The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-09
SECRETARY TRACY
Tells of His Plans for Reform in
Navy Yards.
TOO MUCH POLITICS IN THEM
Heretofore Employees Have Had to Wear the
Collar OF Some Boss-He Commends
Civil Service Reform

BOSTON, April S.-The largest political gath
erlng OF the kind held in Boston for wears, the
hrst dinner of the Republican club of Massa-
chusetts, was held in the music hall this even
Ing. Covers were laid for $40, besides the
guests and speakers. President Roger Wolcott
presided, and among the prominent guests were
secretary OF the Navy Tracy, Lieutenant Hale
congressman Walker, Lodge, Greenhagle and
Morse, Ex-Governor Ames, Senator Aldrich
Ex-Governor Bracket, and General Banks
secretary Tracy, in his speech paid high
tribute to the Republican party and the present
administration, and defended the Fifty-first
congress against the charge of extravaganza
Inc secretary gave detailed account of the
work IN which the navy department at present
Is engaged and concluded as follows: "One
last point in naval affairs remains to be con-
sluered-the question of the employment of
TABOR at the navy yards. For fifty years this
mas peen the weak spot in the naval admins
tratlon. Whatever the party in control of the
government, 1t seems hitherto 10 have
ueen poWerless to exclude political influence
III Inc employment OF navy yard labor 1t is
not enough, apparently that mechanics an /
Workmen in government shops should be he
puollcanS or Democrats they must wear u e
collar OF the bosses who run the local political
machine. The practice is a source of democrat
lZatlon 10 any party that attempts TO use IL,
destructive TO the government service, and de-
Dauchlng to local and national politics. 1t is
an ulcer TO the naval administrative system
and propose to weed il out
The secretary said the details Of the system
ne proposed to adopt are being prepared and in
snort time will be in full operation. The
essential features as applied to navy yards
are: 1.-The appointment at each yard of a reg
lstration board to register all applicants for
employment in the department of uns led
labor to be selected as required on the principle
OF hrst come, first served, with reference only
10 army and navy veterans or men having
families to support.
2-Registration of all applicants for positions
OF skilled labor under the same rules OF prefer
ence and employment on trial according to
merits.
3-Selection of foremen upon competitive ex-
animation. The board Will consist of officers
OF the navy engaged in conducting the work of
the yards. The secretary added that having
begun this way he does not propose to stop
until the principle of efficiency and worth is the
only test OF navy yard employment. He is salts
hed the plan can be carried out so that it will
remove all suspicion Of machine politics from
the navy yards; that economy md efficiency of
work Will be promoted, while the community
will be sure that The navy yard in its midst u-
stead Of being the focus OF local political in
tr1gue, is the place Of employment OF a body of
independent and Self-respecting workingmen,
whose only road to promotion lies in good
work.
Whether the present civil service law is
the best that could be devised to improve the
CIV! service OF the country, 1 do not know, but
uo KNOW from personal observation
IN my own department that persons
appointed under the system are UNIQUE S llonably
more efficient as whole taan those selected
by any system of patronage; and l know further
that no Republican charged with the RESPONSE
bility OF administering one of the great eXecu-
tive departments of the government can be true
to himself, to the faith of the Republican party
or to the people if he fails to employ a. and all
means within his power to elevate, u fly and
render more efficient the civil service of the
country"
Mr.. Roger Wolcott, in the course of his
speech. said the Republican party must rally to
mercenary. The loss of thousands of votes in
this state was due to a Pennsylvania man, who
is still chairman Of the national committee
The kind of personal politics that seeks and
required what is called ''vindicaton' - always at
the expense OF the party, is a bIunder when 1t is
not q crime.