Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-19

The Posts editorial endorsement of the
action of the Board of Trade as to civil
service reform In the District of Columbia
was quite natural In view of its persistent
hostility to that reform. In season and out
OF season that paper has been opposed not
only to the civil service law and its en-
forcement, but also to the principles which
underlie the statute and gave to its
Insufficient provisions the vitality that
has GRABBED Ii to survive the murderous
assaults of the spoilsmen; anything favora-
BILE to any phase of reform is not looked
for from the Post-not even when there is
a project afoot to bring about great i'm
tprovement in local business conditions by
an extension of civil service rules. The
Star is accused by the Post OF arguing
from a low. plane, of moving In this mat
ter solely for the reason that the extern
sion of the civil service rules will be OF
benefit to the merchants and tradesmen of
the District not because of any elevation
or Improvement Of the service that may
be brought about thereby. Its inspiration
Is not that of the high-class reformer but
OF the merest of mercensries."
The Star has been a consistent advocate
of civil service reform for many years;
has spoken with no uncertain sound on
that important topic; is proud of partici-
patton in the victories won by the forces OF
public morality. But when an appeal had
to be made to business men for business
reasons the argument was surely the
stronger for a business basis.
Says the POST
"Can the board of trade of the city of
Washington afford to take a position of
this sort, so inconsistent with it's dignity
and self-respect, and parade itself before
the COT ntry as all of a sudden enraptured
hA nf civil Arxrfnn fSr,, L.,
the District because of the money there
Is In II, rather than because of Its moral
excellence?
The Post thinks not and In the genuine
virtues of civil service reform The Post
Is devout believer. 1t does not believe,
however, that the board of trade should
pursue course in this direction on the
sordid lines which have been suggested.
and thus subject itself to public ridicule
from one end of the land to the other"
The board of trade is, as the Post says.
"a purely commercial organization" Why
then should our neiyhbor say that the
board should not pursue a course ION the
sordid lines suggested by The Star. The
board of trade alleges that 1T is organized
Tor the consideration OF, and action upon
matters concerning the commerce, pros
perity and advancement of the material
interests of the National Capital" 1t Is
commercial body, intent upon doing any
thing legitimate to enrich or beautify the
city of Washington or to render 1t a more
desirable field for investment than 1t even
now is; it breathes a financial and there
fore to that extent 'sordid' atmosphere;
IL Is human and in the broadcast and most
complimentary sense of the word, is self
fsh. Many of its members have suffered
great loss through the changes wrought
in this citys population by the unreason-
Ing and utterly unreasonable spoils sys-
TEN: every one has been directly or in
directly affected. And what in the world
Is there to bring ridicule upon the board
OF trade throughout the land for looking
out for the material and business interests
of the city. That is precisely what a board
of trade IL for.