The morning times., 1897-02-07
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM IN CITIES

cities must be taken out of politics The
government of cities has nothing to do
with legislation or questions OF national
administration The legislature OF state
and the Congress of the United states deal
with the political rights and duties OF
citizens. The municipality simply has TO
DO with the property interests of its
taxpayers and police regulations. 1t is
a mere business institution, and should be
administered only by business methods.
Amunicipal corporation may he very badly
mana ged without coming TO the grief that
would meet a private business corporation
similarly conducted. The municipal cor
poration continues to exist and the tax
paycrs bear the loss The citizen should
get full value for the money which is taken
from him 10y taxation. It has been said
that the average American citizen has one
months earnings out OF the year taken
from him by force for the support OF the
State. He has to bear the burden of waste
and ndsrule He should demand that in
return for what is taken from him, he
gets protection for his life and property,
good sewerage, clean streets, pure water,
good schools, etc. If taxes are justly
levied and wisely expended, the value
or the citizens property is enhanced. If
there is prodigal expenditure, through
incompetency and corruption, the property
of each citizen is deprecated. This de-
probation may amount to more than the
whole amount of the tax.
The second annual report OF the Ciyil
Service Commission at Chicago, Just is
sued, makes a good showing q the prac-
tical application Of the reform system in
that city The Illinois civil service act
gives the commission the power OF investi-
cation into the conduct and action Of ap-
pointees. and 1t has been SO used as to be
of great benefit TO the service Of the city.
Assistance was rendered to the commis-
sion by the Civic Federation and the Citi-
zens' Association OF Chicago, and many
Irregularities and positive violations of
law were hlSI0NtIcu- 1lc ltIIiOh olo anu
convictions thus obtained have had a
salutary effect.
Promotions and appointments throughout
the service Of the city Of Chicago are now
based solely upon the merit Of the appl-
cants as ascertained by competitive ex-
animation, without regard to their politi-
social ipflmpnHp As the
commission well says in its report: Eco
nomical and able management is just as
necessary to success in the affairs OF a
great city as in those Of a great railroad
or a great bank
As illustrating the old method, the re-
port says:
When the Civil Service Commission en-
tered upon its duties, it was currently re
ported that upward of forty thousand
applications, backed by Endorsements OF
political friends, were on file in the office
OF the mayor and the principal depart
ments OF the city government. 1t is no
exaggeration TO say that at least one-half
OF the time given to public duties by the
officers above named was consumed in
listening TO and considering these appli-
cations. The cost to the municipality
Of this diversion of the time of its chief
officers can only be estimated. a citizen
appearing before the mayor or head of a
department on matter OF public bust
ness often had to wait hours or perhaps
days before his case could receive atten-
tion; thus not only the public service, but
the interests OF the citizens, were made
TO suffer thereby.
Great interest is being felt throughout
the country in the success OF the applica-
tion of civil service rules to the city of
Chicago. The commission states that it
has had requests for copies of the law and
rules from nearly every State in the
Union, and that they have been and are
still being used as guide in framing sim
far legislation for cities in several States.
The Illinois act is very stringent in its
provisions. For instance; it subjects every
position in the service below the mayor,
Including laborers, to competitive tests,
and requires the appointme Mt of the per-
Son standing highest in the examination,
not giving a choice from among three, as
in the Federal system. On this point the
commission says that it is unanimously of
the opinion that the objection that the act
is too stringent is not well founded. 1t
adds: 'The act as it stands has been
pronounced by those most competent to
Judge the best law yet passed by any
legislature upon the subject OF which il
treats, and it is believed that it will, If
properly enforced, fully accomplish the
purpose for which it was enacted"
1t is to be hoped that the law will be
permitted 10 stand until further expert
ence shall show where it can be changed
TO advantage. An attempt is being made
by the politicians to defeat the system,
but they should remember that Chicago
at the election gave a-naiority of $4,000
IN favor OF the adoption OF the law.
bill is now pending in Congress to
extend the Federal civil service act to