The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-07
CIVIL. SERVICE.

olalia, Kttsap CO., Wash. Jan. g. 1898.
To the Editor: Permit ne as a member
OF the commission which framed the pres
eni Seattle charter 10 say word In de-
Tense of civil service, the target of at
tack In certain quarters. Although not
now Il resident of Seattle. / still hold prop
erty interests there, and am for this rea-
son interested in good government for the
city. II there were no other less selfish
ones. For Il is a fact that good govern
nent gives security in and ADDS value TO
all property.
Ne part OF the charter OF Seattle re-
ceiyed greater consideration or was adopt
ed with less opposition than the article
covering the civil service. The commission
was happily constituted to give the most
dis!nterested and patriotic service 10 the
city. and the present onslaught on the
merit system Of appointment TO Office IS
the best possible proof that II stands in
the way Of the unpatriotic and selfish de-
sires OF a small, hut always active. clique
OF politicians. The great body OF the peo-
pie have their interest only In the decent
and efficient administration of public af-
fairs. The civil service coniuees TO good
government by taking out OF the qualii-
cations for office all but fitness for the
work. Under Just administration OF the
law party connection, nationality and re-
Hgious convictions play no part Citizen
snip ana competency are the only things
needfui TO hold office. Whenever any 9TH
er test for public Office is exacted than
shese We overstep the bounds Of equal
rights and admit dangerous elements into
our scheme of seif-government
II may be said with truth that the adj
ministration OF civil service laws Is.
broadly speaking. attended with absurdi-
ties and that obedience TO the letter OF the
law which Stays the spirit. but the fault
t- St,nr l.
iis execution, which as things go must
ever lie with men liable to err. II the
present administration OF the iaw is not
satisfactory in Seattle II would still be
well to pause before the law, good I'm IT.
self. was wiped out OF the charter. AS
has been pointed out. the civil service pro-
visions so ranify through the whole body
OF the charter that their elimination
would leave appointment 70 the spoiIs-
men. who. like a hungry pack. are always
in fun cry on the heels OF Office
Seattle is a growing city, and with is
growth places in the public service VIII or
necessity multiply. and in view OF the
immediate future. bright with the promise
Of expansion and enterprise. the charter
commission did well 10 practically place
the whole city service under the pro-
visions Of the merit system
The civil service will DO In measure
what non-partisan city council would
effect. II stands against the arbitrary and
unnecessary increase Of city employees
Partisans have nothing TO gain by making
places for nor-partisans, as all anpointees
should be. X the law Is observed, in the
spirit and not merely in the letter. Take
away this one barrier Of the civil service
and Seattle would Inevitably fall with the
first election into the hands OF as hungry
piace-hunters as ever cursed city The
temptation 10 multiply positions for the
reward OF faithful tncompe.ents would
simply be irresistible This is human ma
ture. and true OF ore party as another
Besides. the banditti OF Seattle would
soon control the state. Consider too, the
position OF a weak mayor under the
"wIde-open'' poiicy-and who is strong
when the appeal Is 10 friendship and party
fealty? The law as II stands is both a
protection for and restraint Of the chief
executive and no one who Is az all ac-
quainted with the tremendous pressure for
place under the city would ike 70 see
either A goed mayor exposed 10 the con-
sciencsiess demands Of office-seekers or
leave a bad mayor without such WHOLE
some restraints as viii insure decen. ap-
poi1tments.
Among the s;guers 10 the petition 70
repeal the civil service law are without
question men OF all parties sincere IN
their convictions They are not all spoils-
men with axes IN grind. To these men ia
made the appeal 20 distinguish between
law good IN itself and had
administration o. It. The important
thing IN chief executive is his backbone
and such a one can be trusted 10 appoint
civil service commission which win fol-
low the spirit Of the law and not the let
ter. A Just administration OF the civil
service law should yearly strengthen II
In the affections Of the people.