New-York tribune., 1901-04-28
THE MERIT SYSTEM.
IT Is SOMETIMES CALLED THE
NEW MORALITY AND 1T
WILL ENDURE.
BY CLINTON ROGERS WOODRUFF.
Secretary Of the National Mnnicinal raas..s

Dumas's delightful romances not long since
was greatly impressed with the following pas
sage. 1t occurred during audience between
Henry III of France and his cousin the Duo de
Guise. while the latter was urging the formation
of great Holy Union to meet and combat the
growing forces Of the Huguenots. The King
disposed to feel safe because of the forces
he had at his command. but the duke replied:
Men visible. palpabIe mortal You can meet
you subject them trial and hang them
They glide Unseen hey penefrate they hide them
selves, especially from the sight of those who
soul, they there throw out deep roots. The more
pear the more more powerful and inextirpabe become
the roots below An idea. sire. is a young giant,
idea which yesterday Crawled at your feet to-mor-
& row WIZ fnF S6on S5 gogT sra head & An ! Idea sire is
eyes TO qlscoNer the beginning of the confia gra-
ton; and this is why, sire, millions OF watchers
are necessary: II is in order to provide for and
Union. ii'-'
This is a truth that the spokesman overlooks
and the advocate Of the merit system forgets.
The former thinks that if he can choke off the
appropriation in Congress or in the State Iegis-
lature, If he can secure some modification of
the rules. or the appointment OF a commissioner
unfriendly to the reform. he efectualy
defeat the movement and the latter at times
IeeLS ClSpOSSu 10 agree WITH MIN.
NO PERMANENT SETBACK
A little reflection must convince US that a re-
form founded upon the principles of right and
Justice cannot be defeated by such means. It
may receive a temporary attack but ideas
such as are involved in the merit system can
not thus be permanently defeated and all his
tory offers proof in corroboration We are now
beginning TO realize that in this generation. as
before faca 10 with
standards Of morality-the standard Of the
smaller social group and that of the larger social
aggregate.
The merit system in its essence is the new
morality. 1t places the public good" above all
else; above personal interest, above facuonal
and partisan interests. Until our people realize
that the newer morality demands that men
should place the public good above ali other
considerations the merit system cannot be es-
tablished in its entirety and for all time There
must be no cessation of effort until the people
realize and act upon their realization that the
good Of q part must, if necessary be sacrificed
10 the good of the whole; that love of party
must be subordinated TO love of country; that
loyalty TO neighbors and friends devotion to
wife and children even, must be forgotten if
the public webeing is endangered or If 1t
exacts the sacrifice"
AN ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT.
The ethical development of time is making
sor the establishment of the merit system, slowly
perhaps,
That growth which some perchance deem sleep.
Wherewith the steadfast coral stems uprise
soidly until it
Spreads & speck Of green
Into pleasant island in the seas
hhere MD tai palms, the cane rooted house is
And wearied men shall sit at sunsets hour.
nearing tle leaves and loving Gods lea
1t is not alone the ethical development of our
time. however. that is making for the merit
system but likewise the political When our
National Government was founded there was
profound distrust OF "one man" power. Our
ancestors had suffered greatly at the hands of
George III in the irresponsible exercise of his
unrestraine6 and unregulated power. They
overlooked the fact that the trouble did not lie
IN the concentration OF power in the executive.
out in the irresponsibility Of hereditary power
and the entire lack OF adequate safeguards A
government Of checks ard balances was estab-
hshed- premium was pat uron indirection.
and responsibility was divided up among a large
number Of frequently elected officials, subject to
the unWritten law of rotation in office
our state governments followed in the foot
steps Of our Federal Government and our mu-
inequalities followed our States. Efficiency was
al discount, and II has taken us more than a
century 10 realize that efficiency is not to be
secured through divided responsibility. We ap-
preciate now the need cf strong executive, and
the tendency is toward q responsible President,
responsible Governor, and. above all, q re-
sponsibe Mayor. Congressional action is in the
direction Of placing larger powers and duties in
tne hands Of the President, and likewise of the
state legislatures 70 repose more power in the
Governor, and practically all the new charters
Of the last decade have been modelled on the
principle OF concentrated responsibility in the
hands Of the Mayor.
AN IDEAL SAFEGUARD.
This power, however, should not. and. in fact
cannot be- efficiently utilized for the public
welfare unless adequately safegrarded, and ex
perience is rapidly demonstrating that there is
no safeguard so complete and efficient the
merit system. Given Mayor with large powers
Of administration and appointment, without
Civil Service reform. and we have dangerous
situation. Protect these powers by salts
factory Civil Service requirements Of merit and
fitness and good government is not far off,
fotent though the ethical and political factors
making for the establishment of the merit sys-
TEN may be- they are of comparative inslSnln-
cance with the economic forces tending in the
same direction
II is not necessary in this connection to refer
N detail TO the great growth OF governmental
functions Confining ourselves solely to munich
pal development. see that city government is
growing In extent and force. Every year IL re-
qulres the services of more competent onlclals-
When city government represented an expenol-
lure OF $4,000 per annum, or o3 cents per
capita, it did in Philadelphia in the year
iSvD IL made little difference TO us now IL was
spent or how those who spent IL were appointed
when II represents s33.ooo.oO0. or SD per cap. cap
sta, as it does now. il becomes OF Vastly o,
importance There has been an unconscious
recognition OF this and equally UNCONSCIOUS,
but none the less certain establishment OF 'ie