The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-21
COLONIAL CIVIL SERVICE.
Report Of she League Special COM
mfttee on That Subject.


mfttee on That kRbfeet.
The repo- of the Special Committee OF
the National Civil Service Reform League.
having in charge the subject Of civil serv-
ice reform in the colonial dependencies Of
the United States. was submitted at the
late meeting of the league in New York.
The report, In substance. was as follows.
'lThe situation Of the various terrific
ries brought under the control Of the Gov
ernmsrt as a result of the late war with
Spain is in some respects very anomalous.
has already given rise to grave problems
in national policy and constitutional law,
aud may yet be productive OF results which
no one car now forecast with any conf
dence. But there are however, certain
general principles Of government whose
recognition is essential to the success OF
any scheme Of administration in these ISL
aDds: il those principles be GisTegarded
our rule can be neither beneficial nor
cTeditabie to us ane must be source os
misery TO their inhabitants These psinci-
pies are suceinetIy statad in the resolution
Of the league alrest:y quoted II We for
get that public etssce a those countries is
trust for the sose benefit OF their inhab-
itants, Il We make their civil service a
place OF refuge for needy American poiitf-
clans With damaged reputations-or cur
rent coin 10 pay partisan service, and fur
sher support fer the dependents and sateI-
lites of our public men-if, in short We
repeat the errors of our reconstruction
period without the excuse of inexperienee
which may be },ea1ed for those errors.
and place the government of the land We
have conquered in the hands of carpet
baggers, sure 10 be neither more compe-
tens nor more scFupuIous than those OF
the decade after the civil war. sucn con-
duet were mildly criticised If called q
crime against civilization and humanity
dissfaceful 10 our Republic.
1T is, therefore. with much gratifica
tion that the committee is able to report
an apparent recognition of these truths by
the National Administration, and desire
TO organize the civil service Of cur de-
tendencies upon he basis Of appointment
Cor merit, and tenure during good conduct
and efficiency. III Is has been manifested
in the first place by the character of those
appointed to high Office in the countries
we thus hold, which, with very few
unfortunate exceptions, has been uniform
y good, and in several instances excep-
tionally fortunate.
I'VE have further to note with salts
faction the course OF the Philippine Com
mission, By which IL il be peTseTered IN,
the merit system viii be established IN
the islands of that archipelago az least
department of government, Federal. State,
or municipal, in the Union. This must be,
in any case, regarded as a gratifying rec
ignition Of sound principles of admins
tration on the part Of the commission,
and iustiAes the hope that within the
limits OF their Jurisdiction at least, no
repetition of the scandals OF post beilum
days will be tolerated.
The rGling of the several departments
that the provisions OF The. Civil Service
Law and Rules, being applicable 2roprio
vigore 10 Federal Offices established IN
the dependencies which would be CLASH
fed If within the United States. is also
matter to be noted with satisfaction by
the friends Of good government. IN this
connection a serious and delicate ques-
ton has arisen respecting the status Of
natives Of Porto Rico under the rule re-
stricting omission to- the competitive
examinations TO citizens Of the United
States. BY the terms Of the bill estab-
fishing civil government in Porto Rico.
they are recognized as citizens OF Porto
Rico and as such entitled TO the protec-
ton Of the United States. This desig-
nation which, 1nutatis 3nHtandis, would
be perfectlE appfca hss 20 an inhabitant
OF the Dis trlesS or (, f5E1rlfsia, and IN Itself
certainly N no wise excludes American
citizenship. has. nevertheless, been held
by certain officials TO shut them ouS from
the competitive examinations under the
Civil Service law It would seem that
a precedent of great force for the deter
mination Of this question could be found
In the practice OF the commission sSn1it-
ting to examination Tribal Indians, who.
it is well established, are not citizens
OF the United States.
Since, however, the right Of the Com
mission to admit natives OF Porto Rico
10 its ions has been questioned
the committee suggests the advisabiiity
of an amendment TO the rules which will
In terms permit this, at least in the case
OF Offices to be exercised within the isl
and. That its inhabitants shoaid be de-
barred from competition for such places,
they regard as wholly inconsistent with
justice and sound policy