New-York tribune., 1908-05-18
CIVIL SERVICE AND THE PEOPLE,

There is already lively 1uttering In the dove
cotes Of New Jersey. The enactment of a Civil
Service law in that state was opposed as few
other measures Of any kind have ever been,
with all the resources of ingenuity and persist
ence 1t especially urged that there was
no popular demand for IT, and that nobody
really wanted It excepting a few "reformers'
and experimentalists. Yet already, with the
law only few weeks old and the ink scarcely
dry on the commissions Of the Civil Service
Board. there is widespread and eager move
ment IN the chief centres of population to get
into line and place local well as state func-
tionaries under the provisions of the law It
is entirely optional with counties and cities
whether they shall come under the law or stick
to the old system. But they are voluntarily
Fastening to come under the law. Jersey City
made the first movement, under the enlightened
lead Of Mayor WittpenR The county govern
ment of Essex County on Wednesday voted to
have the law applied to that county. and the city
government of Newark is preparing 70 do the
same at early date.
These local governments are, OF course closer
to the people than the state government at
Trenton is and are more directly Influenced by
popular desires. Their action is therefore
strongly significant of the popular feeling They
are under no compulsion to adopt the new la W.
They doing it voluntarily Therefore we
iiluot aoSdiiiS thdt Lhtt prefer tHc new system
to the old and that they know that the people
prefer it. In fact. popular expressions of opinion
on the subject are unmistakable. The majority
Of the people wanted the law made and they
are now rejoicing in the making of it and are
expecting great benefits from It's operation.
There are doubts expressed concerning some
effects Of the system, chiefly based upon msap-
prehension. Thus one critic laments the sup
posed fact that the law will result in the ire
movable retention of lot Of incapables in Of
flee. That is obviously confession that under
the old system the offices were filled with in
capable persons. 1t also indicates misappre-
hension of the law as profound as that Of those
sapient statesmen who complained that it was
not sufficiently comprehensive and when
asked what they peant by comprehensive"
said, why, comprehensive law is law that
we can all understandr' There Is no intent In
the law to retain incapable or unworthy men In
Office. Under 1t there will be no removals for
the vague good Of the service" meaning the
good Of some boss and his proteges who want
the places, but there will be no protection of
those whose removal, for specific and proved
cause, is really required for the good Of the
service.
The law and its workings are new to New
Jersey. but II must be borne in mind that they
are not new elsewhere The twenty fifth ami
versary of the United States and the New York
State Civil Service laws has just been cele-
brated, and under those laws and the similar
laws of other states the questions which now
Seem formidable to some citizens of New Jer-
sey have been satisfactorily answered. 1t will
doubtless be in New Jersey as 1t has been In
other states. There will be difficulties, but they
will be overcome There will be disappoint-
ments and errors, and some dissatisfaction, but
these will be small In comparison with the
benefits secured. And In few years at latest
those who Opposed The law and nh ~ r.