Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-17

From observations ON the Old and
the New Systems.

the New Systems.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Apropos of the discussions of the civil
service word may not be out of place
from one who is not politician. and never
has been nor sought to he employed by the
government. yet who has had opportunity
to observe the working of civil service
both in and out OF Washington.
The economic phase of the question seems
to be wellnigh ignored in the heated deba ties
over the system. tt e terms reform and
"repeal'' of the civil service and ''retrench-
nent'' have of late gone so hand in hand
to imply that they are synonymous
The question arises. us this true-has the
government teen under heavier expense
because Of the application of the civil serv-
ice law Upon investigate we find that
not only is this not the fact. but that IN
der the civil service regulations, the work
OF the government in all its non-political
lines. such as the syStematiZed work of
the departments in Washington, of the.
railway mail service, etc. has been con-
Quoted with far less expense than under
the sn0ils system. Why" We ask lis
this so2' Because. although certain glar-
ing violations of the law have existed yet
IN general, mere capable persons are doing
the work; consequently. fewer are required.
The reason is obvious, as any one who has
noted cause and effect under the regime of
each system may gee.
Under the Old System.
Applied. for instance. to the departments
in Washington, under the former tactics
men who were incapable of earning a sub
stantial livelihood in the regular walks of
life appealed to their congressman and
grasped positions as a makeshift thinking
like Mr. Micawber. that if their party fail
ed to he reinstated something else would
turn up The inevitable result was that
rl-t.
spend much of their time correcting the
work of those who We're too indolent and
secure in their political backing pro
tempore. to trouble themselves about The
small matter of performing the duties for
which they were paid.
inter tie civil service rules even with
their faults. this has been largely changed
Capable. ambitious men have sought and
obtained positions in Washington as they
would IN the business world where they
saw TIRE prospect of a reasonably perma-
nent POSITION, with honest advancement
rom faithful performance of duty As to
the women, il is hardly necessary to speak
Al! Who are familiar with Washington
must know how vastly superior in faith
iuiheSs ana intelligence are those now EN-
ploEti I" the class that We're employed in
the departments and were retained SOLELY
through political influence whether they
worked or not under the spoiis system
An equally good result has been apparent
where state reform schools. institutions for
the blind and for the deaf and dumb have
been pl1ced under state civil service rules.
Efficient teachers have proven themselves
nj Tor the positions by ability to pass a
rigid examination. and. regardless of
changes of administration, have been re-
tained after having learned the best way
TO perform their difficult duties. Natural
~ they nave become more interested in
the welfare ard progress of their pupils.
AMI a steady rise in the standard of the In
stituti' has resulted.
Against Extreme Extension.
However. in dwelling upon these effects
or system that cannot fail. when properly
carried out. to prove both economical and
conducive to better results in the work per-
formed than ftful. changing plan that
initiates an Inexperienced set of clerks at
stated intervals. one would not wish to be
considered as approving the extreme ex-
tension OF the civil service which has been
enacted the past few years. Such a course
is foreign to common sense and to the or
1glnai idea In many instances, it Is as
absurd as for a board of education to re-
quire janitor to he a normal or college
graduate Nor could any sensible person
regard as wise the retention in office of
those VINO from age or irfirmity have be-
como incaDable of performing their duties
IN q satisfactory manner. Such a proceed
mr. Is rarely known in the business world
hence- why should not the work of the
so'eihinenf be conducted upon sound bus