The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1897-12-20
rs THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM
IN DANGER?


We would not willingly underrate
the strength of the movement in op-
position to the civil service law.
Evidently determined attempt is to
be made in both houses of congress
either to modify or to repeal it. An
organization was formed some time
ago in Washington for the purpose
of destroying the system. We know
that there are men of both parties in
the senate and in the house who are
outspoken IN their denunciation of
the law, and would do anything they
could to break it down. But, after
all, there is no occasion for great
alarm, for ever since the law was
placed on the statute books it has
had its opponents in both branches
of congress. Attempts have been
made to repeal it and to starve it out
by refusing to make the necessary
appropriations for the work of the
civil service commission. We have
seen these attempts come to naught,
and in the face of them we have
seen the classified system expanded
until it includes nearly all branches
of the public service. Both parties
have commended it in their national
platforms, and declared that it ought
to be maintained. Last year, when
the Democratic party departed so
widely from its traditions, il went on
record against 1t, while the Republi-
can convention at St. Louis COM
mended it in stronger terms than
usual. All the presidents fol the
last four quadrenniums have been
true friends to the system; and the
members of the cabinets, with very
few exceptions, have given warm
tributes to its effectiveness.
What has happened to change pub
Tic opinion? Admitting that the
Democratic party is not at present
friendly, is it to be inferred from the
remarks of Congressman Grosvenor
and others that there has been a rev.
olution of sentiment IN the Republi-
can party since the convention at st.
Louis last year? We do not believe
it. The whole trouble lies here:
Since then the Republican party has
come into power, and Republican
congressmen find they have little
patronage to dispense. There are
many thousands who want Offices and
cannot get them. Our national leg
islators wish to pay off their political
debts in the cheapest way they can.
For this reason they want more pub
lie patti onage at their disposal. They
find many Democrats in Office, and
they would like the opportunity of
turning them ont so there will be va
cancies to be filed by Republicans.
This is why we hear so much clamor
in Washington about the inquities of
the civil service system.
It is significant that the attacks
upon the system do not come from
cabinet officers who are at the head
of departments, and have many
thousand clerks under them; not
from those who administer and who
know the results, but from congress
men and politicians who have no
such responsibility. Those who hold
positions of great trust, with thous-
ands Of clerks under them. are en-
tirely satisfied with its workings
they believe it is far more effective
and economical than the spoils sys-
tenn, and they know that it saves a !
great deaIof the time and worry for
merly given to applicants and of
applications. Secretary Long, of
the navy department, declares that it |
is infinitely better than the old sys-
tenn, not only for the appointing
power, but for the congressman them
e.