The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-17
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
$40 the Trustee Belongs the Trust' Is
Now the Cry of Its Opponents.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
In the discussion pro and con of the merits
and demerits of the civil-Service law it
now exists and operates it should not be
assumed that the friends of the law have
a monopoly on patriotism and good govern
ment, and that those who do not favor the
law are all victims of corrupt craftsmanship
and bad government. Those who are warm
ly advocating the law seem to think they
have a corner sincerity and lofty I'M
seltishness, and that the opponents are act
ing from purely selfish motives. Congress-
man Johnson, of our own State, in rather a
radical and vehement speech in the House.
said: 1.-The law was heartily approved by
all except a few degenerate politicians, who
opposed it from selfish motives" Sooner or
later Mr.. Johnson will learn that the coun-
try is full of his self-styled degenerate
politicians" Calling names is not the way
to advocate or oppose cause 1t might
be well to observe here that a number of
those who have sprung UP rather suddenly
as champions of the civil-service law have
been known as what may be called profess
sional politicians, and that since President
Mckinley issued his recent order in favor
of the bill these politicians have tossed
high their ready cap In air. and huzzahed
for the law. OF course, there is nothing
like standing in with the administration es-
pecially when one is ever prompted to do
so by the highest and most unselfish and
patriotic motives. No doubt Congressman
Steele and others who oppose the bill as
it is and want ii either repealed or reme-
died are just much interested in good
government and efficient service and are
just sincere and unselfsh as Mr.. John
son and other friends Of the law No one
u, lie e h.
Mr.. Steele as a degenerate politician
Neither is it putting the issue exactly cor
rect to assume that civil service always
means merit and efficient service and pure
politics, and that the trust system (mis-
called by some the "spoils system" to make
1t sound ugly) always means inefficient
service and impure politics. The terms
civil service" and 'spoilS system are
both in a measure misnomers and convey a
The names suggest that civil service means
everything that the literal meaning of
civil" and service would indicate. and
that "spoilS system means something bad
and corrupt. The friends of the law have
assumed to christen IL the merit system,
as If there was no merit outside that sys-
We all believe in merit service and civil
service, but the eivil-service law as II Is
does not necessarily mean or always bring
either merit or civil service. l know in-
stances where it has produced very uncivil
what the term suggests. The Republican
party never has been 'spOis system
party There was a spoils system party
in control of our government from 1856 to
1860. 1t came very near spelling"
country entirely. That same "spoils sys-
tenn party was in power again from 1885,
to 1889 and from 1898 to March T. 1887. Ii
spoiled our factories. it spoiled American
labor, it spoiled the United States
treasury, il spoiled commerce and
trade ii spoiled American markets.
| If by 'spoils system is meant
that when the people elect party to pos
er and commit their interests TO that par
tvs keeping, th@t TIC 2arty. being respon-