The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-10
REFORM LAW MUST REMAIN.
CIVIL SERVICE METHODS BRING
GOOD RESULTS.

Far More Competent Class of
Clerks Secured by the Government
Departments Than Under the OLD
Political spells Rcgime-Much Ret
ter W DIRK Secured Under the Merit
system as the Standard For Reten-
ton of POsition-Thc old system
UndemOcrntic and Un-American.
Washington, Dec 9.-Secretary of the
Navy Long to-day expressed to an Asso-
ciated Press reporter the hope that the
present civn service system would not be
impaired. He said he had entire sympathy
for the congressman who are
brought directly In contact with
applicants for official position
but he believed the President was
right and should be sustained. He was
of the opinion that the great body of the
people have no desire to go back to the old
system-certainly not If their attention is
called to the merits of the case.
With great Difference for the opinions
of Others who differed from him. the
views which before occupying his present
position he has held with regard to the
benefits of the present system, had been
confirmed by his experience i'm the navy
department He said: First, the gov
eminent has better service. The civil SER
vice arrangements are much better than
represented but even at their worst. they
result in furnishing most competent clerks
who, instead of looking to political infiu-
ence for their retention in office, know
that that depends on their merit and good
work. The power of removal which hangs
over their head all the time, and which
should never ha INN nj >,
heads of departments are constantly In
Voking i'm cases Of ineffciency, keeps them
up to the mark.
second, the congressman themselves, as
wen as the heads OF departments are re-
heved from what used to be an incessant
drive upon them, taking half their time
Under the old system, where they pleased
one they made enemies of ten. More and
more as the new system becomes settled,
with this relief increase.
Third, the applicant for Office is put on
a true democratic and American footing
me old system was absolutely undemo-
cratic and un-American. If there is a
democratic or American principle il is that
every man shall have a chance to win
with merit. What would be said if a
schoolmarm were 20 put at the head of
her class, not the best scholar, but the
scholar whom the school committeeman
who secured her her place. directs? There
would be storm in every American hdise-
hold. And yet, under the old system the
congressman even If against
his WILL was compelled to be a car
IN the matter of appointments. The young
American citizen DESTROYS 10 enter the
national service could only do so-not by
going into competition with other candi-
dates-but by securing the consent of a
political party authority. 1t was not
enough that he was one of the people. Lut
he must he within q Of IN
of those to whom that authority was IN
der obligation"
The secretary added that 1t Is his bust
ness to obey the law-not to make it
and that he has never yet ceased to rec
ognize the wisdom and good sense of con-
gress and does not believe representing
as it does. the best sentiment of the dav
that 1t will differ from the President as
to the improvement under the present or
der of things"