Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-29

cleism. The greatest danger is the system of
permanent civil service appointments and that
danger Is becoming greater and is being fitted
to certain classes and shutting out the common
people from these examinations These two
sentences seem little involved, but apparently
Mr.. Porter is referring to the examinations as
conducted by this commission when he dwells
on the danger which il becoming, as he as
serts. greater. II this is SO his fears are not
only groundless but are little absurd. We do
not make permanent civil service appointments.
On the contrary. we hold that Eien should be
retained in the service only 30 long
as they perform good work and should
be removed the moment they cease to per
form good work. As for Mr.. Porters assertion
or implication that our examinations shut out
the common people, it simply has no founda-
ton i'll fact whatever. Clerks mus. know how
to read, write and cipher. Accordingly. our
examinations test them in reading. writing and
ciphering. l think that IL Mr.. Porter will make
some inquiry into the education Of those whom
he calls the common people, in the land of his
adoption. he will find that the great majority
of Americans do know how to read write and
cipher. Instead OF our examinations shutting
out the common people, it is the examina tons
held by Mr.. Porter and all examinations similar
in kind which shut them out. His examine
tons are strictly limited to the small class
which can obtain political or personal
influence or backing, whereas ours are
open to all American citizens without
the least regard to whether they are or
are not adherents of influential party politi-
Clans. Mr.. Porter says that he objects to bar
nacleism. So does this commission. Under
any system people who have been faithful clerks
will sometimes be retained in office by the SYM
pathy OF the appointing power after they have
become too old to perform their duties well
but many more are retained under systems OF
political appointments, because party influence
Is then added to sympathy in bringing about
the retention Of incompetent employees. Al
most all OF the mon now in the departments
who do not do their full work, as reported by
the congressional committee last year, were
appointed before the civil service law went into
effect.
THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE.
'Mr. Porter states that he believes in short
term OF service and thinks that four years is
Tong enough for these chiefs of division and
long enough for good, efficient service But
he also says that of the thirty chiefs Of division
and specialists that We employ there are now
twenty-five who were old census people, and
adds that the census Office should be made
permanent and these men should be kept here.
They are always finding out something 70
save the government money Mr.. Porfer's
practice Ii therefore evidently inconsistent
With his preaching and his preaching incon-
sistent with itself. In one sentence be savs
that the chiefs OF division should be employed
only Tour years and In another that they should
be employed permanently; and he alludes with
pride to the fact that fve-sixths Of his own
chiefs were chosen from among veteran public
servants. In other words, though Mr.. Porter
In theory occupies the rather singular position
Of being both for and against the retention for
over four years Of public servants who do their
work WELL yet in practice he evidentlv
recognizes the tact-it seems TO me almosf Z
self-evident fnct-tha . man who q capabie o.