Evening star., 1896-11-09
4 Suggested Remedy.
tor of The Evening Star:

10 tDe ElltOr OF 1ne Evening star:
Now that the question of dismissals for
excessive partisanship is being discussed,
I want to suggest a permanent remedy for
all such troubles
1t is simply to so amend the civil service
law to provide that when persons ac-
cept an appointment in the government
service, the appointees shall neither take
part in politics, nor vote at elections SO
long they retain their position in the
service
At first sight this may strike one OBJ
jectionable on the ground that it inter-
fereS with the right of citizenship; but in
answer to that 1t Is the fact that 1t is op-
tiCnal with ALL If any one is willing to
give up his right to participate in politics
and elections for the sake of permanent
position in the service of the government,
surely others can have no ground for OBJ
lection.
Such persons would simply occupy the
same position that citizens do who leave
the states to reside permanently in the
District of Columbia, under the present
conditions existing here. One OF the prin-
cipal arguments in favor of the adoption
of the civil service law when it was pro-
posed was to prevent the undue influence
in politics of those holding government
positions. and their neglect of their official
duties. This remedy would completely pre-
vent both those evils; and if there was any
force or truth in the above reasons then
there Is the same now. Besides, what
sense is there in the clerks spending the
time and money in going home to register
and to vote? If, as is claimed, the appoint
ments are substantially equal between the
two political parties, the votes of the one
set of clerks simply offset those of the
other set or party, and, therefore, cannot
change or affect the result.
1t happens one time in a thousand that
a single vote, or a very few votes decides
the election of member, and in such
cases the votes Of clerks may affect the
result. but taken as a whole, their vote
is SO inf1nitesimal as to practically be Of
no account.
Then again, the practice of going home to
vote works hardship on those who reside
in the distant states Clerks in the nearby
states can go al small expense, but those
residing in the distant states cannot, and
consequently many of these, especially
those having families to support, feel that
they cannot afford it, and. therefore, do not
go, and hence the practice operates un-
equally in the different states. Hundreds
of applications were made to the poIiti-
cal clubs and the congressional commit
tees durirg g the recent canvass by en-
ployeS for assistance in going home to
vote, because, as they said. they were not
able to pay the expense. The proposed
amendment would work a relief to all
such, and equally so to those who were
able to go. In the British civil service,
from which ours was substantially copied,
it is a well settled rule that those holding
positions In the service shall not in any
manner participate in politics; and the De-
partment of Justice of the United States
adopted substantially that position in the
recent campaign.
Why not, then, amend the law as above
suggested, and put an end at once to all
the troubles arising from the present prac-
tice?
1t striAes me that it would be good
thing for all concerned, and would work
hardship to no one. OBSERVE Err.