New-York tribune., 1903-06-03
WOMEN AND CIVIL SERVICE.
Their Duties and Responsibilities of Citizen
ship.

In addressing the wonen's National Industrial
and Patriotic League at Washington the other
day John T. Doyle, secretary Of the United states
Civil Service Commission, paid appreciative trio-
ute TO the influence OF women in educating and
stimulating the public conscience especially through
clubs or team work. as he expressed It
The influence of organizations Of women" he
said 'fs felt more and society advances
industrfally and women are freed somewhat OF the
stress and routine Of domestic occupation They
are meeting this opportunity and taking upon them
selves the duties and responsibilities Of citizenship
The increase Of incomes and Of household econ
ornies gives women more leisure. and there is
leisured class OF women How shall these women
use their leisure?
The first thing a woman finds when she studies
any form Of governmental activity IS the spois
system. That system corrupts the public schools
blghs hospitals and prisons degades the factories
and the tenement houses. and women find that, no
matter what special field they may take up. they
must take up Civil Service reform. They also find
that with a reformed Civil Service all other re-
forms are assisted. Take the spoils system out Of
the schools and inevitably you get better teachers
and principals Take the spoils system out Of city
governments and the whole system Of inspection in
all the departments Of city life is purified public
standards are raised and public interest aroused in
the most effective manner. Under the reform
administration in New-York City, under Mayor
Low all the agencies Of public life are being
purified.
What is needed IS that women shall understand
clearly the defects Of our systems Of administra-
ton national State and municipal, and tne
methods Of reforming public abuses. Woman is
advancing with in political education and IN
applied politics and all good reforms are being
won In her clubs she is gathering and dlstribut-
ing information and expressing her convictions N
ADEQUATE ways She is getting up interstate meet
ings national conferences. social science conVen-
+ions with addresses BY the best informed men
and women. She is getting in mOton interests @ anu
impulses Of political and patriotic actVlJy ana
- hi
AS illustrating how much can be cone py L7 IIIS
Doyle cited the present N etlot4i
Civil Service Reform law, which, he sald was
neither supported opposed as q party measure
'It did not have its origin IN an oIhclal source
lion Instructed its committee legislation 10 pre-
pare and report Civil Service Reform ollI WIlcE
should provide for CivlI SeL'lc 59i+ re
declare the general principles oI an 5laLe
form Of the Civil Service Of the United S[aLes-
Dorman 3. Eaton. chairman OF the coI1lIaltlee.
a bill which was slpJecteu 70 tI+e lLio,SS
ec-7tinv the association was presented
m Congress- and became law without us frame
work or arrangement being changea IHIs - an
.@The influence Of women in the reform or the
civil Service may especially be directed 10 elevat-
L.6 r.s+iI- irnnroVed since the Civil Service act
u,sn+ into 'operation twenty years ago one VINO
Considers the great expansion OF the puDhc ser
that II IS probaDIy growing iIloIS
rsni5Iv than the population, must be convinced
maj The service is at the same time peGollis
---e- go +1ar higher standards are expected Ihe
pIrer S1-Ie t5 o. Presidents CleVre
land Mckinley and RooSeVeIt mas been 'Sts $ q
these Presidents ard the able men OF Lll-lI 5 ac-
rntnistrations have promoted E4Sty lsIt ~ ,,o,IT
- cfrIzenship appealing especially 10 the young
a1 ~ the schools and colleges. VINO VIII form tlIe
bodv Of Intelligent citizenship OF the next genera
+Jon The example set by Presldeill stlt, "a
i,,t ideaI of public duty. his fearlessness and
hn1eeTv and his patriotic deVouon 70 b.e ssIrlSe'
is having a marked effect all over the country