The morning call., 1895-01-13
TO PURIFY POLITICS.
The Existing Spells System
Denounced.
HINTS FOR CHARTER. MAKERS.
How Another Nose Gunst Appoint
ment Would Be Impossible.
INACCURATE CIVIL SERVICE RULES.
4 Committee Of the Good Government
Club Renders Valuable and
Timely Opinion.
INACCURATE CIVIL SERVICE RULES

the report of the civil service committee
of the Good Government Club is adopted
by the Board of Freebolders.
A short time ago the club instructed the
committee to formulate some plan for the
guidaHee of the scharter-makers, 1t being
understood that the main feature of such
a report should be some suggestion where
by the boss should be eliminated from
politics. thus making another Gunst cpl
s0de an impossibility.
The chairman Of this committee, Lester
b. Jacobs, and his able aids, in the brief
space Of time allotted for preparation
of such an important document have made
thorough investigations into the workings
of charters of Eastern cities and they
have noted the defects as well as the
merits, but only the latter have been made
a part of their interesting findings.
A pure system of civil service reform
was found to be in operation in England.
The committee consumed no little time in
studying the details of these English re-
form laws.
In submitting the report TO the club, the
committee first explodes the theory that if
a public off er is to be responsible for the
conduct Of his office he should have the
power to select those upon whose ability
and honesty the excellency of his admins
tralion depends. There would be some
thing plausible in this foregoing state
ment il an Investigate on into the practical
test OF the theory did not deduce some
very unfavorabie results. 1t is a we'll
known fact that elective officers do not
appoint the best men. Men are chosen"
states the report, ''as suboTdinates on ac-
count of political work either on behalf of
their immediate superior, or more prob
ably on behalf of the portlv boss who
nominated the superior.
The results of such barbarOus scheme
have been placed under seven heads.
First il takes force of clerks entirely
and hence such a condition causes a waste
Of public money.
"The spells system disregards the value
of training that may be acquired through
experience. 1t assumes that new clerk
can do the work of tried one.
Again, as the tenure Of office is meas
ured by the success OF particular party,
men can always be found who will resort
to doubtful methods for the continuation
of the boss in power.
another defect of this system in city
where the strength of the parties is about
equal is that there is always a gang of
politicians out of job.
''lt also creates corps of men whose
positions depend upon the performance
of a party. Another result is that we
have gang Of clerks leaving their desks
and doing politics.
''The worst effect of the system is, per-
haps. that it drives respectable men out of
Office"
The final objection which the committee
makes is that 1t creates false theory that
public Office is the property of the off,
Ger.
After considering the objections to the
sp0lls system the report states the changes
that would he worked through the adop-
ton of civil service rules in appointing
municipal officers.
The first noted change noticed would be
that there would be greater efficiency iE
the service. Public money would be saved
If clerk had not the power to stuff his
Office with friends there would be no in
centive TO make extra places. Civil sery-
ice would make public life less attractive
TO corrupt men. Dishonesty would be
more dangerous. Under civil service, Safe
and city governments would be divorced.
! he better class of men who were dis
PEELED by the spols system would be at
lracted TO the public service. Forem oSt
Of aiI,the boss would be banished from the
field. When his patronage Is done away,
lie will retire into oblivion. II there had
been no Police Commissioner to be at
pointed there would have been no Burns.
After stating the advantages which
would be derived by the adoption of the
civil service code, the committee devotes
considerable space to the history of its
workings in England. 1t finds that good
government has been The natural sequence.
Few changes are made each year, and
only capable men are allowed TO hold
Office.
In concluding the report the committee
submits the following recommends tons to
the Board of Freeholders:
A civil service board of seven members,
three of whom should be permaneui-the prin-
ciDals Of the three city High Schools. They
should be allowed additional conversation for
this service. Four other members should be
appointed by the Mayor, 10 serve for terms OF
four years. the term OF one 10 expire each
year. On making the appointments the Mayor
should be required 10 take an oath to the effect
that he selects the officer solely because he be-
leVes him TO be the person best qualihed for
the place who would serve, and not because OF
his political opinions or partisan service. and
not in pursuance ofany promise or agreement.
This board should conduct examinations at
regular intervals. For this purpose city de.
parlments should be divided into groups, call
ing for the same general knowledge. For in
stance, deputies In the 0fleeS OF the Sheriff and
County Clerk should, in addition TO the rrg ular
educational test, be examined on certain parts
OF the Code of Civil Procedure. Application
should be made for position 10 one OF these
groups, and not In special department and
special examinations should be provided for
each group OF offices.
Nobody should be allowed to take an ex-
animation Without first producing satisfactory
references Then those obtaining the highest
standing In the examinations should be APP
pointed in the exact order Of their Tank-tbe
highest man receiving the highest position in
the group for which he qualified. Bonds should
be exacted from those handling money.
The board must provide system by which
the eoTTectOr OF paper cannot know whose
paper he marks
Except in positions requiring physical
strength, no distinction should be made as to
sex
Promotions should be maze only upon exami-
nation but certain credits should be allowed for
good service.
The tenure of Office should be duling good
behavior. Any officer should have the power
10 discharge subordinate upon written state
ment OF cause. But law should be passed
giving subordinate who was discharged With
out cause lie right of action for damages
against The officer and his bondsmen Tor a sum
equal say 10 two years salary.
Tie examination system should apply 10
every DEPARTMENT Of the Government except
the law departments.
In those branches OF the service IN which
purely unskied labor Is required principally
physical ests should be exacted.
lie head OF each department. should have
power TO appoint TWO assistants without ex-
animation.
No one should be allowed to hold Office ex-
eept In accordance with these provisions.
--
Affects the Weekly Papers.
Postmaster MeConnin acting unOn in