Morning journal and courier., 1891-02-19
zAGArrsr THE sl,roILs SYSTEM.

AGAINST THE sP0IEs SYSTEM.
fne Yale Kent Club Lecture Last
Evening : Theodore Roosevelt
Champions Civil Service Reform
and States What Progress Has Been
Made. 55
The lecture given last evening by the |
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt on civil service
reform was not only exceedingly instruc-
1--we hut interesting. The speakers popu-
larity was attested by the fact that long
before the hour named for the lecture
crowds were outside the doors of the large
lecture rooms of Osborn Hall vainly at
tempting to enter The lecture was one
worthy of the Kent club course.
The speaker was introduced by Dean
Wayland of theslaw school, and received
with loud burst of applause. His words
in substance were as follows: It was a
double pleasure for him, he said, to be SO
cordially greeted as he had had the mis7
fortune to be graduated from Harvard.
Applause. AZ.
Civfl service reform, he said, immeasur-
ably betters the tone of public life. I
want to take out of politics that great
bribery fund which the 200, 900 Offices
furnish in the spoils system.
The cardinal doctrine of American polit-
ical life is that each citizen has not only
his rights, but his duties as well. Each,
therefore, should do his share in seeing
that things ares growing better instead of
worse. This is no easy thing to do, espe-
cially in the great centers of population.
Here in these places has grown up body
of professional politicians who work for
their own selfish ends 1t is against these
that civil service reform is aimed.
Every one Of you hope will be prac-
teal politician in the primary and concur.
This will necsssitates q more or less ex-
pease of your time and trouble. For the
professional politician It is the reverse, for
he enters upoK these duties from NO hon
est principals There are close upon a
million, men in this country, who either
have Offices, think they ought to have had
one or live in the hope that they will.
This is one great reason why the reform
movement has progressed SO slowly, though
in view of all the facts the progress made
is remarkable. The evils of the spoils
system are most apparent in the large
cities. The civil service proposes to take
this great bribery fund.out of politics and
make mans capacity to fill the Office he
seeks the rule for judging him. AT present
the civil service-covers close upon a fourth
of the 200, 900 public Offices.
The public in part are asking the same
questions they did seven years ago, and
much confusion is yet left in the minds
of many concerning it. The average man
sees that many Offices are filled purely
from political motives and then disbelieves
that any offices at all are filled on motives
apart from any political motives.
WbaO shall haye raa6ha1 the mi nf
when all Offices are filed, apart from the
patronage system, then will we have
taken a long stride toward pdrer and
better government.
He then went on to give some illustra-
lions of other difficulties which arise and
told the story Of a senator who found
fault with the practical quality of the
examination papers which are given to
candidates. These examination papers
the speaker claimed to be not only prac-
teal but as tending to produce, as rule,
far better elass-of men for the places
He also ridiculed the objection made
against the competitive examination sys-
tenn because it is practice as we'll in
China. --.' :, &
We test man on the very qualities
which he is expected to use in the service
of the government.
The intense brutality of the old spoils
system is painfully apparent. The place
must be created for the man at the expense
of one who is turned adrift. Much is the
misery which results.
He told pathetic story of the widow of
a Union soldier With two children to sup
port and few friends toward whom to look
for help, who was ousted from a position
she had held for years to make room for a
certain senator's henchman.
One of the most painful things in the
life of one connected with the public ser
vice is the having to be compelled to refuse
some of the appeals that come for aid. -
This system I believe to be the only
many one, and every minded
American ought to uphold it.
For some years was myself a ward
boss, hope good one Qaughter), and
studied politics practically. find that it
is easier to manage men who are hearty
and enthusiastic in their support. I be-
ieve that if the public are once brought
up to pitch of enthusiasm they will speed
lily stamp out the present pernicious system
of things.
The speaker had some amusing illustra-
tons to give his audience of his personal
experiences in the New York legislature
with some Of the politicians.
We are not in any danger of having the
civil service law repealed, he continued,
because no party would dare to take that
step. But there is more less danger in
having the law crippled, as example, the
refusing needed appropriation.
1t would be good thing for people all
over the country who are interested in this
movement that they impress upon their
representatives their wishes in the matter
The law provides that no appointment
shall be made except through the civil ser
vice commission, and if the appropria-
tions are cut off we are crippled material
ly. But with each congress we are doing
little better and moving gradually for
ward