The Washington times., 1911-11-18
THE COLLAPSE OF "ClVIL
SERVICE REFORM"

y PSoPiS, SNcH AIMING thOSe
who presumably would be directly bene.
flied, realize the real proportions and
significance of the issue involved in the
campaign for reform of the civil service
salary schedulesg
That there are people who appreciate
all this is indicated by the fact that
such men as Bird S. Coler, Seth Low,
John w. Griggs, Thomas Nelson Page,
Dr. Charles F. Thwing, and many
others, representing all sections of the
country, students, and specialists in
management of public business, have
permitted the use of their names and
pledged their support of the campaign
that is being organized to overhaul the
whole civil service machinery. Gov
ernors, Senators, university presidents,
economists, publicists, all are strongly
represented in the committee which
Director Dick has announced. These
men would not be giving their coun-
tenance to this movement without some
knowledge of what it means.
1t really means that the civil service
of this Government is fallen into con
dition which no other important coun-
try in the world has permitted.
This is the result of gross, excuse
less, reckless neglect on the part of
people who should have realized their
responsibility and foreseen it's results.
Let civil service reformers consider
few plain facts, and what they sig
Nifty.
In the old days of the spoils system,
when the victors took the jobs, and
when the Government offices were filled
with the henchmen of the successful
party, the civil service had influence,
pull, political standing, voting import
ance, enough to assure at least that
good wages should be paid.
The time came when the civil service
reformers were able to take Govern.
ment employment out of the discredit.
able position of mere reward for politi-
cal service. Tenure was made indie
pendent of political activity or
opinions. 1t looked like long step to.
ward betterment: but what has been
actual experience?
THE TRUTH is THAT SINCE THE
CIVIL SERVICE BECAME A SURE
THING' EMPLOYMENT, SINCE IT
LOST IT'S CONCERN ABOUT POLITI-
CAL RESULTS, AND SINCE 1T
CEASED TO HAVE THE INFLU-
ENCE THAT POLITICAL IMPORT
ANCE FORMERLY GAVE IT, CON
GRESS HAS LOST ALL SUBSTAN-
TIAL INTEREST IN 1T.
THERE HAS BEEN NO SERIOUS
ATTEMPT TO DO ANYTHING FOR
CIVIL SERVICE WORKERS SINCE
THEIR POSITIONS WERE MADE
INDEPENDENT OF POLITICS.
SALARIES OF LEGISLATORS, OF
LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES, OF THE
JUDICIARY, OF THE EXECUTIVE,
DF ANN AM nav L, IlAN T. ALL
BEEN RAISED. THE SOLE EXCEP-
TIONS ARE THE PEOPLE IN THE
CLERICAL POSITIONS OF THE
CIVIL SERVICE.
What is the result? The civil service
is better for being removed from the
decentralization of politics, from the
constant uphesval, shifting, and uncer-
tainty OF dependence OH election re-
suits; and TO this extent it is i'm
proved.
But it has lost its appeal to Con
gress, its power to DEMAND and GET
what it is entitled to.
1t has ossiiied, atrophied.
1t has now reached the point where
it MUST have some of the intelligent
attention that it has been unable to
command, or it will collapse in hope,
less manifestation of inefficiency and
incapacity.
The civil service positions are TOO
EASY to keep, but too undesirable to