Evening star., 1896-09-28
TO LOOT THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The Plainly Expressed Purpose OF
Candidate Bryan.


Candidate Bryan.
From Good Government
Mr. Bryans purpose to loot the civil
service in the event of his election is stated
officially in his letter of acceptance. His
announcement on the subject is as follows:
That the American people are not In
favor of life tenure in the civil service is
evident from the fact that they, as rule,
make frequent changes In their Official
representatives when those representatives
are chosen by ballot A permanent ofhce-
holding class is not in harmony with our
institutions A fixed term In appointiVe
offices, except where the federal Constitu-
ton now provides otherwise, would open
the public service to a larger number OF
citiZers without mpairing its efficiency.
The civil service law requires that when
ever vacancies in subordinate places are
to be filled. the persons selected Tor ap-
pointment shall be those whose relative mt
ness has been ascertained through competf-
tive examination. AS the appointing officer
is not permitted to make his own selec-
tions either for political or personal rea-
sons the temptation to create vacancies Is
largely removed. This is the only way IN
which the law protects the employe. IL
has become the custom, now that removals
for political reasons may not be followed
by appointments for reasons of the same
sort. to allow the public servant to remain
formed well and faithfully. Thus the just
and essentially American custom OF merit
tenure has been developed. 1t is not
creation of either rule or law, and, such
as it is, depends for continuance on the
personal disposition of department heads.
There is no life tenure being built up
at Washington" anything approaching
it. When Mr.. Bryan makes statements OF
this scrt-generally to people who are not
in a position to know better-he is guilty,
at least. of conspicuous inaccuracy.
His assertion that "a fixed term In an
pontive offices would open the public ser
vice to a larger number of citizens without
impairing its efficiency" may be mere
matter of judgment. There are. however.
very few people of intelligence who will
agree with him. By fixed terms" Mr..
Bryan means the turning out every four
years of every person in the public service.
He makes no distinctions. His rule would
permit none. Letter carriers. customs Off
GERS department clerks, the great corps of
scientific investigators employed by the
government. men and women alike. all are
| to go; their places to be filled by others.
whose fitness is to be ascertained by some
/ new method. unnamed as yet. but not un-
| conjectured. The mere continuance of a
party in power through two or three ad-
ministra tons is to make no difference. The
plan in view calls for periodical change,
| and the waiting thousands must have their
| turn. Every four years 2n.W0 old en-
ployes must make way for the same num-
ber of new ones; or, perhaps for double the
| dred times 2Uo.Go0 full-grown citizens in the
| land. and if all are to receive their rights
| under Mr.. Bryans system the supply of
| offices must be increased indefinitely
The proposition that vast BODY of
| trained employees may be dismissed periodi-
| cally, and the service be reorganized every
| four years, with new officers and new SUBJ
| ordinateS, alike unframed. without i'm
pairing its efficiency, is laid down 10y a man
| who seeks to direct the business affairs of
the nation. Were Mr.. Bryan elected to the
presidency, the destruction of the business
| organization Of the government and the
| looting of the public service would begin at
| once. This, very plainly, is the present
| danger, and q very great one.