New-York tribune., 1901-04-14

The extreme opponents of expansion have
never failed to ridicue and characterize as pre-
posterous the suggestion that experience with
the administration of our new possessions would
probably act favorably upon our own Civil Ser
vice Nevertheless find that idea held and
distinctly ayowed by pronounced Civil Service
reformers EN-Attorney General Wayne Mac
Yeagh in his address as president of the Penn
sylyania Civil Service Reform Association at
fits twentieth anniversary dinner in Philadel-
phia on Friday night took decidedly optimistic
tone as 10 the progress of the merit system.
Civil Service reformers have not been satisfied
with the appointment Of Mr.. Rodenberg, or with
some OF the changes in the rules made by Pres
ident Mckinley, or with the progress or the re-
form in various States and cities. but when they
look over the whole field, Mr.. MacVeagh be-
lieves they will realize that an immense ad-
vance has been made and that the principles OF
Civil Service reform are stronger to-day with the
people and more influential with officials than
ever before.
Mr. Macyeagh in his speech reviewed the de-
paltrnents and told how the Cabinet officers
were all strong believers in the merit system,
and even though they did not always agree
with the reform associations on particular
points they worked for the advancement of the
reform ideals honestly and effectively. Partic-
ularly did he rejoice to see Judge Taft establish
inc an admirable Civil Service system in the
Phlippines and Governor Allen adopting the
same policy in Porto Rico. President Gilman
and Civil Service Commissioner Proctor took
the same view. 1t pointed out that the
authorities were fully impressed with the truth
that there could be no hope OF success in the
administration of these distant possessions il
official tenure there at all dependent on
made for any reason but assured capacity for
the work TO be done. That universal convic-
ton, the truth of which no politician and no
newspaper disputed. was in itself great vic
tory. II meant that the value Of the merit sys-
TEN a principle of government was settled
beyond question. When the politicians conceded
that they must adopt the system where the
government problem was serious and delicate
as in Porto Rico and the Philippines, they con-
ce,led everything and the Americans who We're
q practical people. could not fail to learn that a
system without which all confessed they could
not rule outlying territories was just as yalu-
able at home. Politicians who admitted its un-
doubted usefulness in the islands could not long
pretend to regard 1t as an impracticable fad
which failed to secure the right sort of public
servants for our domestic administration.
Wayne MacNeagh is certainly not imper-
alist. and is not particularly in sympathy with
President McKinley's Administration. Probably
q majority of the other Civil Service reformers
present with him were doubtful OF the wisdom
OF our Philippine acquisitions. Yet the express
sions which seemed fairly representative Of the
spirit of the gathering were unmistakabe in
indicating the view that. whatever might he the
good or evil Of expansion In other respects, tie
administration Of the new possessions was pro-
moting the triumph OF Civil Service reform In