The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-27
THE SPIRIT OF CIVIL SERVICE.

In rejecting the report of the con-
ferees on the census bill the senate re-
Gently threw back to its original status
the McCumber amendment requiring
all applicants for civil service appoints
ment 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.
So much was said about the spirit"
of this law that it 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 posi-
tons. In direct cOllOquy with Senator
Tillman he sought to call the latter's
attention to the fact that all the states
are absolutely deprived of their rights
under the working of the civil ser
vice law" 1t is interesting to note
further. i'll the analysis of the McCum-
Der theory of civil service and govern
meut working, the following passage
from this same speech:
Every senator here knows that the
states have been robbed of this law,
and the way they have been robbed is
by a claim of a legal residence where
no residence was actually obtained or
had ever been obtained by the appli-
CantS Many young men throughout
the several states of the Union are anx-
ious to come to this city and work for
few years in government service and
then after getting an education at the
night schools, to return to the states
from which they came. That opportu-
nifty ought not to be denied them. That
opportunity is denied Them
In other words, the United States
government is to serve as a training
school for the youth of the states. The
government is not to build up a sub
stantial permanent, efficient corps of
workers by securing through COM
petition the best available people who
can be found anywhere by a selection
from all corners, but is to take from
here and there according to geographi-
cal lines and, it is reasonably to be
suspected, with due regard for politi-
cal pressure and influence. an assert
ment of young men who are to be
given the opportunity to educate them
selves at the governments expense in
oroer 10 return after a few years tC
their original homes and go into bust
ness or one of the professions. If this
is the spirit of the civil service law
the entire public service system should
be arranged in accordance, and pre-
miums should be offered in the form
of rapid promotions, for the encour-
agement of early resignation in order
to maintain a constant current OF
change
Senator McCumber. speaking of the
f3ct that in some families in the gov
eminent service. said that "as a mat
Ter or fact this is growing to be a city
81 official families holding positions
under the government" Equally as a
matter of fact this should by no means
De detrimental to the governments in
terests. 1t is impossible to see how
harm could be done to the federal SER
wee through the concentration of EN-
ploVment here in Washington. regard
iess or family lines Indeed, the whole
ia''er now turns in the light of this
oeoate in the senate. upon the single
Puestion of whether the United States
Is maintaining civil service for the
nehent OF a few of the people through
thelr employment or the civil service