Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-07-05
essss County Arrala.
Island Pond. VT, july d.
Cutting OFF The Spells.

An order has heen issued by the Prcsi-
dent extending the ciVii service rules over
the 500 positions in the great govern
ment printing Office, and 1t went into
effect Iuiy /. This order is notable be
cause it cuts of the last resource Of the
spoilsmen. There are now no positions
Icft in Washington tor the politicians to
battle FOR. except the Offices connected
with the government of the District of
Columbia.
This will probably he news to most
people. because the progress ot civil
service reform has been 50 gradual, Gov
ering one after another of the branches
of the public service at Washington. that
comparatively few people have been
aware of the great advances that have
been made i'll that respect. The latest
order practically completes the work
ofreform at Washington, so far as it is
within the power OF the Executive to do
so, and hcnceforth party workers and
political paupers who desire to obtain
positions under the government without
the necessity of proving their fitness Will
have to accept appointments away from
the capitai or put up With the mostly
petty of7srs In the District Of Columbis
administration.
There is yet considerable number OF
positions throughout the United States,
outside of Washington, which are still
filed on the old spoils plan, but even
these are constantly growing fewer. The
very next move that is contemplated in
deed, will reduce them by several hun
dred. This move is the extension, which
in now understood to be practically de
cided upon, of the merit rules to all the
clerks at the various pension agencies
throughout the country.
The clerks at the main office i'll Wash
ington have for some time been subject
to the requirements and in the employ
ment of the security OF the rules of tn,
classified service; those at the agencie:
in the other cities have, however, beer
appointed and dismissed at the will o
the local pension agent, The spoils plar
has, of course, worked badly in this cas-
as in all others, the agents using TIL,
places to reward their political friends
and the clerks who were not active poll
teal workers suffering a sense of inse
curity in their positions which injuriousl,
affected their performance of duty.
The only reason that the positions un
der the administration of the District Q
Columbia have not been placed under tn
civil service rules is because it will requil'
an amendment to the civil service Law
allowing it to be done, The friends otth
merit system are, however, moving i
this direction The Civil Service Com
mission and the Reform Association @
the District have requested that all TIL
employees in the District be brought with
in the classified service. A strong etfor
viii be made next winter to obtain tror
Congress All amendment to the law tina
will confer the desired power and the
there will be an end to the spoils syster
in every form at the national capital.
will be welcome change, and not leas
welcome to the former patronage distr
butars themselves. If the progress {
practical reform goes on as rapidly in tn
next two years as in the last two. til
new Republican administration, when
comes into power. will have very hit
trouble with Office seekers.