Omaha daily bee., 1893-07-23
uERtr Nv THE pUBLIC SERVICE.


The last administration went further
than any of its predecessors in observ-
ing the principle of promotions for
merit in the public service. 1t was sup
posed that the good example would be
emulated by the present administration,
but thus far there has not been mani
tested by the heads OF the departments
generally n disposition to do this. On
the contrary, the course pursued up to
this time in most of the departments as
to this matter Of promotions for merit
has been very unsatisfactory to civil
service reformers, the more candid and
outspoken of whom do not hesitate to
make their displeasure and disappoint-
ment known. The organ of the National
Civil Service Reform association
in its last issue refers to the changes
that have been made in regard to the
promotions in the Treasury, Interior
and Postoffice departments, and says Of
the last two that while the rules regu-
lating promotions made by the last ad-
ministration had not been formally
revoked, they have been con-
temptuously ignored when the head of
either department has had any pro-
noting to do" This does not neces-
sarily imply that there have been
absolutely no promotions for merit, be-
cause that is not the case, but it means
that the matter has not been subject to
any rules, as was the case under the
preceding administration, being left
entirely to the discretion of the heads of
departments, who have not always
observed the principle of promoting for
merit
The first attack upon the methods
adopted by the last administration for
promoting civil service reform was
made in the Treasury department when
Secretary Carlisle transformed and
perverted the competitive examination
system into an active spoils agency.
That system had worked admirably and
there was no reasonable objection to it,
1t had resulted in establishing higher
standard of efficiency in the department
than ever before, because every man in
the service who had an ambition to rise
understood the value Of good and faith
full work. The virtual abandonment
OF the system has naturally had a
demoralizing effect and it is said
that the department has been more
or less under a reigh of terror ever since
the new administration came in. The
next attack upon the reform adjuncts
which came into existence under Presi-
dent Harrison was in abolishing the
board OF promotions in the Interior de-
partment. This board was created for
the express purpose of regulating all
promotions in accordance with the
merit of those seeking advancement. 1t
consisted of representative members of
the department who were charged with
the duty of examining all candidates for
promotion. Open competition was re-
quired and the rank taken regulated
the order in which promotion was made,
the only notifications being slight in
creases in percentage for more
than five years service in the de-
partment and for good army
record. The system was framed to meet
the needs Of the department and to en-
able employees to secure advancement
through meritorious and thorough work,
without regard to political pull. 1t
was designed to promote efficiency and
it had this effect, while it was absolutely
nonpartisan. The Postotfce depart
ment has not gone so far as the Treasury
and the Interior in ''contemptuously ig-
noring" reform methods, but the policy
there has not commanded the unquali-
fled approval OF the more earnest re-
formers, and indeed in none of the de-
partments have the spirit and purpose
Of civil service reform been as carefully
regarded as its friends had hoped.
The betrayal of the merit system can
hardly fail to operate unfavorably to the
public service. 1t takes away one of the
strongest incentives to efficiency and
fidelity. 1t is easy to understand that O
new administration may be irresistibly
tempted to undo the methods of its pre-
decessor, so far as it may be practicable
to do so, especially when it represents
different politics, but unless it has some
thing equally good or better to substi-
tute it must not expect intelligent popu-
lar approval.