New-York tribune., 1899-11-25
FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
SETH Low AND OTHERS ATTACK THE
sPoILS SYSTEM BEFORE THE PEo-
PIES INSTITI-TF

Civil Service Reform" the topic discussed
before the Peoples Institute IN the great han OF
Cooper Union last evening and the general interest
In the subject well shown by the large audi
ence. which listened attentively throughout the
meeting The speakers OF the evening were Her
bert Welsh president OF the Civil Service Reform
Association Of Pennsylvania Edward NJ. Shepard
Seth Low. and Clinton Rogers Woodruff secretary
of the National Municipal League.
Mr. Welsh who was the first speaker. described
The Plans and Purposes Of Civil Service Reform"
He said that the two great reasons for Civil Ser
vice reform were first that by It the public would
get the best return for its money in the way or
servants: and. second. that 1t would be great
factor I'm preventing corruption from getting into
politics He praised George William Curtis ana
Dorman 3. Eaton as historical champions OF Civil
Service reform IN this country. and then he gave
short history of the cause. describing how the
country started well in this direction under Wash
ington but how the cause suffered a blow from
Jackson from which II had not recovered at the
present day. Mr. Welsh quoted Hncolns saying
IF the country goes down. II will be through
this eternal wriggling and scrambling for ONCE
and closed his address by saying that Civil Service
reform. although always forging steadily ahead
was at present at dark moment in its history
and in need Of the efforts OF the people
Mr. Shepard spoke on THE Nature Of the Ex-
listing Competitive System" and gave entertain
ing account OF the way in which man gets Civil
Service appointment to-day. He said that the basic
principle that merit alone should govern, ana
he explained the various means by which IT Is as
certaned in whom Of the candidates for place
lies the greatest merit. Mr. Shepard showed
through what sort Of an examination a candidate
be policeman or an Interpreter OF slayonle iah
guages IN a police court would have 10 pass ana
he raised a laugh by saying that one prospective
policeman In answer TO the queste1n, MN a.
the three largest cities in the world? had replied,
Chicago Yonkers and East New-York.
Seth Low spoke The Need of Business Meth
ods of Appointment and Tenure in the city De-
partments' He showed clearly the small value OF
the present spoils system TO the public as compared
with what the results OF thorough system or Civil
Service reform would be
IF the present system were TO be efncient, ne
said. the city employer would have 10 possess N
superative degree the power Of selecting the right
men for the right places, and that quality is rare
indeed among even the most successful or men:
Under the present system IL is merely case OF
accident, Of luck. whether an appointee turns out
to be q good servant Of the public or not We
need a complete and businesslike system OF ap-
pointment by merit" 49,, -. =,
Mr. Low criticised the way IN which the city is
ruled by Tammahy and was loudly applauded' as
was Mr. Welsh when he referred to the su-
premacy and corrupt influence Of the spoIs system
In Pennsylvania . -
Mr. Woodruff spoke The Importance OF an
Improved Civil Service as Preliminary 10 the TX
pansion Of Municipal Functions.