The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-04
cHIcAGo,s cIvIL-sERvIcE LAW

There is one feature of the Chicago
election of Tuesday the Importance of
which can scarcely be overestimated.
This is the adoption of the civil-service
bill passed by the Legislature and sub
mitted to the people for ratification or
rejection. The law was passed in such
form that it did not become operative
until ratified by a majority OF the voters
in any city to whom it might be sub
mitted Chicago was the first city in
the State to vote upon it, and it was
adopted by about $4,000 majority. The
event is full of significance First. as
the second largest city in the United
States and one of the worst governed,
If not the very worst, Chicago is in
desperate need Of municipal reform The
spoils system was working out its worst
results there on gigantic scale and
Things were rapidly growing worse. Sec
ond, the new system has the force of
law which has not only been passed by
the Legislature, but ratified by the peo-
ple.s 1T is not an ordinance passed by
one council that may be repealed by
another or set of rules that NAV be
modified or emasculated by an unfriend-
~ administration. but it is law with
the added sanction of popular ratifica-
ton. law with the referendum at
tached. AS revolutions of this kind do
not go backward there is no probability
that the law will ever be repealed. In
other words, it is the beginning of a
permanent system of municipal govern
ment and administrative reform.
The law itself is an adaptation of the
principles of the United States civil
service law to municipal government. 1t
provides that the Mayor shall appoint
three civil-service commissioners, who
shall serve one. two and three years.
respectively, not more than two of
whom shall be members of the same
political party. The entire municipal
service is to be classified and appoint
ments are to be made only after COM
petitive examinations, which shall be
free and open to ALL Promotions are to
be made on the basis of ascertained
merit and seniority in service and ex-
animation, and. where it is practicable.
all vacancies shall be filled by promo
ton. Politics are not to be taken into
account in appointments or promotions.
the merit system ruling exclusively No
officer or employee in the classified
service of the city appointed under the
civil-service rules shall be removed or
discharged except for cause upon writ
ten charges. The making of assess
ments or soliciting subscriptions or con-
tributions for political purposes is for
hidden in all departments of the city
government, either orally or by letter
or circular, and no employee shall be
promoted or removed for contributing
or refusing to contribute to any party
or for any political purpose 1t is made
the duty of the commission to see that
the law is enforced and to investigate
alleged violations of it.
The adoption of this law places Chi
cago at the head of American cities in
respect of civil-service reform. Boston
has the nearest approach of any city
to a civil-service system, but the Chi
cage law is far in advance of the Bos-
ton plan. It's adoption is an event of
great Importance and marks the Begin
ming of a new departure in municipal
government in the United States.