The San Francisco call., 1896-09-12
The Boy Orators Latest Blum
der Loses Him Votes in
Every State.
HE LOVES THE sPoILs SYSTEM
Wide Dissffection Over the Popocratic
Candidates Views of Civil
Service.

The latest coup d'etat of William Jen-
nings Bryan is an assault upon the civil
service, reform system that has COM
mended itself to the broadminded states
men of all political parties for many
years, and that has made rapid strides in
the past four years.
The few lines devoted to civil service by
''the Boy Orator of the Platte" have re-
m owed all doubt as to the meaning of the
National Democratic platform, which con-
tanned some confused sentences on the
same subject. In his letter accepting the
Democratic nomination Mr.. Bryan an
nounces his firm adherence to the old
doctrine "to the victor belong the spoils"
in the following strong language, every
word of which is a blow at civil service:
That the people are not in favor OF life
tenure in the civil service is evident
from the facs that they, as a rule, make
frequent changes in their official repre-
sentatives when those representatives
are chosen by ballot. A permanent
office n olding class is not in harmony
with our institutions. A fixed term in
appointive offices, except where the
Federal constitution now provides
otherwise, would open the public serv-
ice to larger number of citizens with
out mpairing its efficiency.
1t is the general opinion of well-in-
formed Democrats that the candidate from
Nebraska has made a great blunder by his
hostile declaration, because it has alien
ated several hundred thousand votes be-
yond hope of recall being the votes OF
men under civil service rules, who will de-
fend their bread and butter regardless of
former party affiliations. Besides nearly
10000 employees in the various depart
ments of the civil service throughout the
Union, 1t must be remembered that they
have relatives and friends mum bering as
many more who Will doubtless cast their
ballots against the candidate who has
openly attacked the position of every man
new em ployed by the General Government
1t should be borne in mind that the
civil service rules now embrace nearly
every branch of the Government service,
the power TO extend 1t and enforce the
laws resting almost wholly with the Presi-
dent of the United States. Under the or
der of May last President Cleveland.
always warm advocate of civil service.
extended the rules to EN- brace all en-
ployes OF the Government except cashiers.
chief deputies and iaborers. Employees of
the Mint and many thousands in the in
ternal revenue service now come under the
same protection. That extends to carriers
in the postal service.
There is bill in Congress now" said
prominent Government employe yester-
day, "to put the clerks under the same
protection enjoyed by carriers. The Ma
tional letter-carriers. $4,000 strong, are
now In session at Grand Rapids and the
National Clerks Association is in session
at Denver. 1t is quite probable that both
bodies will take notice of Mr.. Bryan's
blow at their interests. Many of them
have devoted years to their business feel
ing that the laws guaranteed them So
curity, and they look upon Bryan's
assault as unjust and unwarranted. He
has lost thousands of votes by that one
clause in his letter. Indeed, it is hard to
see how civil service men can support him
al ALL"
The civil service rules prohibit the dis
cussion of politics by officers and make
offensive partisanship reprehensible, and
for this reason men in the Government
service cannot be quoted. An officer
prominent in civil service matters, how
ever, spoke to CALL reporter as follows
yesterday:
Il had intended to support Bryan, but
cannot do so now, for be has hit at me and
my friends. You may ak all you please
about the limited power of the President,
but tell You frankly that If the President
of the United States is not favora bic 20 civil
service the law is dead letter. WHY? Be-
cause if the President ignores the law the
Civil Service Commissioners are power
less.
"The President holds the KEY to the
whole situation, and without his co-opera-
ton any mans job Is in peril. For ex-
ample, II collector or postmaster yio-
Iates the civil service law there is only one
person who can punish him for 1.-THE
President. The President can say: Up
hold the law or off goes your head, but
II the President shuts his eyes to viola
tions OF the law by heads of departments
there is no redress. Employees may be
discharged for any whim imaeinabIe. or
to make places for favorites.''
There are many staunch Democrats
VINO now look askance at the utterauces of
William Jennings Bryan on civil service.
Among these may be mentioned many
venerable citizens who have held Office in
the past.
One OF the greatest friends of civil service
reform under Clevelands first admins
tratlon was Postmaster William J. BRYAN
OF TINS City, who has always been friend
OF civil service and the present system.
1t Is almost certain that the attitude OF
nundreds OF Democrats IS directly opposed
to the spolis system announced by the
candidate from Nebraska.
The civil service rules now in force go
on the basis that merit is its own reward.
but under the spoils system announced
by Mr.. Bryan offices would be at the
optlon OF the appointing power. The fol-
loving quotations from the present law
show how appointments are now made:
When there is a vacancy to be filed the
board o, examiners certifies to the proper
officer, from the proper register of eligibles,
the names OF the three persons graded highest
of the sex called for; and from the three a
selection must be made. Only three certifica-
tions OF a name are allowed. Each name re-
mains eligible on the register one year unless
the person is sooner appointed or unless the
name is dropped for other good reason
No prediction VIII be made of the time or
OF the probability of appointment Each
applicant by his examination decides his own
Standing, and hence his own prospects for an
appoln tment.
There is no need OF seeking the aid of any
prominent or presumably influential person
TO secure application paper or an exam
ination. No recommendation or certificate
besides those provided for in the application
itself viii be received or can be OF any use in
securing an examination or certification for
Time spent in attempts to
change the order of certificaton will be lost.
Neither the commission nor any examiner can
help any one TO get an appointment, and they
have nothing TO do with the selection by the
officer from among those certified.
Every appointment is made for probation-
ary period of six months, at the full salary
attached to the position, at the end of which