The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1913-01-18
UNDERMINING THE CIVIL SERVICE

conceded 70 know something worth while about the
civil service If it doesn't, it ought to be hired
forthwith
If it isn't going to be fired, it ought to be lis
tended to with respect In its annual report just is
sued. il pictures the treadm conditions that sur
round the mass of civil service workers, making IT
impossible for the Government to expect efficiency
comparable to that attained in commercial organi-
cations, and at the same time deprivng the employe
of those incentives to ambition, and effort which
alone can make the career desirable
The merit system has increased efficiency, but
il needs protection and extension. This does not
mean extension on days notice to whole vast
classification of tens of thousands OF posmasters
for political effect 1t means recognition OF merit
where merit exists. So preposterous performance
as blanketng the lower classes of postmasters with
civil service order that looks to retaining an army
of parisans in office, is not an extension OF the merit
system Rather it is reputation of the merit
system, mockey of sincere civil service preten-
sions, fake and cheap fraud
More than that, it is an invitation to the new
Administration to revoke that preposterous order
and return to the ancient and outworn doctrine of
the spos for the victors This is just the time when
perversion of civil service professions, if INDUCED
by one party, is sure to be construed by the other
as admission that the whole system is hypocrihcal
cevice of the masquerading spokesman.
The commission observes that so long as So
large proportion of the higher administrative posi-
tons remain unclassfed, to be filled from outside
without promotion, the classified service will not
offer career in competition with such outside fields
Of employment as are organized and conducted on
merit basis, and which have systems of retirement
upon disability or superannuation.
The commission is entirely correct. No service
offers greater opportunities than that of the Gov
ernment-to the men who get in right. But the
civil service door is not the one that leads to the
opportunities. ~. -.
Go back over a decade and consider the bright
Young men who have been, say, assistants to the
Secretary of the Treasury. They came without spe-
cial Qualification as rule; almost all of them, with
out service in the lower ranks of the department. with
out familiarity with law and procedure. They served
brief periods, and went out to be bank presidents
executives in great concerns, managers of great
businesses 49,.
But these are not the men who entered by the
civil service door. They are the fortunates who got
in by the political route, accumulated the prestige
that goes with distinguished service in the upper
strata of Government business and went out to be
the envy and wonder of unfortunates left behind,
treading out the daily grind of routine work. pro-
tected" it is true, by regulations that make it i'm
possible to discharge them without cause; but i'm
munized against possible attacks of aspiration, am
bition or hope.
For these of the treadmill know that the door
of opportunity is barred for them. The higher places
in the service not for them. They may be clerks
forever; most of them are When they become
equipped and skilled and ready for promotion to
those higher places whence it is possible to step
Oft for the bigger rewards of the business world
they see these higher places filled by political fav-
ores they see these political avorites enjoying the
opportunity to prepare themselves for the larger
possibilities beyond.
In Short of this ladder of three rounds, the lower
round is occupied by the thousands of the classified
civil service the second is occupied by political
fayorites introduced from outside the civil service
the third is occupied by these political favortes when
promoted to the arena of general affairs outside the
Government service
The civil service needs, and the Civil Service
Commission this year says it with more force and
effectiveness than ever to have the full field of op-
portunity opened to it. The higher places in the
Government should be possible of attainment from
the ranks. The incapable and the superannuated
should be set aside, decenty and humanely, in or
der that real merit and real capacity may have the
chance that they deserve. Pensions should be pro-
vided for those needing and deserving and the COM
mission so declares. This one step would work
almost a revolution in the service. 1t would open
large and increasing number Of the higher places
to people from the lower ranks, who now have
almost no chance of advancement. 1t would in
crease the efficiency of the organization; keep the
blood circulating; put Government business on a
parity, for efficiency, and for attractiveness as q
career, with outside business.