to, the
public does not get good service.
/ aided in the investigation of the affairs
of the Clerks office in New York CITY sew
eral veals ago The CLERK received $50, 900
per wear. When asked il he performed his
duties as clerk he answered in the negative,
but said his assistants did that. He had at
tended to the wants of his constituents. Under
such methods they leave the work to the
subordinates while they attend to their own
political affairs. We test men by e1amina-
tion. Senator German recently made the
statement in an examination of mail carriers
in Baltimore, the question was asked,
"What is the nearest mail route
from Annapolis to Hong kong?" wrote
to Mr.. German twice asking him to offer me
evidence but never received any answer. 1t
NAV be that tine mails miscarried. / also
advertised in the newspapers, offering 500
reward for the proof of the facts, but never
a word have heard. What we did ask was
that the applicant know little concerning
the topography of the city.
POOR JUDGMENT OF THE PUBLIC.
In the examinations we go on the theory
that the probabilities are that we will get
the best men. Sometimes we yield to the
demands OF some man OF influence when
they wish admirable men appointed in par
ticular prophetic instances. Recently a
Congressman came to us with man for an
appointment who, he claimed, was desired
by the merchants and the whole business
community. He was man pre-eminently
fitted for the place, and the appointment
was in no way political one. We yielded,
the President of the Republican club of the
city was given the place and its Secretary
made his assistant.
OftaDtimes people are not eulogistIc
enough of their Cohgressmen when they do
we'll, and not severe enough when they are
unfSith iul in the duties of their Office. The
American public often does not use good
judgment. 1t will hail as q Napoleon an
arlav officer who whips six Indians
out in :he West, while it viii
condemn to oblivion The man who
voted wrong upon some bill in the House.
We suffer on one side through the spoils
system and on the other side through the
pessinistic theorist who condemn every
thing aad who never did an honest days
work il their lives.
WHERE THE BOSSES RULE.
There are large number of men in Con-
gregS who are working vRllantly Tor the
right, while there are others who are work
ing inst IS valiantly in the other direction.
CONGRESSMAN Washington, froGl Tennessee,
made the statement that out of the men who
had passed the civil service examinations in
his State, 80 per cent had been removed
from ofilce. looked il up and found that
e2 per cent had remained ia Office. In the
washington Offices it is a success, but in
loea! Offices outside of Washington, it de-
pends upon the officer in charge If
political bosses" are in control we cannot
do SO much good, for Congress has appro-
prlated SO little money for us to work with |
that we cannot force them.
At the close of his talk Mr. Roosnyait
offered to answer any questions pronounced.
A paper was handed up to him containing !
the i0iioWlng query: DO the examinations |
snow cnSEaeter, application or per-
severance" They do not" said |
Mr. Roosevelt. "But you take |
the ten leading men with the highest ner. |
centages IN an examination and usually |
they are superior in all qualities TO the ten |
standing lowest. Further. no person can be |
passed until he has presented vouchers from |
reliable parties asserting their good moral !
character and if they forge these letters |
they are subject to imprisonment Al the |
end of six months time if in any wav found |
incompetent they may be released
STUDY IN SOCIAL ETHIos.
At o'clock Prof. weidner spnke nm |