The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-11
THE JIG WOULD RE Up

THE JIG WOULD BE UP.
The average machine politician has at
least a forcible and emphatic way of
expressing himself Occasionally he
hits off situation exactly by a single
phrase. SO we could not improve upon
the statement Of local politician made
through the G o b the other day.
| that if the civil service reform bill
should pass the legislature 1.-THE Jig
would be up for a whole lot Of people
VINO are now holding good jobs" That
is just the size Of it, and it explains
the opposition to the civil service re-
form system, as we'll as the earnest
ness with which it is championed. A
large class of people, embracing the
majority of those in active political life.
regard government as merely an in
stltution designed by divine Providence
to furnish good jobs" to themselves,
The idea that it exists to transact
the publlc's business, and that the pub
lie has right to have it's business
transacted as cheaply and as efficient
~ as any private concern, does not
occur to them. Having made politics
a profession, they understand only that
the offices are its reward, and that if
these were disposed Of in some
other way than by favor, their
house would crumble about their ears.
The funniest thing of all Is the We
hement indignation Of the gentleman
interviewed, and we do not doubt that
he was sincere, at the desire Of some
pody to get a good appointment under
this law, while frankly confessing, q
few lines distant, that he and his kind
are after other jobs themselves. 1t
was utterly disgusting to this public
functionary to find citizens I'D at the
capitol actually insisting upon the pass
age Of the civil service law. What
do them kind Of people," said he, in the
politicians choicest English, know
about what is good for a city. Civil
service is all right during a campaign
to howl about, but when you get to
having any such thing enforced. it's
different
This gentleman is to be commend
ed' at least for a frankness greater
than is common to his kind. He knows
what he wants and why he wants if.
And he means to have 1t. AS to the
great body Of our people, who do not
hold office and dc not hone to and
VINO are not bribed in their political
actlon by any promise Of preferment
there is no question that they hava
very soft side for the civil service
reform system. In fourteen Years #
has made It's way in this country from
the place of a mere theory, laughed at
and sworn at by the practical noliti
clans. until now nearly all the federal
offices, outside Of the fourth class most
hlastershlps, are assigned by competi
tive examination and without regard to
party The relief to the practical noli-
tlclan has been found scarcely less than
the benefit TO the public service. Tn
many Of the states similar laws have
been passed, applicable as we'll to civil
service in large cities within their
UOunQdr1eS.
1t is quite time that we had such
law in Minnesota, governing all state
appointments and all the subordinate
Offices in our large cities It would he
unquestionably a calamity to noiiti-
cans OF the type of the gentleman wa
have quoted. THE jig would he nm,
Tor good many of them. Public place
would cease to have so great an at
traction for men unqualified to fill If
and public officials and bodies Of n,,b-
TIC men would not spend so much time
deciding how to get a janitor or ele-
vator man or scrub woman out Of placa
ana to get party follower in. Rut
we would have a much more responsi
Die governing body and a much moro
efficient government. Sooner or later
the reform system is bound to he an
pled here, as well as elsewhere. The
sooner 1T comes the sooner tttbe iip
will be up for them kind Of peonIan
who regard public office as their Ie-
gltlmate prey, and are not going "to
stand any such work" as is suggested
by the civil service rofov,,,o,.o