Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-14

Cleveland that he is a civil service re-
former from conviction, and that he has
the courage to extend the law where
ever and whenever be thinks it best for
the public interest The civil service
law was passed for the purpose Of puri-
flying and increasing the efficiency Of
the public service. and after fair
trial extending over many years,
it has failed TO accomplish
the object for which it was ostensibly
designed. 1t has considerably increased
the annual expenses Of the government
and has only served to keep many bad
men in and many good men out Of pub
lie Office.
The argument that the civil service
should be conducted on business prin-
ciples is a plausible one, and would be
conclusive if it were possible to entirely
divorce the business from the politics Of
the government. Administrations are
changed on principles, and the people
who accomplish a change of administra-
tion by their votes expect these princi-
pies to be carried into effect. But to
insist upon this while all the attaches
of the government, from heads Of
bureaus to crossroads postmasters, are
Of an opposing political faith is
TO require the making OF "bricks with
out straw" A general who would go
into battle with an army collected from
and in sympathy with the enemy would
be considered either insane or grossly
incompetent, and under such eircum-
stances there could be no hope Of vic
tory. When General Washington went
to the polls and cast his last vote he
called attention to the fact that he voted
for principles, not men," Most people
do that, but they also realize that it is
Of the first Importance 10 place in Office
men OF their own faith If they desire 60
have the government conducted IA line
with their principles.
As to conducting the civil service as
strictly business matter, it may be
said that no private' business could be
successfully managed under such rules
as obtain in the civil service. If a bust.
ness man has. an smplOye who is dis
honest or incompetent he will discharge
him on sight aud secure another. To
deny hin this power would be to serl-
ously cripple his business. Under the
circumlocution of the civil service rules
a change Of government employees is a
slow and tedious process, requiring in
formation. affidavit, investigation, proof
aud all the forms Of a lawsuit. The
employee may be incompetent, although
he may have correctly answered certain
questions in geography and arithmetic;
he may lack business qualifications,
he nay DO lazy or otherwise
shown himself untitled for his
position, and yet he cannot be removed
and a proper person put in his place
without going through all the red-tape
routine required by the civil service
rules. 1t certainly cannot be claimed
that such a condition is conducive 70
the best interests Of the public service.
The civil service law was not in
tended 70 keep men in office, but TO
keep incompetent men out. Yet the
entire administration of the law ap-
pears to have been upon the supposi-
ton that all the men in Office
are good aud that all out
Of office are bad. Another farcical
feature of the law is the ease with
which it is evaded aud manipulated by
constituencies politicians. The Rspub-
Iicans have never allowed it to stand in
their way 10 distributing the spells, but
have brushed it aside as Of very little
importance. IL is yet fresh in the pub
lie mind that President Harrison 10 the
last days Of his administration extend
ed the operations Of the law to thous-
ands OF minor offices, merely to prevent
their being filed by Democrats. A law
that can thus be manipulated for party
purposes is a farce aud should either be
very thoroughly amended or repealed.
The whole civil service idea is an i'm
portation from Europe aud will never
be popular 10 free America. A govern
msnt employee who gets his Office under
civil service regulations is supposed to
Immediately become nOn-partissn; be
must surrender his manhood TO the ex-
tent OF surrsndering his political prin-
ciples. for If be have the courage 20
express them and endesvor TO promote
them, he is liable 70 be dismissed for
offensive partiSanship." In this coun-
try every man worthy the name is more
or less a politician and the idea OF
smOthsring his opinions in order 70 hold
petty Office is naturally repugnsnt,
and If the American people could have
the matter submitted TO them they
would by popular vote quickly wipe the
law from our statute books.
A CHICAGO woman urges the found
ing Of "hOme for fallen men." Let il
be large and substantial
VIII Make No Effort.