The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-10-06

This ne considered as the most vitally
Important vi the questions now con
fronting popular government He re-
garded the civil service of France as
being superior to that of any other
country, not even excepting England
But because Of his thorough practical
and theoretical familiarity with the
English civil service, and because of
the general excellence of that service he
took England rs an example Of what
the civil service should be- Nj Bryce
likened the change of the British min
| istry-that occurs whenever there is a
change in the dominant party in the
house Of commons to the change in
governmental administration in this
country. He then proceeded to point
out the vast superiority of the British
civil service TO that of this country In
England, he said the assumption Of
power by new ministry Involves only
forty changes in the civil service This
presents strong contrast with the large
number of changes in the civil service
that take place in this country when
ever there is a change of administration.
In England all government employees are
forced to retire at the age Of sixty-five
and all promotions are made by seniori-
ty and merit. These features of the
English service also afford striking
contrast with certain abuses in the
American system, which in g measure,
works AZ n pension service in the re
tenton of old and decrepit employees.
Moreover, with us appointments and
promotions are still, in measure, de
termined by political favors
Mr. Bryce argued that, in order to
purify the service, those holding office
should virtually be disfranchised.
While this proposition is not likely to
receive much consideration, it will be
conceded that Mr. Bryce advanced
cogent reasons in support of his master
ly discussion Of this point.
10 make the system pure and efficient
it must be completely divorced from
politics and not in the least affected BY
the political opinions Of candidates for
Office. Mr., Bryce says Forbid the
public servant to speak, to canvass or to
write on any political subject Teach
hi m tn raUurI hi,,uale 6
the nation and not of the political party
in the nation. You are no doubt de-
barring him one Of his privileges as IA
citizen, but he has other privileges
which the ordinary citizen does not
possess, and his special powers carry
with them special disabilities. He must
submit to the latter if he is 70 be trusted
in the exercise Of the power"
No one in this country has ever ad-
vanced such suggestion. The remedy
proposed by the eminent Englishman
seems rather severe. While the defects
OF the system are numerous and in some
respects, glaring it should be re
membered that the letter and the spirit
Of the civil service law inhibt the very
things SO severely criticised by Mr.
Bryce While the system is still used
M u powerful engine for the perpetu
alton Of the ascendency of whichever
party Is in power it should be remem-
bered that the present system is vastly
more pure md efficient than the old
spoils system was. The civil service
has been greatly improved during the
last few decades. The interchangeable
work OF such men as Carl Schurz and
the late George William Curtis has not
been in vain To make the American
system of civil service as pure and eff
Gent as that of England the caustic
remedy proposed by Mr.. Bryce would
have to be resorted to-