Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-03-11
The Merit sy,tem.


Senator Writ, Of Cecil county. has in.
troduced bill which provides for the
appointment Of public officials under
civil service rules, tina. Is, appointments
10 public Office in the State to be made
not because Of fine or dirty work done
BY aspirants, bit solely on the ground
of fitness for said petitions
The rules to be framed by the com
mission created by the act, with the ap
proval Of the Governor, are only appli.
cable to the follo~iug classes of Office
holders aud empl yes.
Teachers of public schools throughout
the State Members Of the police and
fire departments, Of B'ltimore city. and
to deputies III clerks Offices aud city de-
rartmeuts Of Baltimore city, in ludiug
,abore,s. The Governor, however. Is
authorized to extend the operation of the
rules to any city or county in the State,
aud to other c asses of public emp DYES
from time to time in his discretion
The bill follows closely in the lines o
that adopted by the General Govern
ment. and for which both Senators Cor
man and Groomc voted, and the llws OF
New York and New Hampshire.
That the adoption Of the merit in
place Of the spoils system, would have a
tendency to elevate politics in this State
none can question, for then the grant
incentive to defraud and swindle at elec
tons, wi h the hope Of being rewarded
for the crooked work done, by \ lucra
tive Office, would be removed. and men
would vo'eend work for principles alone
just at this time, in this county, the
bitterness of feeling existing against the
leaders of tue dominrut party here be-
cause some of those active ir doubtful
methods at last election, cannot or will
not be provided for, is greater i'll ln.eu-
sity than that which existed against pc.
itieal opponents previous to the
election. ThA, condition would not,
could not, exist under civil service rules
Que of the members of the Civil Ser
vice Reform Association, while urging
the Elections Committee Of the SeDa { to
make a favorable repor, OF Senator
Wirt's bill, sal in part:
THE keynote OF our grievance is this,
that minor subordinate officers shall be
appointed without reference to political
strcrsth or position, and not as a reward
for party service, but according tn merit
Let me illustrate the exact situation Of
affairs in the party, by IA comparison
with a case thnl came under my notice
In ,hs Il & o office, in the auditing
department. there is most desirable p0
sttlon, an the appointing powers were
long troubled aud worried by both poll
ticians and business men for that place
FIR one of their followers or friends -
We held several consultations. and de
termined to do away with such usel So
worry, and, therefore, appointed an ex
aiming commission of three. Even the
president cannot now get man III that
place. 1t i our wish to have this same
system apple 10 the CRY Offices Now,
if had any influence OF wei Int ~ all in
politics. | would strive to get rid of this
terrible pressure brought GA such men
for office. FMS is 50 in England and
other foreign countries, aud the men Of
influence there are free Of ;he ceaselcSs
worry the system in vogue IN this ccun-
try entails The reform we are asking
is not great; it would not give rs all the
reform that is needle /, bur it would be "a
stepping stone. Take out this evil, and
public discussions would be greater and
broader 1t would increase and engen-
der ambition for Office. which is - fine
motive force This is proven 10 Eng
land.
A prominent Democratic politician
when asked shy the country along the
MetsanalilA NIaaalA lG tn II...a..S~,...,g. :.
aud O lio Rairord was building up near
Washington so rapidly. said that it was
owing in measure to land speculations.
but mostly, he added, to the fact that
since the establishment of civil service
some ten thousand government clerks
had been rendered safe in office dOrng
good behavior, and they had been con
verted into land owners, Instead of rem
ters. they were not afrail to purchase
homes with the money they had saved
Contrast this condition of affairs with
that under the spells system. The chief
objection ag INST the latter is its infer
nal brutality.
have Witnessed sad cases under its
operation The idea that a change in
ruling parties should result in the kick
ing out of old tried ard efficient en-
poyes is monstrouS the Spoils system
will pass cut of existence in tune. as
other great evils do, and the chief lever
against 1t will be its brutality