Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-06-01
MAD RUSH
F0RESEEN
Ex-senator Dick DepreCatcs
Proposed Change Of Civil
Service Law
CldSSifieS Limitdtionof Official
Tenure Of Office as
Retrograding

| '"tAcIILANU OA<, julie 1-lue pIO.
vision in the executive, legislative
and judicial appropriation bill as it
passed the House to limit all appoint
! ments in the classified civil service
in the District of Columbia to five
years has been discussed quite freely
from the standpoint of the employe
| and the .maLy disastrous and unfav.
orable results Of such law as it
would affect the clerks have been
pointed out in strong terms, accord
ing to former Senator Dick, director
of the committee of one hundred.
What the effect would be upon the
employer, which is the government,
says Mr.. Dick, is equally important,
because every taxpayer-taat is, ev-
cry man. woman and child in the
country-is immensely interested in
efficient and economical administra-
ton.
The merit system by executive or
der has been applied in bureaus and
departments not included by the civ
il service law. Mr.. Dock says, and
the system has become SO firmly es-
tablished we have almost forgotten
any other system ever prevailed.
Public sentiment has so thoroughly
crystallized in condemnation of us.
ng public office to reward ones
friends or to punish his enemies that
the mere suspicion such course is
being pursued brings instant con-
demnation.
Turning Clock Hands Back.
The proposal at this late day to
limit all appointments in the classi.
fled service here to term Of years
seems like turning back the hands
of the clock, he continued. In an era
when progressive ideas are triumph
ing it would be generally accepted
as a return to the condemned pollt1'
cal practices of twenty and more
years ago.
Washington has often seen what
the late ex-President Cleveland call
ed "The madness for spoils in finest :
efflorescence," but the frenZied rush
for office by hordes of hungry parti'
sans which the city has repeatedly
seen under the spells system would
be no worse than the spectacle that
would be seen here in 1917 on the
expiration of the first five-year term
of office, especially if there has been
a change in party control.
OF course, it is said that this pro- |
posed change in the law is not blow
aimed at the merit system. but such
claim will deceive no one.
"The demoraHNng madness for
spoils'' against which Cleveland
warned would be returned worse
than ever If all civil service appoint
ments were made for. term OF five
years.
Common.Sense Law.
In summarizing the benefits accru-
ing to the established system. Mr..
Dick said: "The civil service law is
the application of common sense and
common honesty to the public serv-
ice. A tenure Of Office dependent up
on good behavior and with hope OF
promotion are the two strongest in.
centives to good efficient work. 1t
is we'll at this time to recall the fact
that the heads Of all the executive
departments have for many years
without notable exception borne Wig
orous testimony to the increased efh'
cheney in the public service brought
about by the civil service system.
"The executive departments are
merely branches of big business,
which should run on business prin.
ciples. From that standpoint, moth.
ing could be more absurd than five
year term of employment. Who
would deposit his money in bank
whose management announced as it's
policy that it would dismiss its en-
ployes every five years. Who would
intrust his life to railroad operated
upon such a system?
"The proposition is indefensible,
unbusinesslike and demoralizing."