Evening star., 1912-11-08
HOPE IN DEMOCRATS
Government Employees Look
for justice in Civil Service.
RECALL PLATFORM PLANK
Pledge by Party Stands for Honest
Enforcement of Law.
PENSIONS FOR OLD UNLIKELY
Resolutions Committee at Conven-
tion Fails to Grant Request on
That Subject.
RECALL PLATFORM PLANK
PENSIONS FOR OLD UNLIKELY

'The law pertaining to the civil service
should be honestly and rightly enforced.
to the end that merit and ability shall be
the standard of appointment and promo
ton, rather than service rendered to
political party; and We favor a reorgani-
zation of the civil service with adequate
compensation commensurate with the
class of work performed. for all officers
and employees; we also favor the extern
sion to all classes Of civil service en-
ployes of the benefits of the provisions
of the employers liability law; We also
recognize the right of direct petition to
Congress by employees for the redress of
grievances.
In its party platform. adopted at the
national convention, the democratic party
made this pledge to the vast army OF gov
ernment officials and employees in the fed
eral civil service. So far as the planks
of a platform are binding the democrats
are committed to this policy of admins
tration of the civil service when they take
over the executive and legislative
brane hes of the national government aft
er March next.
The framing of the civil service plank In
the platform was given serious and care
full consideration by the members OF the
committee on resolutions of the demo-
cratic national convention in Baltimore.
Two committees, representing large Or
ganizations of employees of Uncle sam.
appeared before the committee and asked
not only the pledges that were given but
others. The others We're rejected, but
the members of the committeeman later
the members Of the entire convention
agreed upon the pledge quoted above.
Opposed to Civil Pensions.
A plank which was sought and rejected
was a promise for the enactment by Con-
gress of an adequate civil service retire
ment law, under which the superan-
nuated employees would be pensioned and
younger blood would be infused into the
public service. The republican platform,
adopted the week previous at Chicago,
had pledged itaelf to that legislation and
the democrats were asked to follow suit
mo civil pensions" shouted several
members of the democratic resolutions
committee when they were approached on
the subject. Their prOtes. was loud and
vigorous when the subject came up In
and their views prevailed. This would
seem to give little hope for such law
during democratic times on Capitol Hlll.
But those active for civil service reform
hope to convince democratic leaders OF
the error of their ways when they have
taken over the civil service and can see
the advantages of such legislation.
Some who have studied this democratic
DlpQRc, DIS ildut III tHC PldLiOiihs poiAS
out that it is not directly adverse TO the
plan of the democratic House of last
session in fixing limited tenure OF OF
flee for government clerks. Others, how
ever profess to see an indirect renuncia-
ton Of such a doctrine in the first clause
setting forth that 1.-The law pertaining to
the civil service should be honestly and
rightly enforced. to the end that merit
and ability shall be the standard OF ap-
pointment and promotion, rather than
service rendered to a political party"
The right Of government clerks to make
direct appeal to Congress for the relief
of their grievances. acknowledged by the
democratic plank, has long been fought
for by the organizations Of Uncle Sans
workers. The gag rule established
under the Roosevelt regime in the White
House, was modified by President Taft,
but employees in the departments were
not satisfied. The democratic House
started a movement to grant the de-
mands Of the civil service workers dur
ing the last session by provision in
the post office appropriation bill allowing
employees in that department the right of
direct appeal. On the floor OF the Sen
ate this provision was broadened to In
clude all civil service employees; as such,
it became law. 1t is contended, there
pledge is already redeemed.
Await Democratic Action.
What steps will be taken by the dem
ocrats to redeem that promise that they
favor a reorganization of the civil serv-
ice with adequate compensation COM
mensurate with the class of work per-
formed. for al officers and employees" Is
still only conjecture. This policy was
recommended by the committees of civil
service employees which appeared before
the platform committee at the conven-
ton, 1t was urged at that time that some
low-paid clerks are now receiving less
ga ary than others with less response
bility and work.
1t is urged by some that the plan of
efficiency ratings" put into the legisla-
ton appropriation law at the last session,
will effect this readjustment. The re-
organization may bring disappointment
and heartaches for many. it Is admitted
The extension of employees liability
laws to inc ude all federal employees is
another thing for which civil service
workers have long been fighting. Both
democratic and republican platforms
made this platform, and with the men,
bers of the two parties in accord, 1t Is
Thought this will be one of the early ac-