Gilpin observer., 1913-10-16
WASHINGTON NEWS
BY Edward Keating.


tenn. "Cry rot has seized upon the
gigantic structure which 1t has TAX
en- more than quarter Of century
to erect, and threatens to destroy
1t.
What is the trouble?
Politics" one will tell you, 1.-THE
lack of a pension system" another
will assure you. "The whole thing is
dead wrong" is the politicians find
ing. All these verdicts contain a
grain of truth, but neither fully fits
the case.
Civil service Is a good thing, when
properly administered. That it has
not been properly administered here
tofore is universally conceded by the
ones who are in position to know.
The great departments Of govern
ment are lacking in efficiency, and
men of ability and ambition are de-
prived of deserved promotion, be-
cause the path to preferment is
Thousands of men and women who
have grown gray in the service of
the nation find themselves incapable
of doing a fair days work. With
the desperation of drowning men,
they cling to their positions, knowing
that if they relinquish their hold,
either voluntarily or involuntarily,
they will drift to the po0>house. The
heads of departments haven't the
heart to remove them. 1t would be
like sentencing them to death.
The bureau of labor statistics fur
nishes a striking illustration of the
workings of the system. This bur-
eau was organized about a quarter
Of a century ago. 1t has been en-
trusted with many of the most impor-
tant Industrial investigations author
lied by congress, and its reports
have attracted wide attention Such
men as the late Carol Wright and
DIR. Charles P. Neill have directed
it's activities and they gathered ar
ound them an unusual body Of care
fully trained specialists. Many of
these experts served the nation for
a fraction of the salaries which cor
porations were willing and anxious
to pay.
That partisan politics is response
BILE for the presence of a large num-
ber of decrepit and Incompetent per
sons on the governments payroll, can
not be questioned. A score Of by
paths have been discovered by which
the plain provisions Of the civil SER
vice law have been evaded and men
and women who served the Republi-
can party well have been enabled to
secure life positions.
One of the faycritee tricks was to
have the head of department ap-
point a favori.e to a special posi-
tiion for sixty OF ninety days and
then have the president issue an ex-
ecutive order placing that position
under civil service, wiohoutt requir-
ing the incumbent to take an exam
ination.
Hundreds and probably thousands
Of Republican politicians We're favor
ed in that way: This plain violation
of the spirit of the law had de-
moralizing eject On the morale of
the srevice and materially reduced
the efficiency of every department.
Not satisfied with sneaking these
favorites into the civil service tent,
the powers that were proceeded to
promote them without regard to the
rights of those employees who were
without political pull.
One day l listened while a grey
haired clerk told a department chief
how for sixteen years he had been
ary, while his associates who had
the Influence" were receiving the
coveted promotions.
II was u Democrat" he said. "and
my folks back in Pennsylvania were
Democrats. and that fact was always
used against me. At first l thought
l would quit, then the first baby ar
rived, and Ishad to hold on. AS my
family grew. my nerve decreased. and
4 chung to my job. 1t was pretty hard.
for they seemed determined to drive
me out Of the service. Some Of my
associates who used to call themsel-
profeessed to be converted. They Sc
cured recognition and urged me. to
follow their example. But l couldn't
do it. l just stood pat and took my
medicine
saw him receive his first promo
tion and he went away with tear
dimmed eyes.