The Washington herald., 1912-08-03

an employees having maintained what is
in the Senate amendment
as a maximum rating below which no
employe shall fall without being de-
noted
The Civil Service Commission is su-
thorized 10 determine these standards. to
provide for the collection OF reports
from bureau or department chiefs and
10 hear complaints or protests against
the contents OF such reports. By another
clause in the bill the commission is
given the power to administer oaths to
witnesses in any matter pending before
it
Besides obviating the necessity OF civil
pensions, the avowed purpose OF the
members of the House and Senate who
supported the original provision was to
prevent long tenures of service by gov
ernment employees in Washington. The
effect of the constant changes aimed
at. despite any projections which may
Be thrown around the civil service will
be TO restore in a measure the influence
which members of Congress formerly
had in procuring positions in the govern
ment service for their friends and con-
stituents. The motives of the proponents
of limited tenures for government clerks
would have been less open to suspicion
had they included those classified
employees who hold office in 9TH
er sections of the country. for in
stance. in the Congressional districts of
the men who seek TO limit the tenure of
government clerks in the District.
That the effect of this provision will be
a feeling Of unrest in the departments is
obvious. That such a feeling will not
work for increased efficiency is hardly
less obvious. despite the statement made
by one Senator that the feeling OF secur-
ity which now obtains renders the de-
partment clerk independent TO the point
of insolence. Many times has the boast
been made in both Houses of Congress
by members. who delight 10 make the
eagle scream for home consumption.
that independence is a constitutional vir-
tue of the American citizen. Doubtless.
II is difficult for a United States Senator
to differentiate between independence and
insolence, at times.
1t should not be understood that all
who approve of a limited tenure of Office
are actuated by selfish motives. The
spirit of economy is rampant in the land.
and suspicion, bred of years out OF power.
has aimed a perfect deluge OF probes by
the Democratic House into the depart
ments. None Of these probes has devel-
oped anything startling, nor justified the
expenditure 1t has involved. but in
year IL is hoped that the coun-
try viii accept the will for deed, even
though the wish is father to the thought.
But many who approve the action or
Congress do SO from the deep-set con-
viction that II will be for the benefit OF
the employees who come into the gov
ernment service in the future not to re-
main there longer than to acquire the
so-called educational advantages
II might he DOfutad nut ,ba
clerks go into the service with the idea
of jumping out as soon as they have OBJ
tained the so-called educational ad-
vantages Of the National Capital, their
work can hardly be expected to attain
the same degree Of efficiency that 1t
would II they expected to make the gov
ernment service their life work. And
It is hardly to be expected that with
the small salaries paid government en-
ployes future applicants will care TO
make the government service their life
work II they are deprived Of all promise
of reward In their old age.
Furthermore, seven years is a long time
to take from the working life OF any
man or woman without promise of
more definite and materially useful train
ing than can be acquired in the ordinary
government position. In this day the
man without a technical or professional
training must depend upon long service
and a very definite sort of educational
advantage and training for success.
So, II would seem, even IL these leg
islators desire to ieave the efficiency or
the government service out OF the ques-
ton. they hardly would be benenting the
average constituent by encouraging him
to enter the government service for
short time and then jump to other fields.
The railroads and other large corpora
tions OF this country hardly are classed
as benevolent or philanthropic institu-
tons, yet the greatest and most power
full Of these are putting in old age PEN
sion systems. solely as an encouragement
to long tenure Of ONCE, because the