The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-18
BALDWIN FOR
CIVIL SERVICE
- . ~.sAu -
Says Time Has Fully Come
for. State to Adopt It for
Minor Positions
USED FOR TEACHERS NOW
Governor Sets Forth His At
titude at Civil Service Re-
form Banquet

Meriden, Feb. 1S-At the annual din
ner of the Connecticut Civil Service
reform association held here last night.
of State Civil Service. He said:
"Civil. Service reform is a question
of politics of the first Importance for
every American.
Precisely as we advance in the oc-
cupation by our governments Of new
fields of action, we must advance the
character and the permanence of our
civil service. The more things gov
eminent undertakes to do for the
people, the more subordinate agents
and officials it must employ pre-
sumo, though I have, taken no census
that Connecticut now employs be-
tween one and two thousand such
men. Shall they be appointed by IA
voritism Or by merit?s Shall the time
Of our higher officers be largely taken
up in listening to applications for
political. services 'or influence, or
equal geographical distribution; Or
may they turn them over to some
qualified authorities ITO ascertain
whether they are really fit for the
jobs2 r
I'VE have seen the civil service ex-
animation system adopted by the Uni
z.
have seen it adopted by many Of our
cities and successful there. we have
seen some Of them secure charter au-
thority from the General Assembly to
make the terms of some of their Of
6cials such as engineers and inspec-
tors, last during good behavior. Now,
I say, the time has fully come for the
State to adopt it for the minor posi-
tons. in the service of the State. She
has always adopted it for school teach
ers. Why not for others?
You have put in bill before this
General Assembly for Civil. Service
Reform commission. I have not ex-
amined it in it's details but in prin-
ciple I sympathize most deeply with
the great end in view.
1T is a great one. It justifies and
it demands, from each of you, his
best efforts to get such legislation as
will stamp civil service reform in
delibly into the political framework
of Connecticut" =
Among the other eminent speakers
was Charles w. Eliot, pres dent emer-
titus of Harvard university and pres
ident of the National Association Of
Civil Service Reformers. His address
was on What Massachusetts, has
gained through her civil service COM
mittee,' and he confined himself very
closely. to the subject in hand.
President Eliot began with the first
Massachusetts, act Of the Legislature
of 1884 creating a civil service com
mission with the power of appoint
ment of minor officials of the common
wealth There are many excep-
tons in this law as to classes Of OPP
pointees and in all elective officials,
but the growth of the idea has been
great and constantly upward and the
effect is increasingly for good gov
ernment-'' The speaker cited the case
Of Milton, Mass, 'tax dodgers town,
populated by many rich people, which
by special law, now has all officials,
even the heads of departments, ap-
pointed under civil service commits
sions. A great reform has been ac-
compIshed in Boston, which is now
under a spoils system mayor, by rem
edying the padded pay roll conditions
of three years ago..
1.-THE mayor now has to certify to
the fitness Of his appointments and
they must also be approved by the
Civil Service commission.
The speaker ended by pointing out
that in addition to the great moral
gain in the removing of inefficient
public officials and the indirect gain
through the high physical require
ments. business results have been
shown in that for public positions
there are now selected men and wom-
en- who give one dollars worth Of
work for one dollar
President Henry w. Farnam, Of the
State association, presided, and DIR.
Edward T. Bradstreet Of Meriden, act
ed as POSTMASTER. In addition to
those mentioned were the following
speakers and their toasts.
Hon. T. L. Reilly, "Meriden's We'll
come"
Ex-Gov Frank B. Weeks, Ere
marks on the Civil Service
Hon. Edward r. Sargent, .'The New
Haven Civil Service"