The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-04

not rendering an equivalent for the
service given, for under the old regime
work was half done, badly done and
many places were created with which
to pay spoils debts There are now
only places enough in the national civil
service to do the work and do it we'll
Now just glance at the history of
xlEis movement, which has gone on
now for twenty-five years. Begun in
the agitation Of three or four men.
who stood up in behalf of this cause
when it was at the loss Of political
place, and at the risk of political repu-
tatiOn. These men saw that the spOiI4'
system was undermining the founda-
tiCns Of this government. They read
again the prophecy Of the fathers of
this country, who said that if such a
system should become established, it
would lead to our country's downfall,
and they began their agitation as I'M
selhshly as did the original anti-slav-
cry men theirs.
Thirteen years ago the civil service
bill was passed, became a law, and
went into limited operation. From
time to time it has grown in strength,
the people gradually awakening to the
consciousness of what it meant. till,
with President Cleveland's last order
May last, every remaining office
in the gift of the national government
except about 600 mot counting postOf-
fees and consulShips) was put under
what is called the classified service
And these 600 are left out, not because
they are still for hungry spoilsmen.
but because they cannot be filled by
competitive examination.
And now a word about the efficiency
of the civil service reform method
as compared with the old one. Judge
yourselves what an enormous improve
ment has come in this way. These
statements were given at the meet
ing at Philadelphia by President Proc
tor, president of the national civil
service commission. He said, from the
hgures that have appeared during the
thirteen years since the passage of the
FendletOn act the number of employees
In unclaSSitied branches of the service
at Washington had increased mate
rally; the number in the classified
grades Chat is those UNDER civil service
rules) had actually diminished, and
that, if the classified grades had in
creased the same as the unclassified
the additional cost of the government
would have been between So, 900, 900 and
100000 annually. In the case of the
department Of agriculture where the
merit system has been applied to the
furthest extent. Mr.. Proctor showed
that, although the work had been
trebled during the administration of
Secretary Morton. owing to the eff
cheney of the clerks under this system,
the number of employees had actually
been reduced one-fifth and $500, 600 of
the appropriation paid back into the
treasury.
Mr.. Proctor stated that when the
railway mail service was handed over
to the spoilsmen for a time. the errors
in the handling of letters went up to
one in over 1000. Now, after a few
years of civil service in that depart
ment, the errors are only one in over
10000. So much for efficiency. And
efficiency breeds morality.
In conclusion, let me say, I do not
understand how any one can wish to
be found in any other company than
the company of the heroes of our Je-
rusalem, who inaugurated this reform.
Some of them are still with us.
should think every one, for his own
sake, and not for the sake of the coun-
try and the city in which he lives,
for his own sake, L say, would want
to be found in the company of such
men, who. are indeed watchmen upon
the walls of our country. and who
have held their peace neither day nor
night, and who will never be satisfied
till they establish and make this Je-
rusalem, our America, a praise in the
earth.
Group. DR.. D. Jayne's Expectorant in large
doses will soon effect cure.
II bilious, take Jayne's Painless Sanative
Pills.