New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
COLONIAL CIVIL SERVICE.

COLONIAL CIVIL SERVICE.
The nroblem of governing our new Possessions
,s ono that calls for thought ana discusson.
/ Nilitnry rule must after time give way ~ c''''
; administration. and If we are to make q success
nj that administration we must uhder'aHe !.
with a general sense Of our Responsiveness anu
! n firm determination on the part or the cohiei
| line majority not TO allow home politics OF po''-
;ans 70 interfere with efficient, just ana dis'ii
/ terested management or aHalrs we ~
doubtless make some mistakes through iheApe
rience. with the best possible onciais anu 'i''
! hest nossible system. But such MISTAKES arc
80. o,,r danger Our real danger Is failure OF
our neonle 10 appreciate that they have prop
,o,, and ,ber tendency TO leave the subject 10
| ,,,,,;c,ops IN solve as their own interests may
dictate That the American people, once
orouscd would make right choice between
GOOD and n bad system of governing dependcn-
Clos tbore can be no doubt. The important thine
inst ot prcscn. is that they be aroused 10 'he
necessity of starting on right principles IL Is
therefore in order thar methods OF government
should he widely discussed. that systems whch
other nations have followed with success shouiu
no noted, so that when our legislators come W
establishing island administrations they INA!
have behind them public opinion 10 supper.
them in wise measures and warn them against
unwise ones.
The address Of Mr. DOrman Il. Eaton before
thc National Civil Service Reform League o"
Friday was particularly timely ana Vai'ap'e
nlco FOR the administration OF our dependencies
under strict merit system. Ceraihi! an
thinking men will agree with him. Eihciehc!
and fitness are the only possible reasons LUZ
sending a man to hold office in Porto hico vi
tho Phpp,nes The time for using uls'ah' PoS
sessions as places Of refuge Tor poi'''cai ue
nendeuts and assuming that any SORT OF pau
government would be good enough TOT coiohleS
* nassed II ended with the COLONIAL power VI
Spain 1t went out of fashion Tor Angio-S"Ao"
dependcncies when England learned the iessoh
of the American Revolution and appieu II e''c-
where With the sense Of entering upon new
career in which their qualities are 10 pe 'eS'ou'
which the mass Of the American people surrey
horo Notwithstanding their faith in themselves
and their future, it cannot be possible that 'le!
should be content to set up governments Tor
others on any lower plane Of efficiency anu pun
,col morality than that which they have evolved
for themselves The merit system is mere es,ao
lisbed by law The vast majority of our once
hoIders are subject TO Civil Service rules Sc
curity of tenure, regardless of politics, IS the
r,,,o rothor than the exception. 1t IS to-day, IN
snite Of the sometimes successful attempts OF
noIiticians 10 evade the law or limit us aPPNca-
tion the American system. and such II VIII re-
main Inst how it may best be applied IN our
nov, possessions Is n matter Of practical ADJUST
mont Int there should be no question that, as
military rulers who have been selected WIN
notable regard for fitness are superseded u!
civilians the new officers should be chosen WIN
q like regard for their qualifications, and that
thev should be compelled 10 pick out their SUD
ordinates with one sole object In view-the
establishment Of the best government tha' 'n'ci
rcent and devoted men can give to dependent
people 49,.
Mr. Eaton sketches the development or the
British Civil Service system that saved lhua'
which was fast going to ruin under the spolis
svstem. and points out how the success or the
| nlan In India led 10 its adoption at home, ana
the overthrow of the practice formerly universal
in England OF using all offices as politlcal re-
wards We have gone beyond that in the direc-
,iop If reform, and do not need series OF ex-
ncrjments TO show the peril Of having incompe-
tent politicians in colonial office. we can per
hans profit by Englands experience. Certainly
we must profit by our own. and not have IN Ma
Mia or San Juan a reaction from Washington.
We NAV even hope that Engands good fortune
uov no orrs and as she learned 10 rule herself
hotter from ruling India well. so we from ruling
orr deuendcncics in the light Of our own best
knowlcdgc NAV find our achievements there an
avamnle and an Inspiration to us In our work OF
government al home