The Prescott daily news., 1912-06-21
CIVIL SERVICE MEN IN SESSION THEIR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OPENS ITS ANNUAL CON-
 VENTION IN SPOKANE. ROMINENTMEN NPLATFORM Address of President Joseph c. Mason Is Read, in His Absence, by
 c. E. Buell. of Wisconsin
 Commission.
PR0MINENTMEN ONPLATFORM

Spokane, Wash, June 21-The Ma tional Assembly of Civil Service Com missions met here today for its fifth annual convention with delegates present from federal, state and mu- nicipal boards and commissions throughout the United States.
 Frank A. Chase of the Spokane city commission delivered the opening ad- dress and the visitors then were wei comed by Governor Hay. Vice-Presi- dent c. k. Buell., who is head of the Wisconsin commission, then took the chair and announced that the presi- dent, Joseph C. Mason of Illinois, was unavoidably absent. Mir Mason, how ever, had sent his address and it was read by Mir. Buell..
 President Mascns Address.
 MT. Mason's address in pert was as follows:
 The assembly has a field not occupied by any other body in public work. It is the mission of the National Civil Service Reform league to watch the enforcement of the laws, nationally and through it's state and municipal branches; to urge amendments thereto that will extend their scope and improve their usefulness; and finally to see that they are not re- pealed In the employees is vested the privilege of protecting their rights and seeing that there is no discrimination against them The assembly. however. IS composed of individuals upon whom Is placed the burden of enforcing the law of doing 1t in a practical way-and of making suggestions how it may best be amended.
 Tn other words, the men who have the enforcement of a civil service law put n hAf1 sol n I the public which can not be shifted They must enforce the law as they find 1t or get out and let some one with more nerve or sense of decency do 1t. Every time there Is an unpunished infraction or loosening of the reins, the law and the peoples respect for it become that positions to 1000 persons annually in a city means that you are distributing a leaven that will stand by and fight for q is on the square.
 Bureau Chiefs Should Not Be Exempt.
 Ihls brings me 10 point on which that the heads of departments should be in the classified service. An, but you say we are not ready for that yet If that be your reply 1t Is woeful confes- acknowledgment of the weakness of your examinations. You may disagree with me all you please, but after six years experience in practical work 1 say the merit system never will have the confi- dence of the people with the fountain head poisoned
 First we have aot passed which transfers all persons employed at the time 1t becomes effective to the classified service That gives you all political ap- pointees for your employees. They have no more respect usually for your law than the bosses themselves. You then find doubt expressed as to the honesty of your intentions. That is precisely tho condition you perpetuate when you ex- empt heads of departments from the classified service
 Personally l know the big positions can be filled to the best interests of the public under the merit system. If you don't believe 1t take five positions pay ing $3,000 or more that have been filled under the merit system and compare them with an equal number where polit- lcal appointments have been made. You will be surprised that you ever thought there was a legitimate excuse for mak- ing exemptions of this character.
 Along comes the efficiency system to remedy this statutory defect Who. pray in the majority of cases. Is the keeper of the record and the grader of the em- ployes. The same exempt chief of the department who occupies too powerful a position, politically speaking. for you to cope with him. You give him an em-