Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-15

! ton, Mayor Blankenburg, among other
j things said:
How can We accomplish good results
in municipal administration unless we
| adept sound business methods? The
Pennsylvania Railroad never employs
an engineer because he is Repub-
llean or a Democrat: he is selected be
cause of mis- efficiency and is the man
fit for the place. TO do otherwise
would be ruinaus And 50, under this
administration, only competent men,
under civil service rule, will be APP
pointed TO take care of the affairs OF
the city of Philadelphia.
Conditions in our city have been in
describably absurd. Take the police
department. In many instances po-
liccuen We're not selected because Of
their physical constitution, their gen
eral qualification, or because they
knew when TO use and when not to
ns6 their clubs, but mainly because
they could be and We're willing To he
of political service We have for years
suffered from the police force in poll
tics Under my administration say
il with emphasis--the police viii be
absolutely taken cut of politics, They
viii he cXpeC tee to secure life. limb
and property. and after fulfilling their
sworn duties they will be their own
masters and no longer political slaves
Tbev viii also be permitted In take
their fun wages home "a their wives
and children without paving tribute
10 any political boss OF party.
There appears to be new feeling
among the police of this city. Some
of tham have told me, and others have
fet it ne known through their friends,
that they at last feel like free men,
like American citizens, while a few
weeks ago they were slaves To a per-
nicious system that stifled manhood
and degraded citizenship. They VIII
remain free as long as | am mayor
did not come here to make 4
snedcb. for ! have ben employed III
dustriously for the past ten Gays In
many directions, and largely in re-
pelling the assaults of otfice-seekers.
If it were generally known that near
" all appointments must be made UNI
dor the merit system, would he saved |
many hours of trouble and turmoil and
sleeDless nights. It seems that the
idea is cherished in some quarters
tnat, as | HAVE Dttii III 'lii't wi 49, - I
l should have discharged ten thousand |
eficeholders and put ii. ten thousand
new ones. 1t is the hane of ones life. |
AS ii becomes known, more and
more, that those applying for positions
under the administration must under
go a civil service examination, the
rush will cease.
Reform does pay, not only in the
ethics of administration but also IN
dollars and cents. 1t may interest You
10 learn that for a number of years
we in Philadelphia have paid for the
removal of garbage $4,000 year IN
some European cities contractors pay
for the privilege of collecting garbage.
Soon after assuming Office the new
administration thought ii advisable II
nut something akin TO civil service
into the collection OF garbage we
advertised for new bids and the most
wonderful results were shown, today
A year ago the contract was let Tor
$4,000: today it has been awarded Tor
s27S. 200. Now. ladies and gentlemen,
doesn't reform pay We pay today
little mere than one-half of what was
paid . year ago. other contracts VIII
be scrutinized and good may follow.