The Washington times., 1901-11-04
MERIT VERSUS PATRONAGE
William Dudley FOullle Talks on
the Civil Service.
Comparison of the Two Systems to
BE Found in the War Department
Hallway MniI Service and Indian
Burenu-Census OGce Problems.


BE Found in the War Department
Hallway MnII Service and Indian
Burenu-Census Office Problems
William Dudley FouIke, the newly-ap-
pointed Civil Service Commissioner, has
been in this city for several days past.
although he has deferred entering on
active duty until Major John 3. Harlow,
who recently rendered his resignation, re-
turns to st. Louis Mr.. Foulke is look
ing forward to some hard work in his new
post. but he is ready to attack it with his
well-known enthusiasm. In speaking Of
the relative value of the merit system
versus the patronage system, Mr.. Foulke,
in an interview Saturday. said:
There has been very good opportu-
nifty recently of comparing the two in the
War Department. Under the sO-callcd
emergency acts large number Of clerks
were appointed by the patronage system
to do the additional work rendered neces-
sary by the war with Spain-much the
same kind Of work as was done by the
classified force. Their places were sup
posed to be temporary, but have been
made practically permanent by repeated
appropriation acts, all OF which provide
that they shall not be subject to the civil
service rules.
There are. therefore. in the War De-
partment, two systems working side by
side. What is the result2 out Of l,2i2 ap-
pointments made under the patronage
system. more than so per cent had TO be
separated from the service; but during
the same period, Of the persons certified
to the Department from the Commits
sion's registers, not single one was
dropped on probation. / should think that
that should indicate pretty clearly wheth-
er or not the competitive system furnish
ed better clerks than the patronage sys-
tenn In the Railway Mail Service, where
the tests are particularly rigid only one
half Of l per cent were dropped on proba-
tion during the year ending June 50. 1893.
and IN the departmental service at large,
of 1872 appointments. only three failed on
probation
Now, let US contrast this with the ap-
pointment of Indian agents, which IS still
under the patronage system. During Pres
ident Cleyeland's first administration, in
sixty agencies all the agents were changed
but two; under President Harrison there
We're seventy-six appointments, and only
eight served out their terms; during the
second Cleveland Administration there
served out their terms, and during the
first term OF President Mckinley, in fifty
eight agencies there were seye1ty-nine
changes, and only nine agents serving out
their terms and only one being reappOiuJ-
ed. This looks as If the agents We get by
patronage prove on trial to be a pretty
poor set Of men, and this is true in many
cases. There are, of course, honorable
exceptions, and in some instances the de-
mand OF patronage has actually forced 4
good agent out to make wa for a bad one
We all know that for M ~ years there
have been gross scandals in connection
with this branch of the public service; l
am happy to say that the worst men
have now been nearly all removed. Stil.
the evils of the past are likely to be re-
peated hereafter unless the cause or those
evils is removed-that is, unless the sys-
TEN of political patronage which dictates
appointments is itself removed
But how can this be done2'
1T seems to be more difficult in the
case of indian agents than in many other
cases, because the qualities of a good
agent-tact. fidelity, and business capac-
ity-CannOt be so easily tested by any
form Of examination. But they can be
tested by trial: and if a system could be
adopted providing that agents should be
appointed by promotion from the higher
grades of the Indian service. which are
already classified. such as superinteudeuts
of schools, as well as by details from the
army. we should have a much better set
of agents than those who come in purely
can you name other branches to which
the application of the competitive system
is desira bley'
IL would be very effective in our consular
service. and l am glad to see mat a Dl'i
is to be introduced 10 TINS enc SuPPDityd
by the boards OF trade ana thc c"ii,ihei
Cfal clubs of our principal cities HISl-
ness men realize the Importance OF Keep
ing politics out OF this class OF appoint
nenis and it is comparatively easy te
test many Of the qualifications OF good
consul by means Of eX@mlaatlon and pro-
baton Although an act OF Congress
might be the best way 10 introduce this
reform | believe il could be done by the
President alone. lie could prOmulgate
rules providing for competitive tests, and
announce that he would send to the sen
ate names selected from those VINO stood
highest on the lists. and ! hardly think
the Senate would be unwilling To- confirm
the nomination ef a man who had thus
shown his qualifications. If there We're
no personal objection TO him.
one of the first problems the CommiS-
sion will have to tackle is the classiicd-
tson Of the rural free-dc!iv,ry service.
This has advanced by astonishing strides.
until the fund for its maigt,u1nt". which
started with Slt"H nve years ago. VIII
amount in the coming year o. not S.
than from $G.0luu0 To- SiWFufl- Within
rbe last four months 1900 new rHHtes
have been opened. serving an average of
~ persons on each small army ot
500 carriers VIII now nave 10 'r hE'lrt tlt
into tho classified service. and provision
made for the testing Of qualifications of
an Indefinite number more IL is obvious
that the difficulty of dcyisiug an eNaHI-
nation for such carriers viii be great. and
that the ordinary methods will have 10
give way to new ones. It is nee SS1rN.
for the present. for example. that the
men be chosen from the neighhorh niS
where they are known. since the pee pie
have to trust them with money and other
vaiuables. and would not be Willing 10
take risks with entire strangers. IN"
President is depending much upon Mr.
Foulke's ingenuity in working uut such
q plan.
Still another matter which is liable to
come up very soon is the question Of put
ting the Census Office under the civil serv-
ice rules II Congress passes law for
permanent census. the President VIII in
sist upon there being no provision against
Its inclusion in the classified service. and
viii immediately extend the rules over it
IT, on the other hand, an attempt Is made
by the ConEressmen who have forced
their political and personal favorites into
the office as now organized. to have tho
blanket of the classified service extended