New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-14
CIVIL SERVICE IN THE PHILIPPINES

/ CIVIL SERVICE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
year or two ago one of the foremost argu-
ments of the less irrational ''anti-imperalists''
against the governments Philippine policy was
that the acquisition and retention of those
islands was certain to result in an orgy OF
spoils. The Philippines would be subjected to
'carpetbag" government of the most corrupt
kind. The American officials sent thither would
be selfseeking politicians, appointed to re-
ward them-or to enable them TO reward them
seves-for partisan services and the islands
would be exploited and looted for private gain.
Such a state of affairs would inevitably react
upon our domestic administration. The Civil
Service here would be demOralized and our
corrupt despotism in the Philippines would
lead straight TO despotic corruption in the
United States. If any one yentured to suggest
that Great Britain had had just the opposite
experience, finding in high grade of colonial
administration the leaven which leayened the
whole lump of her domestic civil service he
was suppressed with the austere rebuke that
it was presumptuous for mere Americans to
hope to do what their British cousins had
done
Well, the eXperiment~has been made and the
results are beginning TO be recognized Even
our "anti-imperialist' friends had generally to
admit that the members of the governing COM
and were free from the reproach of "car-
petbagging." But, persisted the truly unterri-
fed of course they mere respectable figure
heads; the rank and file of the service under
them will surely be scalawags 1t was con-
coded, too. that the President and the COM
missioners set up high ideal of public ser
vice in the islands. But then, said the noble
corporal's guard Of critics, that is a mere ideal
which viii never be realized. and which simply
adds gross hypocrisy to our other crimes and
Wees. Aet now what is the verdict Of the
best qnaiihed judges upon the actual outcome?
We may find it in the report of the committee
on civil service in the dependencies. which
was made last week to the annual convention
OF the National Civil Service Reform League
We quote from it,
In the Philippines. under the auspices Of a
friendly administration the svstero bas haan
thoroughly established and is now in most
satisfactory working order. The fact
that President Roosevelt, in dealing with ap-
polntments in the Philippines has been gtided
by the principles Of action laid down in his arst
annual message, That not an Office should
mliea win any regard to the mans partisan
ANIMATION or service, with any regard to the
political, social or personal influence which he
may have al his command" has made direetIy
Gnu IoIcipiy ior the creation OF a favorable
PUBIC opinion The Presidents consist
ent following of the principles of Civil Service
renp IN, IN Inc nsuiar appointments has done
healthy. substantial establishment of the merit
system IN our dependencies.
mat then, is the result of the experiment.
The administration has fulfilled its pledges and
realized its ideal. Every foreboding OF the
opposition has come to naught. According TO
the expert testimony of the Civil Service re.
formers themselves the Civil Service in the
philippines has been established upon the
merit system. There is no ..scaIawax poy-
erhment, no "carpetbag rule" The offices are
not hiled with party henchmen." The islands
are not being exploited and spoliated for cor
rupt personal gain. On the contrary. a high
and enlightened system Of administration has