The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-12-12
PUBLIC SERVANTS.

It has been stated and reiterated so often thaF
extravaganza and waste in the public service are
responsible for more loss to the public than all the
grating in the country that all have come 10 De
ieve it. and nearly all have made no effort to over
come the incompetence and waste OF which com
plaint is made The one and only answer we nave
seen TO the statement is this well what are you
going to. do about t!'
The assertion is made that our political system
is responsible for the conditions which exist III city
state and nation. yet in about two-thirds OF the
public service of the United States there is the
merit system working with an efficiency that IS
eoualed by the public service of few other nations
and stands quite on par with the service as Sc
cured by individual enterprise. The pOstoffice de-
partment is run great deal more economically and
efficiently than the business of most OF the eltleS
of the land. The only position in that department
which seems to require certain political atflla-
tions is that of the head and a few assistants All
subordinate positions are held and promotions Sc
cured through merit and expert service.
The development of experts in any business, of
course requires continued tenure i'll office, which
is contrary to the principle that to the victor be-
long the spoils But if the public service is to be
well and economically administered there must come
a readjustment of political conditions which would
hold men in positions i'll the public service the
same as men are held in positions in private enter
prises Every step in the work of civil service re-
form has been fought the theory that an office
holding class would be developed which would prove
the undoing of the republican form of government
However it is plain that the best results not to
be obtained by changing continually, placing men
aft
learn the details of the work. they will be super
seeded in a few short years by another who is to
undergo the same difficulties. The fact that a
man has position, and knows that the position
will last only certain very limited time, tends to
make him feel little interest in his work. that it is
of little use for him to go deeply into the work of
his office, for about the time he learns all the de
tails of his position another will come along and
take his position from him. In the trades and pro-
fessions man becomes expert in certain line.
and he is retained in that position because of his
worth Is there any conceivable reason why that
same principle should not be inaugurated in the
public service-the only changes made being dis
charge for unworthiness or advancement for merit
Civil service reform has made progress and better
public service has resulted; men are sure of their
positions so long they remain worthy, and are
sure of advancement when they merit it. That is
an ideal condition, and should be developed.
The principle is not antagonstic to the repub-
lican form of government As we understand ii,
the people hold to the republican form of govern
ment because it offers the best method yet con-
ceived. We do not believe any one thinks perfec-
ton has been attained in the administration of
public affairs, even in America and the develop
ment of the theory of having an expert set of pub
lie officials offers an opportunity to improve that
public service The sacred right of every boy born
in America to attain to the presidency or village
clerkship is not infringed upon in any way The
principle only enunciates the right of the public to
have capable servants and demands of aspirants
to office only that they make themselves worthy
1t is a great question, and should be given the
thought it deserves. To secure expert service we
must broaden the principle of civil service reform
and at the same time guarantee the freedom of all
| to aspire to public trusts.