The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-17
CIVIL SERVICE ON
4 BROADER PLANE
Only President, Vice Presi-
dent and Secretaries Ex-
empt by the Plan.

-
Baltimore, Nd, Dec. 1.-THE open
ing sessions OF the thirtieth annual
meeting OF the national civil service
reform association yesterday was not.
able for the lengths to which those
oil tie association desire the govern.
ment to 20 In the adoption OF their
views.
10 the ideas OF the association are
put into practice virtually only the
president of the United States and the
exempt from the application of civil
service rules.
about thorough revision OF the gov
eminent salary list and promotions
will be made strictly on the basis OF
merit and length OF service after thor.
ough examination.
These points were elaborated in
the report OF the committee on promo
tions and also In the annual address
OF President DR.. Charles w. Eliot
$1,000 Jobs Out Of Reach.
DR.. Eliot said In part: THE labors
of the league have been rewarded
during the administrations OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt and President Taft by
the attainment OF many improvements
In the national service. About 294. 900
employees of the government are in
the classified service. of whom about
226,00 are competitive, ...
About $4,000 persons In the CLASH
fled service. have. however. been APP
pointed on exceptional terms. with ex-
emption from examination or without
competitive examination, a grevious
fact which cannot but gravely quail
~ the satisfaction of this league In
the results obtained.
There remain something more than
1000 political appointments which are
inaccessible to the $4,000 men and
women who have entered the classi-
fled service. However mcritorious
these subordinate servants OF the gov
eminent may not prove themselves to
be- they cannot reach higher posts
without procuring the active influence
of a patron.
Promotion on Probation.
THE committee OF the league recon-
mends uniform syestem OF promo
ton. based upon competitive examina-
ton. but In part also on records of
efficiency and on seniority. To
bring into effect any comprehensive
system Of promotion for merit. add
ticnal legislation will be necessary and
particularly Jaw providing for re-
classification of salaries.
"The committee recommends that
all promotions be made for a proba-
,cnary period just as original appoint
mcnts should be. II recommend that
the civil service commission should be
given discretion to decide whether a
high place In the civil service should
be filled through promotion or
through competitive examination, to
which employees should be admitted.
"This league believes some method
OF retiring disabled or superannuated
officials In q humane way Is essential;
nut u sees OiIIlcultieS III applylEe any
pension system to the civil service in
It's present condition.
chIcaooan Gives His Views.
Richard Henry Dana. Boston, urged
the league to ask congress to adopt
legislation removing the entire sub
ordinate civil service from the infiu-
cnce Of politics.
How civil service reform was linked
with the progressive movement for
good government In Illinois was told
by Herbert f.. Fleming. secretary OF
the Illinois and Chicago civil service
reform association. Conditions in IL
llnois." MIR. Fleming asserted, "cry
for civil service reform rs one of the
essential means for restoring repre-
sentative government"