The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-15
Edward +. niaIne.. Views.

Edward T.. BfafBe's Views.
One Of the men who are naturally mast
deeply concerned In tho WORKING or the
civil service system Is Edward +. Blaine
q member of the commission, whose fair
ness and .horoughaess In his work VIII
hardly be questioned. lie was seen yes
to-day. and readily consented TO express
his own convictions.
s'ficm do yoa regard the movement 10
repeal fhe civil service section OF ths
charter asked the reporter
Knowing nothing OF the reasons for
such move. ] do not know that 7 ean
anawsr that question" replied MIR Blaine.
''Tbn same voters who adopted the char
ter certainly have the right TO express
their dissatisfaction with any portion CT
the same. X seems to me. however, that
such a change may involve more than
will NJ first appear. | have not examined
the charter. but my impression Il that
the merit system IS so interviewer with
the whole that the repeal of one section
VIII result in mitch confusion. | am not
surprised that such movement should
be started. All parties who have male
Application 10 the commission have not
passed the very easy examinations that
have been held and II is but natural that
they and their friends should feel that
the system Is not a success.
HAS the percentage of failures here
equaied the percentage Of failures I'm the
examination OF Eastern clties9"
by no means. Ia Chicago the last re-
port OF the commission there gives the
failure OF those who took the examination
as being g per cent. OF the total In other
words. only 81 out Of each 100 who tried
the examination succeeded Ia passing the
same. | am not able to give exact figures
rs to the results here. but I believe that
at least - per cent. have passed the exam
nation here"
Are the rules in force here original with
the commission here?
They are noi they are based on the
rules IN force In New York. Massachu-
sets and Chicago. with such modifica-
tions rs seemed necessary 10 III them 40
our conditions They have worked well
there. and IN the main have been satisf4r-
tory here Some few changes have been
found necessary. and more viii undoubt-
eddy be found desirable. Ia some instances
the enforcement of them has seemed to the
commission 70 work hardship en- a feg
individuals bat no other course was opun
To the commission. unless they were Will
INK To override ali rules and resolve them
selves into a committee TO place persons in
the service aut OF personal preference Il
has been the aim Ia make the rules as
easy for All ~ Was possible where so
many with sueh varied accomplishments
had 10 be dealt WITH
HAS the commission beon troubled with
complaints%
THE complaints coming ia my ears have
been very few, think noi more than
twenty IN the eighteen months OF the sery.
lee. These twenty include all complaints
Of every kind arising from dissatisfaction
with the markings trouble with ones fsf-
low employees and With the superior az.
fieers, That seems 20 me 20 compare very
favorahiy with the old-tims RquabhIes
when political service was the price Of ,
position. There have been only two re-
moyais from the service ~ tho city hs
cause OF an ATTRACTION 81 any Of the rtsl-s
OF the department in which the partta.
were al work. The complaints from th,.
heads OF the departments have been very
few
'pe you desire 70 correct any statements
IN the article az this marnlnge"
There are few statements therein that
seem calculated to mislsaa shc pehllr Tnr
Inference 20 hc drawn from rgadfns t~a
article T. inst all common faborers have
been obliged ~ pass an examination ia
the common school branches No one vho
has taken The trouble 90 ask anv - r,a
lahorers or sny member cf the reusuiesfar
would make such a statement Then ans
Inference IS THAI the chiefs OF The paI.,e
and fife departments cannot be removed
without consent 81 the civil service cou4-
mission. The charter expressly provides
that the CHIEF OF the police department
may - removed az tae discretion ~ tbs
MAYER. Without The riSht or apfeal 20 f,,-
civil service commission
''tlas the working nf the charter On vsf-
efence 90 the common lahorcr been salts.
factory"
'sSos in al respects Il hae3ly eania D.
eNneetea 20 be when about So RpffEes f,-