The Washington times., 1909-06-01
Investigation Doubtless Will
Be Set Going This
Session.
SERIOUS CHARGES
AGAINST SYSTEM
That Pull, Not Merit, Brings Pro-
motion, Heads Ac-
cusations.
By JOHN SNURE.

by JOhN SNUkE.
An investigation Of the civil service
system, with a view 10 determining
whether the civil service cannot be i'm
proved upon, will probably be set going
by the Senate before the special session
ends.
It is expected the Senate Committee
on Civil Service and Retrenchment, Of
which Senator Cummins Of Iowa is
chairman, viii take up this investiga-
ton. It Will doubtless proceed, If the
Senate orders 1t. through the summer
and fall and the committee will be
ready 10 report at the beginning Of the
next regular session.
One Of the phases Of the civil service
that the opponents Of II are continually
critieising is the fact that promotions
are not made on the merit system. In
both Senate and House. bitter attacks
are heard on the civil service. every
session and this phase Of the civil serv-
ice question is more discussed than any
other. 1t has not been long since the
subject was w in the Senate and the
workings Of the civil service sharply
scored. II was in Connection with the
discussion of the tarin bin that this was
up.
Serious Charge.
Probably the most serious charge
which is made as to the workings Of the
civil service system is that employ es
under 1t are promoted not in accordance
with merit, not as they deserve TO he
promoted by their Just ratings. but by
favoritism and pull. political and other
wise. It is freely alleged that all sorts
of abuses are brought about in this
way.
In the discussion Of the census bill,
il was charged that the chiefs OF divi-
sions and heads Of bureaus were con-
verted into petty tyrants under the
present system and that in effect they
held the fate OF the people under them
in the hollow of their hands. From
this, it IS charged. many evils arise.
If the proposed investigation is made.
IL is not unlikely that some way viii
be evolved to weaken the authority OF
the chiefs Of bureaus and divisions, and
10 elevate employees solely in accordance
with merit. Such an arrangement would
unquestionably be TO the advantage Of
the great army OF Government en-
ployes.
In all likelihood it would be a great
beneht TO the Government service and
would be an encouragement to those
employees who are earnestly seeking 70
get promotions, but have no particular
leverage OF a political or personal nature
which they can exert. That It would
.sdd TO the morale of the Government
lemployes cannot well be doubted.
Blame Chiefs.
It's the fashion Of Senators and Mem
bers OF Congress to lay the blame for
wrongs with respect to promotions on
the bureau and division chiefs. AS a
matter Of fact the Senator or Member
OF Congress is likely TO be more blam-
able than the chief. If a Senator or
Representative goes 10 a division chief
and asked tlial a certain employee be
promoted, the rating of the employee
will be examined. The chief may lind
the rating is not such as 10 justify pro-
motion. But il the Senator or Repre-
sentative is a man Of influence and in
sists the ratings may be varied suf-
dciently TO warrant promotion.
II is charged that ratings are juggled
with in this fashion IN TOO many cases
and that the result is that there IS
practically no such Wing as promotion
BY merit but that the whole system is
honeycombed with favoritism.
II IS admitted that Il viii be difficult
II the extreme 10 Ntik oui a pan OF
promotion by merit At the same time.
II It can be worked out it is clear that
one OF the chief weaknesses of the civil
service system will have been removed.
The new member OF the Civil Service
Commission. Mr.. Washburn, is giving
some attention 10 this question OF how
the merit system can be made to apply
most effectively to promotions. Senator
Cummins. as head of the Committee on
Civil Service and Retrenchment. is much
ss42rested in it.
Another Phase.
- the proposed inquiry is gone into
there is no doubt that another important
phase Of the civil service viii have 10
be studied This is the question of
what TO do with the old and super
ANIMATED employees. This has been a
burning Issue among the Government
employees for years and il has beer
troublesome alike TO department heads
and 10 Congress.
problem of whether 10 give civil pen
sions and provide retirement system
This Il one plan suggested but bitterly
Ouposed by some members OF Congress.
Another proposition Is TO provide for a
constant system Of rotation IN Office by
limiting the number of years any one
person can remain IN the classified ser
vice Of the Government. Discharge Of
the superannuated employees IS some
times advocated but everyone hesitates
70 do this
The problem, however, is getting
more pressing every year and Congress
VIII be compelled TO meet II in some
= EfFfnW fn tho future