The Portland daily press., 1900-11-01
Aim To Make 1t Both Honest And
Efficient.
Service Will Be Kept
Free From Politics.
Provisions Are Most Comprehen-
sive And Complete.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.)
Manila, p. l., Sept. 20.--The enact
ment yesterday by the Civil Commission
of IAN act for the establishments and
maintenance OF an efficient and honest
civil service in the Philippine Islands"
as prepared by President Taft, has
pleased. the Filipino people, and has
tended to displease the army. The latter
is an unfortunate and 1nintentional re-
vice bal are most comprehensive and
complete, comprising all the executive
branches of the government OF the
Philippine Islands, and Its perusal tends
to show that the qualifications of "hon-
est and efficient" in the title are real
Intentions we'll carried out, and not mere
catchwords. The bill Is founded upon
the principles OF American Civil Service,
carefully adapted to local requirements.
Upon recommendation Of the Secretary
of War 1t has been decided that, other
things being equal, preference shall be
given to Filipinos for civil employment
under the American Philippine govern
ment, ana under the provisions of this
bill an employe, BIS he an American or a
| Filipino, may rise, II he show ability and
merit, to good and well-paid position
In the servi ce.
The Importance of an efficient and hon.
est Civil Service to these islands can
hardly tie overestimated, and If this new
service be good and effective, its doings
will reflect credit upon It's organizers and
upon the American administration of
Philippine affairs. 10 bring Iabout this
desirable end good men are needed, and
it is the purpose Of the organizers of this
bill to make the Civil Service attractive
enough to draw the class of men wanted.
1t Is the intention of the organizers that
the Philippine Civil Service shall not de-
generate into a field wherein politicians
may find opportunities to settle political
obligations. The service will be kept free
from the stigma Of political patronage, so
that 1t will not be open to political prote-
ges and favorites. The salaries of the
several classes OF employees have not yet
been etermined, but these will be well
paid, and 1t viii be possible for man
entering the lower clerkships by efficiency
and merit to eventually become heads of
bureaus and permanent undersecretaries
to Important depa rtments. A knowledge
of Spanish Will be an excellent help to
an American In this service, although
the requirement. of this knowledge is left
to the discretion Of the Civil Service
Board.
There will doubtless be established
Civil Service cooperative stores, where
members OF the service may buy provis-
ions, groceries and other needs OF living
to the same financial advantage that army
officers now buy of the army oommissary,
and the course of timeswill probably see
the construction of government Civil Ser
vice quarters-a collection or good dwell
ng-housss In some cool suburb oonven-
lent to the city, the rentals of which
would be rsasona BILE. Such measures
Will greatly tend 70 make the service at.
tractive to the class Of men the service
requires.
Considerable detail, and the framing of
rules and regulations for the service. ara
left to the Civil Service Board provided
for in sections /, 2, 8 and 4 of the act.
Much depends upon the ability and good
Judgment OF this board, the members of
which fill positions similar to the Civil
Service Commissioners In the United
States, and the selections OF the Civil
Commission In this respect are to be COM
mended and give promise Of fultilment
OF the high standard set by the act. Mr.
W. Leon PepperInan, who has long been
connected with the Civil Service atlhome,
and who has made o personal study OF
he Civil Service maintained by Great
Britain, France and Holland In their
Eastern colonies, will be on~ this board,
as will be Mr.. Il. w. Higgins, OF the
Washington Owl Service Commission.
The third member thereof will probably
be Filipino. President Taft had select
ed for this post, Dr. JoaquinsGonzalez, a
most able tinan. But this gentIeman's
untimely death on the eve OF his appoint
ment has forced President Taft to find
another native capable OF meeting the
necessary Requirement Is. Mr.. Higgins In
view OF his past experiences, will proba-
ply act as chief examiner, as provided in
section 3, and it Is probable that Mr..