Evening star., 1909-04-21
The Spirit Of Civil Service.

In rejecting the report OF the confereeS
on the census bill the Senate yesterday
threw back to its original status the Nc
Cumber amendment requiring all appli-
cants for civil service appointment to have
resided for one year within the states In
which they claim residence. The debate
on the motion to reject tended to broaden
the issue materially. Senator McCumber
based his remarks in support OF his own
motion in large part on editorials printed
in The Star. and laid down the general
proposition that the present practice Of
District people acquiring residence In the
states Is contrary to the spirit of the
civil service law" So much was said
about the spirit" of this law that 1t is
easy to believe that Senator McCumbers
concept Of that spirit Is that public place
Is no other than patronage or spoils, and
that the states have certain definite rights
in the distribution of the positions. In
direct colloquy with Senator Tillman. he
sought to call the latter's attention Ito
tho fact that all the states are absolutely
deprived Of their rights under the working
of the civil service law It Is interest
ing - note further, in the analysis Of the
McCumber theory OF civil service and
government working. the following pass
age from this same speech:
Every senator here knows that the
states have been robbed Of apportionment
under the operation of this law, and the
way they have been robbed Is by claim
OF legal residence where no residence
was actually obtained or had ever been
obtained by the applicants. Many young
men throughout the several states of the
Union are anxious to come to this city
and work for a few years in government
service. and then, after getting an educa-
ton at the night schools, to return to the
states from which they came. That op-
portunity ought not to be denied them
That opportunity is denied them.
In other words. the United States gov
ernment is to serve as training school
for>the youth of the states. The govern
ment is not to build up substantial,
permanent, efficient corps of workers by
securing through competition the best
available people who can be found any
where by selection from all comers. but
is to take from here and there according
to geographical lines and, 1t is reasonably
to be suspected. with due regard for polit-
ical pressure and influence, an assort-
ment of young men who are to be given
the opportunity to educate themselves at
the governments expense in order to re-
turn after few years to their original
professions. II this is the spirit of the
civil service law the entire public service
system should be arranged in accordance
and premiums should be offered In the
form OF rapid promotions, for the en-
couragement Of early resignation in order
to maintain constant current of change.
Senator McCumber, speaking of the fact
that in some families two or three mem.
hers on1nlnvod In 10
service. said that ''as a matter OF fact
this is growing to be a city Of of,ciaI
families holding positions under the gov
ernment." Equally as matter OF fact
this should by no means be detrimental
to the governments interests. II ia i'm
possible to see how harm could be done
to the federal service through the con-
centration of employment here In Wash
ington, regardless of family lines Indeed,
the whole matter now turns, In the lixht
of this debate in the Senate, upon the
single question Of whether the United
States is maintaining a civil service for
the benefit of few of the people through
their employment or the civil service Is
maintained for the benefit of the govern
ment.
The true spirit OF the civil service law
stanchest friends of the merit system
10 be to give the government of the
United States the best possible clerical
equipment. and to this end 1t has alwavs
been supposed that the civil service COM
mission should seek, as far as the ilIoei
cal apportfonment OF Offices law would
permit, to fill the vacancies with the most
capable men and I.omen obtainable after
searching examination. regardless Of xe
ography and place OF residence.
If the merit system is simply a means
to the end of givine, places to the states
as patronage. Congress should now 20 on
record definitely to this effect II. on the
other hand, the merit system is to be
maintained as a means OF giving the
United States the best possible force for
the transaction of its business, Congress-
should repeal the apportionment OF offices
law. free the hands of the civil service
commission and insure the selection Of
the most eligible. 1t has that oppor-
tunity, now that the Senate has returned
the bill to conference.