Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-27
Civil Service Reform.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:

To the Editor of The Evening Star: -.s-f
read with great interest and approval
the article in your paper having regard to
Auditor Henry A. Castles policy in re-
organizing his Office 1t is a long lane
that has no turning, and the appointing Of
persons through political influence alone
without regard to merit of efficiency or
merit of character, has become an abuse
True, that nearly all the appointees are
sons of the oldest and most influential
families of our nation, and men whose
education and training would naturally
lead one to class them as gentlemen, but
this is taking too much for granted. If
may be allowed, 1 would make the sug-
gestion that in addition to merit of eff
cheney, merit of character should be con-
sideration in the making of new appoint
ments and in the promotion of old. All
frst-class business houses require to be
furnished with good references. not only of
ability, but of character, before engaging
clerks ard others to fill responsible posi-
tons, and the business departments of
our government should be no less particu-
lar.
Two of the qualifications that should be
exacted and enforced from those holding
important positions in our departments
and drawing salaries 1 presume equivalent
to their responsibility and Importance
should be that they are thoroughly eff
clent to discharge their duties In a man.
ner creditable to the Office they hold and
the country they serve, and their general
character of honesty and sobriety unques-
tionable. 1t is said, but it is true that bust
ness people are more reluctant to give
credit to employees of the departments than
to any other class OF people in the city,
and in this way the really honest and up
right ones, which 1 doubt not are in the
majority, have to suffer for the dishonest
and unprincipled ones. those who forget or
fail to pay their house room rent, their
board bill, clothing and laundry accounts;
those who borrow money, never intending
to pay 1t back. l heard only yesterday
department official make the statement
that 1t was quite a common practice for
some of these people to- engage rooms or
a house, pay the finst months rent in adj
vance, then have sOme EXCUSE for not pay
ing in advance fo9 the second, and just
before 1t expired move ont and do the same
thing over again.
1t is time there was assdfting of the chaff
from the wheat, and l ask all honest men
and women. in the departments and out, to
stir themselves to have this DONE, and
fill their places. Representations of this
dishonest conduct have frequently been
laid before the heads of the departments,
but political influence has been too strong
for them to be able to remove the delin-
quents.
In nine cases out of ten a creditor has
no redress. No honest man or woman need
take offense at what have written. Rather
should they hail itsas a step in the right
direction to have for their associates honest
and respectable persons. instead of gam
blers. drunkards and those who will not
pay their just debts, for there are occa-
sions when to even the most worthy credit
would be boon, which, under existing
circumstances. they have great difficulty in
obtaining. 1t is to be hoped the President
and all the members of his cabinet will
approve and uphold the above and see it
enforced. PRO BONO PUBLICO.