Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-28
THE MERIT SYSTEM
Defended by Roosevelt, of the Civil
Service Commission.
A THOROUGHLY AMERICAN PLAN.
Its Adoption Would Reform the Entire
World of Politics.
TIE BIG DIFFERENCE IN INTEREST
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH !

BY reform in the civil service, we mean the
introduction of the merit system of making
appointments in the public service, as op-
posed to the old spoils or patronage system.
The essential difference between the two
systems can be summed up by saying that
the merit system is that which eliminates
favoritism, whether political or personal, in
making appointments, and aims to fill all
the subordinate offices of the Government
solely with reference to the capacity of the
applicants to perform the special duties of the
places which they seek; while the spoils. or
patronage theory of making appointments,
on the other hand, implies that a mans fit
ness for the place to which he is appointed
is purely secondary consideration, and that
the first consideration is his fealty to the
party in power, or to some influential politi-
cal chief.
The merit system is thoroughly American,
thoroughly democratic and republican. The
spoils, or patronage system is thoroughly
nn-American, thoroughly undemocratic and
unrepublican. The spoils system fosters the
growth of a special privileged class, that is,
the class of political workers. The merit
system or system Of civil service reform pre-
vents the growth of this class and fills the
the servants of the whole public, not the
servants of any particular individual or par
ticular party. and who keep their offices only
so long as they serve the public faithfully
and we'll, without regard to the influence OF
their party hackers or the fate of their party
friends. The spoiIs system inevitably pro-
duces caste or class of men who get into
politics for livelihood, and who make the
business of ofice-getting their only aim.
These men care little for the questions which
really make up political life. They are only
subordinately interested in protection or free
trade, bimetallism or monom etallism; what
they care for is the offices.
A Matter of Bread and Butter.
1t is a matter of bread and butter with
them to manage the primaries and control
the elections, and as they have an active
personal interest in the matter the chances
are always in their favor, as against the
mass of honest non-oficeholding citizens.
Accordingly under the spoils system the
great caste of officeholders exercises most
noxious influence on politics. Probably
there is no other one influence in American
life, not even the influence of the rum shops
which has produced so much degradation in
our political life as the system of spoils ap-
pointments, the theory that to the victors in
a political contest belong the spoils, for
which the whole people pay.
1 hold that the radical introduction of the
reform system of making appointments
would measurably improve the public serv-
ice and would immeasurably improve pub
lie life. 1t would sound the death knell of
host of the cheaper and viler politicians;
and they naturally regard it with peculiar
hatred and adherence. There are of course
misguided men OF honesty and ability who
are opposed to the reform, and there are a
great many good people who are Indifferent
or hostile to it through sheer Ignorance.
But nineteen-twentieths of its active oppon-
ents, whether in Congress or elsewhere, are
sure to be men whose mere presence in our
political life is q curse to the country; men
of narrow minds and defective consciences,
who feel q natural and sour hatred toward
any system that means good government
and honesty. The immense horde of Office
seekers and of officeholders under the patron
age system furnishes these base political
leaders with a mercenary army, conn pact
and we'll disciplined. Their opposition to
the reform is strenuous and bitter because
they realize that it strikes at their power.
The Difference in Interest.
On the other hand, the average good citi-
zen has but general interest in its success.
He has no special interest or concern in the
matter. His interest is simply that of all
other good citizens, and hence is less effective
than is the concrete and selfish hostility of
the spoilsmen. 1t is this which accounts
for the comparatively slow progress of the
reform.
1t is noteworthy that the opponent of the
reform never under any circumstances
speaks the truth in opposing it or advances
a single argument against it worth refuting;
his weapons are merely slander and misrep-
He has no case, and he knows
it, and therefore takes refuge in mendacity.
One of his cheapest falsehoods persistently
in, although continually exposed,
is to the effect that the examinations for
entry into civil service are impractical |
The man who asserts this either as
serts what he knows to be false, or
else he is so ignorant of the subject that he |
has no right to speak about it. Our exam |
nations are absolutely practical, and the |
questions we ask are absolutely relevant to |
the duties the various candidates are ex-
pected to perform. Nine-tenths of our posi- |
tions are filled from examinations for clerk, |
copyist, letter carrier and the like A clerk |
or copyist we examine in spelling, penman-
ship, copying, letter writing and simple |
arithmetic These are precisely the SUBJ
iects in which man has to possess pro-
iciency if he wishes to be good copyist or
clerk. Similarly, stenographer is ex-
amined in stenography,a typewriter in type
writing. A railway mail clerk is tested in
mis- knowledge of the railway mail systems
If his division and of the geography of the
United States. A letter carrier is tested as
% his skill and speed in reading addresses
md his knowledge of the local delivery of
,Ia citv
"A Defense of the Questions.
All our questions are absolutely relevant.
md experience has shown that thew test in