The daily sentinel., 1913-10-14
.C|V|L SERVICE SYSTEM SUCCUMB|NG
TO "DRY ROT" DECLARES HEATING
Troubles Of Substitute For SpOs System Are Explained by Colo
rado Congressman; Many Remedies Proposed to Prevent
At0phy Of Governmental Bureau.

4 do their work for them?" is the way
these mutineers state the case
That partisan politics is respons-
ible for the presence of a large num-
ber of decrepit and incompetent per-
sons on the government payroll
cannot 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 fayorite tricks was to
have the head of department ap-
point favorite to special" posi-
tion for sixty or ninety days and
then have the president issue an ex-
eeutive order placing that position
under civil service, without requir-
ing the incumbent to take an exam
ination.
Hundreds and probably thousands
of republican politicians were fav-
cred in that way. This plain viola
tion of the spirit of the law had de-
moralizing effect on the morale of the
service and materially reduced the ef-
| ficency 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 gray
haired clerk told q department chief
how for sixteen years he had been
unable to secure an increase in sal
airy, while his associates who had
the Influence" were receiving the
coveted promotions.
81 was a democrat" he said, land
my folks back in Pennsylvania were
democrats, and that fact was always
used against me. At first / thought
| would quit, then the first baby
came. and l had to hold on. AS my
family grew, my nerve decreased, and
| clung 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
themselves democrats turned their
coats and professed to be converted
They secured recognition, and they
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 pro-
motion, and he went away with tear
dimmed eyes.
Wnen the democrats f1rSt discover
ed these outrageous evasions of the
law, cry went up from congress for
the adoption of retalary measures.
Resolutions were introduced in the
house and the senate demanding an
investigation to be followed by gem
eral housecleaning. For a time the
civil service system seemed doomed.
But saner counsel prevailed. Two
wrongs don't make right. Fact that
our opponents, drunk with power,
flouted the law would not justify the
democracy in weakening a system
which received its first genuine Of
! ficial endorsement from a democratic
president.
President Wilson determined to
build up and not to tear down. A
new civil service commission was
named, and new life was breathed
into the vast department. From now
on, we are to have genuine civil
service reform. Examinations are to
be on the level, promotions will be
based on merit, and republicans and
democrats alike will receive square
deal.
There still remains the specter of
the superannuated employe. Shall it
be a pension or the poorhouse for
him?
1t must be one or the other, for
the administration is determined to
vitalize every department of govern
ment