Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-09
A Permanent institution.

The code of civil service rules, printed in
The Star yesterday preparatory to taking
effect on the 10Th of this month. is re-
markable work. not alone in the conven-
fence it affords to students of the merit
system and to those employed under it, but
in the showing it makes of progress in the
establishment of the principle as a part OF
the great government machine. A close eX-
animation of the code reveals the persist
ence of the hypothesis that merit, and merit
alone, shall govern I'm the selection and pro-
motion and retention of government en-
plOyes of certain classes. The very fact of
the code having become necessary, after
years of supplementary promulgations and
successive amendments, is testimony to the
advance which has been made in increasing
the scope of the law and the number OF
classes of employees covered by it. The civil
service law might perhaps have been adopt
ed and put into partial execution merely to
satisfy the clamors of the reformers. But
without sincere appreciation on the part of
the heads of the government of the value
of the system it could easily have been
relegated to the lumber room. or held down
to a minimum of effectiveness. leaving the
gates wide open to the spoismen.
But throughout the twenty years of its
existence this law has received support and
progressive administration by the Presi-
dents who have been directly responsible
for it's enforcement. President Arthur,
largely responsible for the success of the
movement in 1888, in consequence of his de-
termined stand in behalf of the merit sys-
tenn Immediately upon assuming office, gave
the new law effective start. President
Cleveland, to the infinite disappointment of
the partisan office-seekers. proved equal to
the emergency and in general respected the
letter and spirit of the law. President Har-
rison continued the good work and mater
tally extended the scope of the law, and
similarly President Cleveland in his second
term added to it's territory. President Nc
Kinley had participated in the debates
which resulted in the adoption of the merit
principle and gave to the law hearty sup
port throughout his service. likewise en-
larging it's usefulness. President Roose-
welt is more closely identified with the law
than any of his immediate predecessors.
having served one of the commissioners
charged with it's execution and being per-
sonally a devoted advocate Of the system.
His own opportunities for extending the
laws scope are limited. thanks to the good
work of the other Presidents, but he has
done all that could be justly done to give
the law it's fullest possible force, and in an
nouncing the latest changes short time
ago he called attention to the fact that only
the diplomatic and consular service, the
District of Columbia and certain of the
minor classes of postmasterships are now
exempt from the operations of the law 1t
is hoped that the District will be speedily
included by special act.
Thus the code stands for continuous pro-
gressive adherence to a principle during
twenty years, and it is a monument to the
consistency of modern American statesman
ship. despite the open assaults which have
been made upon the merit system and the
insidious work of the sappers and miners
who have sought to precipitate its down.
fall. The codfication of the rules may be
accepted as token of the perpetuity of the
system. 49,