Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-03

Local Interest in the Campaign.
The COVE rnment employees in Washington,
constituting numerous and important ele
ment of the capitals population, are per-
sorally, directly, and especially interested
in two OF the issues of the present politi-
cal campaign.
The first is the proposition, through IT.
dependent free coinage of silver at IL TO
i. to raise the prices of the commodities
which they must buy. or, putting it in
another form, to depreciate the value of
the money in which their salaries paid.
The silver argument with wase-earners.
while conceding or claiming rise in prices
as the result of free coinage, insists tina.
wages have been kept in the past from
sharing in the fall of prices either through
the protective tariff the trades unions
or both combined. and that these same
influences. cooperating with an alleged
incI tease in the demand for labor under
free coinage. will certainly cause wages
In the future to rise at least in proportion
TO the rise in prices, so that the wage
Garner VII not suffer. However much OF
little force this argument may have with
workingmen in general it does not appeal
at all TO the government empIoye. He
will have no labor organization to push
probation of the dollars in which it will
he paid He is not employed by any
protected industry to share, through the
predicted bountiful beneficence OF his en-
ployer, in the increased profits to come
from stiffening of tariff rates and an
Increase of prices. The victory of the
pOpuEst idea in November would doubtless
extend 10 the national legislature. and the
populist belief concerning the government
clerk IS that he is overpaid The chances
are that a populist-controlled Congress
would not even he satisfied with the cut in
salaries resulting from the depreciation
of the dollars in which they are to be paid
To prevent this reduction in the nominal
amount of the salaries is the most that
could tie hoped for. A legislative increase
compeusa;ing for the depreciation of the
purchasing power of the money would be
impossible.
. The second issue in which the DEPARTMENT
clerks are vitality concerned is that of the
merit system in the civil service In the
same platform that declares unqualifiedly
for the free coinage of silver is this plank:
we opposed to life tenure in the pub
lie service. We favor appointments based
upon merit, fixed terms of office, and such
an administration OF the civil service laws
as will afford equal opportunities to all citi-
Zens of ascertained fitness.
That blow. If it lands, will strike very
near home. IN the speech which secured
him the democratic nomination Mr. Bryan
said:
They complain about the plank which
declares against the life tenure In office
What We oppose in that plank is the life
tenure that is being built up in Washington
which excludes from participa ton in the
benefits the humber members of our socie-
ty."
The so-called life tenure, which is opposed
is merely tenure during good behavior
and efficiency. Civil-service reform tenure
is based upon merit A man is clerk or a
messenger or an artisan or a laborer just
so long as he honestly and satisfactorily
performs the duties assigned to him by his
superiors. If he enjoys life-tenure he does
SO because of his fitness Originally chosen
by reason of merit ne remains in the public
service because it pays to keep him there;
every month of experience adds to his value
in governmental employ just it would
Were he engaged by a corporation or in
dividual What the Chicago platform pro-
poses as substitute for the present merit
system is rotation in Office as under the
spoils system with employment only for
fixed terms system which tends to de-
trained and experienced service. which re-
duces the efficiency of the individual clerk
by keeping him through the uncertainty as
to his tenure in inferno of anxiety and
suspense, and which strikes a blow at the
material interests of Washington by chang
irg a large body of residents from perma
nent home-makers. property-owners and
taxpayers into shifting transients with
bair hei raf
property interests elswhere-
The proposed cutting-dOwn of salaries
ard the planned instability of the now
rational tenure of Office must, if they ever
approach naturalization, damage seriously
the prosperity of the national capital In
the home of every government employe
there will he doubt and distress, which will
Immediately affect the merchants and in a
little while be so spread as to iniure the
entire community; from the wealthy prop
erty-owner VINO has houses to rent or sell
to the workingmen whose steady employ
ment depends altogether upon the reason
able prosperity of those who do the EN-
ploying. Having no lot part in the bal
loting by which the President of the
United States ana members of the Senate
and House of Representatives are elected
the inhabitants of the District of Columbia
are nevertheless deeply concerned in those
political operations which in all other sub
divisions of the United States are person.
ally interesting TO those who possess and
use the voting franchise. In some respects
the District of Columbia has more, COM
paratvely, at stake in a national election
than is risked by any other community in
the republic; it certainly has in the contest
which Will reach its elimination in Novem-
Der next.
DR.. Jameson has been brought to a stern
realization OF the fact that a half raid is
a great deal worse than no raid at all