The Washington herald., 1912-08-13
The Drones in the Hive.

Civil service never has been really
popular in Congress. Members have been
worried SO much for jobs by constitu-
ents that with especial JUNCTION and fer
vently they have damned the civil serv-
ice law
But have they not realized that as
soon as a pull will again procure a gov
ernment job they will be badgered still
more by their constituents? And yet, if
Congressman would tell the truth,
those who are not glad of doing some
thing for their constituents, even TO the
trouble OF finding jobs for them, are
very rare Ii is human nature. They
believe that doing so will help them at
home
The measure which, as rider to the ap-
preparation BILL has passed the House,
contains no proposition to abolish the
merit system, but only TO abolish life
tenure" Civil service examinations still
will be insisted upon and the selections
will be made from prepared lists This
much to refute the loud cry of return to
the spoil system" But once the system
has been attacked on one point, further
assaults will follow Here is where a
gradual return to the former spoil sys-
TEN may in time develop.
The life tenure is not the most Sc
rious fault found with the present sys-
TEN by experts. What they object to is
the picking of men altogether by exam
nation test and not also by personality
and other-mainly physical-requisites.
This in time will be used by Congress
sionai Office grabbers and exploited far
beyond its design and legitimate value
as an argument for abolishing examina-
tons altogether, and for creating more
if shorter jobs for Congressmen's con-
stituents.
The planned new order may change
TO a degree the character of applicants.
While there are many drones in the
hive. they are in the minority, and the
way to eliminate them is not to limit the
supply of all, good or bad! The reform
really needed-and aimed at in the pres
ent "rider"-is to clear the service of
incompetents, not shortening of the
tenure And those who favor the new
bill ask, with some semblance OF truth, |
it must be admitted, How could there
be incoihpetents among the clerks if the |
civil service examinations were not a |
failure?
We do not for a moment anticipate |
that the President will sign the bill |
Firstly, because it appears before him
as a rider" to an appropriation bill, to
which he is fundamentally opposed, and
then, because he is above everything
else fair and would consent to
no such sweeping changes until alb
solutely convinced of the necessity But
for all that-and we say it as friend
and not as the foe of the clerks-it cam
not be denied that the government en-
ployes in a measure are to blame for this
step. With a months vacation and a
months sick leave each year and life
job, they did not know enough to keep
their good thing to themselves. Some
even have been-and are-actually rude
and offensive to people who were
obliged to make inquiries at the depart
ments. 1t is a well-understood fact
that in some cases their conduct was
almost intolerable, not only to plain,
ordinary citizens but. to Congresmen
as well.
The latter are retaliating. are trying
to get at this small group of bulldozing
irritationists, even though by doing this
they injure the great majority of clerks
who attend to their business quietly and
courteously. Such pettiness seems in
credible in national legislators, but it
is fact nevertheless.