The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-10-27
AS TO CIVIL SERVICE.
Commissioner Roosevelt Discusses the
Desirability Of It's Extension to
All Departments.
SEVERAL OBJECT LESSONS
Efficiency of the Railway Nail Service
Cited as an Argument--POlitical
Assessments.

N civil service anu Iu6 ReUSTdl pOAItACa1
assessment cases We're discussed by
Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt,
in an interview with an Associated
Press reporter. Mr.. Roosevelt said:
Every fall as the election comes,
the need Of radical and sweeping ex-
tension of the classified service becomes
more and more apparent. All depart.
ments of the government service not
under the provisions of the civil service
law, form q vast bribery chest, by
means of which is gained an unhealthy
stimulus to political activity of that
very class in community which we
should be most sorry to see interested
in politics. The enormous bulk of Of
fees have really no connection what
'sver with politics. Their duties are in
no respect political and they should be
appointed wholly without regard to the
political situations and kept just as
long as they do their duty we'll.
1t Is Mere Nonsense
and dishonest nonsense, to say that
better service can be obtained by hav-
ing in subordinate positions men who
art of the same political party as the
head of an administration. The railway
mail service can be cited as proof OF
this. No department Of the govern
ment gives greater satisfaction to the
public at large, yet the great bulk of
railway mail employees are men who
were appointed during Mr.. Harrison s
presidency, or in Mr.. Cleveland's first
term. All Of those Of the present ad-
ministration were drawn from our lists,
as have been the case during the last
five years. Those entering the service
under the civil service, form the bulk
Of employees, including Republicans,
Democrats, Prohibitionists, Populists
and mugwumps, all wholly without
regard TO politics, and all kept on The
one consideration or
Efficiency OF Service.
1t is not of the least consequence
which of the employees believe in pro.
lection and which in free trade; which
for free coinage and which against free
coinage Of silver. As q matter of fact
no one can tell anything abont their
views on the subject. From the per-
formance of their duties, no one could
tell Republican from Democrat.
The rigid enforcement of the civil
service law is the reason why there has
been no deterioration in the service in
the changes of administration.
1.-The rest of the government service
should be treated in just the same way.
Not only all the postoffice employees, but
postmasters themselves should be an
pointed without the least regard to
politics. The internal revenue offices
should be classified and all its men ap-
pointed regardless of politics. The In
dian school service is another object
lesson OF non-partisan service. Hereto.
fore after every administration change
there have been sweeping changes in
the school service at Indian agencies
for purely political consideration. But
this has not been so in the last 10
years, because the civil service law has,
be enforced in that service and be-
cause recently that law was admins.
tered by Superintendent Hailman with
desire to obey in the spirit as well as
in the letter.
Shows the Iniquity of 1t.
"What has been going on recently in
Plttsburg shows the iniquity of the
spoils system. There one of the con-
gressional candidates has actually
sought to levy a political assessment
amounting to a months salary, ON the
employees of the internal revenue Office.
Similar efforts have been made to as.
sess postoffice emp. oyes The money
was sought wholly without regard to
the political affiliations of the employees.
1t is mere piece of blackmail and just
as if gained by knocking down clerks
on the highway. 1t seems hard TO
understand how an intelligent cola-
munity will tolerate so gross an al use.
where man deliberately plumbers set
of public servants that he may get
funds wherewith to debauch yotsrs.
The commission recently had before it
the case OF the recorder of deeds, Tay-
lor, and during the investigation it was
proven that wherever the civil service
law did not obtain In Washington. a
condition of actual terror existed In the
public service, and that janitors, porters
and all other employees were forced TO
pay politicians for places, and pay TO
retain them. Anything E4ore degrading.
more servile, more vicious, cannot be
imagined.
H I.nInber For south Africa.
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