The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-30


council have no excuse for pretending
that they are called upon by the party
or by even a respectable minority of
the Republican party TO bring such
shame upon IL as the destruction of the
merit system in the civil service. If
they will look over the signatures TO
the petition they will find very few rep
resentatlve Republican names. and
many of those are Of good-natured men
who dislike to refuse when they are
asked TO sign a petition.
II is claimed that sometimes efficient
men are rejected for some trifiing
cause through the merit system. That
is always unfortunate, but what are
we going to do when those exception
ally experienced men are ell dead? IL
II could be proved that uader the spoils
never rejected. but was always APP
pointed. and that under IT an incompe-
tent man never found his way into the
civil service. that would be a good ar
gument against continuing II. 1t is the
rankest absurdity To pretend that this
In so. II il so notorious that 1t makes
a laughing stock of the man who stands
up and pretends Ii was not so that un-
der ehe spoils system competent men
were not only occasionally but were
very frequently thrust aside in order
to make place for political heeiers. who
could never hold n sa1aried position in
private business. II is not necessary
TO cite instances. Every citizen OF s;e-
attic knows ii to be So The citys
books show 1t: its business shows 1t;
the debts IL has to pay prove 1t: the
hlunders IL Ia smarting for now were
the result Of IL.
The point Is not whether some com
petent applicant has been rejected. but
whether some incompetent has been ae-
cepted The question for the people IF
this city 10 consider Is simply whether
the efficiency OF officials has not been
increased by the merit system; Is it's
business more CompesentIy attended -:
are It's books IN better shape: are It's
funds kept more securely; Is 1t being
daily protected from the possibilities Of
errors which are 20 cost suits fer $50
ILL ss..s a liz
tugc?
- there Is an Incompetent man IN the
esivlcs q. the city today. es rcsuit
81 :he nctis systeni. and any citizen
knows H. Why doea he not prefer
sharsyes aEaiHgt the riane II. In any
respect. ..e ra.es of the civil service
commission are unjust, Why docs not a
member % the council stand up AID
aola, ~, The 6cfecte If any man ST
fers Injustice AZ the hands Of the com.
mission, wthy does he not petition the
coancu for = hearing
The peoal, of Seattle xrc we'll aware
taas apon the application % the civil
serS see rules two or three good men
tsd IL be dropped hecause. with some
sood qualities they lid net Eli the Re
aujremeats That was unfortunate.
public rs mpa,hy was extended ~ them.
aus tf thelg places werr taken h. more
cassprfeut u,su. h. men ho casac near.
e. those requirements which have h@en
found essential In department work.
thea the civil service sye,em was
b1rssinS IN The city, ever though II
worked hardship upsn two or three
individuals
There "a not one word 10 be said
against the principle - the n,egit svs-
tegn; tnr~c - rot ere fault Ia connee-
,loo with IT which cannot b. remedie,i
~ the city coetneu Itself There Is L
grand principle In this. Its application
has ooea made ooe of the tasks X the
Republican psriy ard every tr9e Re
publican should scou; the t1ea 4 a ra-
turn "a thc evils 80 ;he sf3Hs system.
The Foyallsss are rejoicing az the
evidence - weakness on the part Of
Republicans They arc urging sabrEs-
S;oa - TIE question. bat or electlc. day
these Popalises who are srss 10 them
selves viii X found haunting She weak
knesd sgst oac&slgdl1g Republicans. ana
yotinx IN tayor ct that system which
every honest citizen profits by ana no
honest and capable oxtceseeker should
b. afraid t. Meet
II there sas been any doubt in the
PAST IS 20 the attitude az the post-In-
tsNsgsnecr on this sao3~ct we hope -
renloVa s. ~ TIRE declaration that Il
wi!i usa Ali the persuasion in IS power
aaa al tie eArnestwess AZ It's command
to defeat any effort 10 res4rn t. ;ae