The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-24

VIOLATION OF CIVIL SERVICE.

Seattle, Dec. 3. 1895
To the Editor: / have read with sur
prise the action OF the majority OF the city
council in passing The ordinance 20 Iegis-
late the present city electrician out OF Of
fee II Is a bold, fragrant attempt a vio-
lation OF the principle OF the civil service
provisions Of the charter.
Since first adopted. il has been quite
common for the chiefs Of departments or
the appointing officer TO try TO evade the
civil service rules. This is often because
OF personal dislikes, but ! believe this is
the first instance in the history of the re-
form that the rules have been deliberately
abused by a legislative body.
The civil service or merit system is rec
ognized as one OF the mos. essential re-
forms In this government. Ii is being rap
idly adopted and extended all over this
country. The essential principles Of the
system are:
FIrst-Competitive examination OF all
applicants for public office, the appoint
ments to be made from those best quail
fled, without regard TO political or religious
affiliations.
second-when once appointed the of
feer holds his place during good behavior
and not to be removed. except for negii-
gence, malfeasance or inefficiency.
The proposed ordinance violates both
principles.
There was a regular examination for the
office OF city electrician. The present bod
er of the office was chosen as the fttest
man. There has been no charge that the
examination was not fair or the appoint
ment proper nor has there been any COM
plant that he has not done his duties
faithfully.
Now the council. by the shallow trick Of
changing the name of the office, are at
tempting to remove this man and put in
office another man, who took the same
examination and competed for the place.
bat who failed Of appointment This ordi-
nance would reverse the rule that merit
wins. How shamefully unjusti
But bad as this Is, ii Is not as bad as
the method they must resort to 10 accom-
plish It. Those seven councilmen must
have a secret agreement with the three
members OF the board of public works.
Their plan could not work without it. Ten
men enter into this conspiracy! For what?
To take away this mans employment.
that he has fairly competed for and fair
" won and faithfully attended TO, and
give II TO his competitor And what
wretched shams they devise to make the
plot look plausible! They call the "city
electrician the inspector of electrictyi'
They had just as well cali fireman an
inspector OF burning buildings or a ''po-
Iiceman" a 'watchman:" II IS lust as
simple. They say they have added new
duties to the office. They could just as
well add them TO the city electricians
duties They say they leave the new Of
fee" open for competitive examination,
but they have a secret agreement who shall
be chosen. What a farce that examina-
ton would he,
II this ordinance should be finally adopt
ed and the other man appointed, 1t would
be Illegal. for II is a conspiracy 10 violate
the law. But 1t does seem strange that
the city council whom the people look TO
to uphold the law. should be found con-
spring TO violate and evade IT, Yours truly,
FALCON JOSLIN.