The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-01-29
THE CIVIL SERVICE.

o.
4 In the fiscal year 1908 the federal
| civil service commission examined
il 10000 applicants and placed 41,OOO
4 persons on the government pay rolls.
4 This does not mean that the remain
4 ing 10000 men and women exam
/ ined failed to meet requirements, for
many of those not given positions
i were placed on the eligible lists and
many of those actually appointed
! were probably examined in preceding
4 years. 1t does mean, however, that
the commission performed a vast
amount OF work and that through its
4 work the government obtained a
i higher class Of employees than it has
4 ever had under any other system. In
reality the civil service commission is
an employment bureau. 1t bears the
same relation to the government that
| the soliciting and examining depart
ments bear to life insurance com
pany. 1t seeks as well as passes
upon candidates for federal positions.
By publicity it keeps the public in
formed Of vacan les that exist or that
are soon to exist in government Of
fices and 1t gives to every citizen the
right to enter into competition for
these places. It has put employment
| on the merit system and, beyond any
question, this system in practical
operation has demonstrated its SUI
| periority over the old plan Of dis
tributing jobs as political patronage.
Every year more and more offices
are put under civil service regula-
tions. The system is extending into
state and municipal governments and
to private enterprises. There are now
100000 federal positions which are
filled after examination of appli-
cants. When President Roosevelt
went into office the number was
100000. This is an increase Of a.
most encouraging nature. Only re-
Gently about $4,000 fourth-class
postmasters were added to the civil
service The tendency is to steadily
limit the "appointive" powers Of
congressman and to reduce the num-
Der of ''plums" to be distributed by
and for politicians. This is as it
should be. Eventually congressman
have nothing to do but make laws and
the president and heads of depart
ments will have nothing to do but en-
force the laws And that, too, is an
end greatly to be desired. Exchange. |
i \ !.
GRATIFYING LETTERS.
The letters SO far received in reply
to those written the senators and
representatives on the county local
option question are for the most part
very gratifying, and we would fur
ther urge personal letters from our
First district women to those repre- K
senting their own counties. Mrs.
Standrod would also urge the per-
sonal message for the Civil Service
Reform bill. Letters authorized by
Individual clubs, signed by their
president and secretary, would be eff
'ective also. II
"A CORDIAL WELCOME.
Every club woman in the First I
district will be glad to know that the o
7. !. s. of Blackfoot has been received B
INTO membership. ii
We may not call this a baby" d
Tub, however. 1t is certainly full
crown, active, vigorous member and
n important accession to our district.
We hereby extend the right hand Of
fellowship" and hope that in this
MON we may be mutually blest.
e. REESOR. b
sF + j. + Il
20 INSPECT CLUBS ON ISTHMUS. q
Mrs Philip N. Moore OF st. Louis, q
resident Of the General Federation 81
Women's Clubs, and Mrs. John d. H
herman Of Chicago, vice president, "
ave sailed for Colon. They will ,dc
lake an inspection of the women's
lubs on the canal zone. There are
women's clubs on the zone. r,
+ + +
PAYETTE.
DR.. Buckley's piece, Gambling he
Others" printed in the last Repub- M
can is an arraignment of facts that III
light to startle and rouse the moth or
. from the fascination they have at
lowed these games to develop for m,
EN- and check them in their mad IN,
reer, for it can Nbe called nothing
Sc. When mothers get perfectly re-
fly over these card games and cis
rive and scheme honestly and ca
herwise to win the prize and have alb
9 glory Of being considered the best mi