Evening star., 1902-02-11
Is the Civil Service Being Under
minedP

To the Editor OF The Evening Star!
There are two vital principles at the root
of the merit system In the classified service.
The first is that all appointments must be
made on the basis OF fitness for the posi-
tions to be filled, after competitive examiIa-
ton open to each and every citizen. The
second principle is that all who receive ap-
pointments after such competitive tests
shall be permanently retained In the serv-
ice, unless they become disqualified phys
ically, mentally or morally for the per-
formance Of their duties, or unless 1t hap
pens that the positions to which they have
been appointed come to be abolished.
Briefly stated these principles are 1 ap-
po1ntments based on fair competitive tests,
and CD permanent tenure of office. To
these two might be added third viz: the
principle Of promotion on merit only. There
Is proposition now pending to make about
1000 temporary employees Of the census Of
fee eligible for appointment in the classi-
fled service Of the departments. The Oh
ject, of course, Is to obtain the advantage
of the second principle in utter disregard.
contempt and violation of the first principle
of just civil service system. We are told
that many Of these temporary clerks have
passed an examination fully as difficult as
that set by the civil service commission.
This fact, assuming it to be a fact has no
bearing on the question Of free, just and
fair competition. 1t is safe to say that
the United States who would be glad to
accept positions in the classified service on
the sole condition of having passed an ex-
animation equivalent to the pass examina-
t1On of the census office. Justice and fair
play, then, demand that they be given an
opportunity to compete with the temporary
clerks of the census Office for appointments
to the permanent positions in the depart
ments, If they so desire, to the end that the
fittest not those who are passably fit, for
the positions may be appointed. II COM
petitive examinations are not the best tests
of fitness then let us devise some other
proper test which will be open to ALL Be-
sides. it must not be forgotten that there
are hundreds of candidates on the eligible
lists of the civil service commission who
will be practically crowded off those lists If
these 1000 census clerks made eligible
for transfer. Many of these civil service
eligibles have not only passed the different
examinations for clerk, stenOgrapher, etc,
but have obtained very high percentage.
Many OF them have spent time and money
to achieve these results. and it would be
grave injustice to allow these 1000 census
employees, most Of whom are evidently for
titled with strong political pull, to shut
the door In their faces after they had al
most gained admission.
What will be the result II this measure
becomes law? In the first place it will he
about four or five years before there will be
classified service to afford positions for
these census clerks. In the meantime it
will become thoroughly understood by in
tending candidates for civil service exami-
nations that they need not apply unless
they happen to have a more robust political
pull than the favored census employees
Again, 1t is quite possible that the political
pressure in behalf Of the favored two thou
sand will be great enough to cause dis
charges of some OF the present clerks in
the departments to make room for them
In any event the so-called merit system
would become utterly discredited The pub
lie could not fall to see how 1t was de-
bauched in the interests Of the favored few,
and there would soon be an overwleImiag
demand to have the civil service law wiped
on the statute book. We would soon be
back under the spoils system in name as
well as In fact. This is not q hopeful ont
look for those who believe that civil service
have not exaggerated the dangers now
threatening the merit system. II this plan
goes through others will follow along the
same lines, until civil service REFORM whose
gennineness the people are even now in
clined to suspect, will soon be regarded by
all as sham. a delusion and q snare.
Boys, a boat ride Is all right, but see
first IL there is room for you on board, ana
II there is get aboard peaceably without
rocking the boat. II you crowd on vio-
lently you will probably sink the boat and
go down with the other passengers The
boat refer to Is the civil service system.
The census employees are working for
ural enough. But why should our law
makers want to undermine q system which,
since It's adoption In 1884, has given the
public service q superior class OF employees
"a fact which can easily be VERIFIED espe-
cia1ly when the system has relieved them
ers produced by the old spoils. system?
JTJGTTTTA