The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-05-14


reform are in large measure identical
for this reform says, mo man shall
serve the State who does not bring
her honest service" 1t sets up be-
fore the eyes of all, the standard Of
right and honor instead of the
hideous and debasing picture of "the
public crib" But a little thought
will show how closely civil service
reform is interviewer with the work
of each committee.
Let us glance at the latest re-
ports. from the committees of the
Massachusetts, Federation. The Chair
man of the Arts and Crafts commit
tee writes, 1--WE are forced to the con-
clusiOn that, in order to make en-
couraging conditions for the handi-
craftsman, we are obliged to make
right the conditions for the factory
hand and every other kind of pro-
ducer." For improving Industrial
and living conditions we depend
first on legislation, then on the eff
fective administration Of the laws,
and thus we are at once brought to
the question of public servants and
the manner of their appointment
The Civic Chairman speaks of work
for the enforcement of local ordi-
nances in regard to tuberculosis, for
the medical inspection of schools, for
the establishment of juvenile courts
and the increase of salaried proba-
ton officers At each point we touch
on the need for honest and efficient
officials. The chairman of the Indus
trial committee says that its work
involves the gradual study, section
by section, of the whole problem of
administration of the labor laws that
should protect working women and
children in Massachusetts
The committee withdrew it's sup
port to bill calling for a school
physicians certificate of physical fit
ness, because the only chance of the
bill being favorably reported was
through the substitution of "repu-
table" for school physician. No
better example could be given of the
Importance attached to trustworthy
official. 1t is too we'll known that
only the alert and honest inspector
can evade the combined efforts of the
greedy or ignorant parent and the
negligent or self-interested employer.
The committees on Consumers Lea
que, Pure Food, Household Eco
and Forestry likewise touch
government at every turn, for they
need to inquire as to the character of
the officials who are to carry out
regulations, whether for proper.
workshops, pure milk, clean streets,
or protection of forests and trees.
The Legislative Committee united
with the Civil Service Reform Com
mittee in opposing the Spanish War
Veterans Preference Bill. We learn
from our chairman of the committee
on Moral and Civic Training that
fthe demand for more adequate
methods of moral and civic training
In our schools is constantly growing,
and many different methods are be-
ing proposed and tried out" 1t must
not be forgotten that civil service re-
form is, above all, question not of
politics, but of civic morality. More
over what is often forgotten, teach
ers are part of the civil service,
and it is of equal importance that the
teacher and the inspector shall be
appointed for merit and not through |
pull" The remaining committee on
Education, Library Extension and
settlement, Literature and Reciproci-
" Bureau, touch civil service, re-
'orm, either through their contact |
with teachers and schools or as pos
'ible agents in spreading the know
edge of the fundamental Importance |
If civil service reform through travel
ing Libraries, study outlines, and ex-
'hange papers. In very truth the
keystone of the arch is the choice
If instruments to carry out good /
avs and reform methods" You
'annot turn in any direction to try
o better things without becoming
linked with government; and pure,
Efficient government means sound
,ody polite, and that is an impos-
ibility without civil service reform.
I. 4. +
THE CRITIC.
Did you ever stop to consider how
is the critic? If 1t were
lot for this person of opinions, then
'veryone would jog along in the
anne rut from year to year, make
he same faults eternally and never
,et ahead. True criticism is the peach
tick that makes the youngster sit