Evening journal., 1913-10-14
TUESDAY OCT. Ia. 1913.
prMocRArlc ASSAULT cN civil SERVICE.

DEMOCRATIC ASSAULT cN CIVIL SERVICE.
+ VERY effort possible is being made by the Ma
IL tional civil Service Reform League to defeat the
Senate amendment to the Urgent Deficiency Appro-
priaton bin which takes from the competitive classi-
fed service not only deputies, but every subordinate
OF collector of internal revenue United States mar
shall The League quite properly has filed protest
with Congress against such proposed Democratic ac-
s., ip breaking down the civil service.
The trainers of the amendment had represented that
fey sought TO remove from the competitive class
~ service deputy collectors Of internal revenue and
l &ay marshals compelled to give bond their inn
Late superiors That, however, discovered to
deception. because the end of the reference
seputy collectors and deputy marshals is the fol
having clause. which reveals tho full scope of the
Democratic assault upon the civil service
And the officer requiring said bond shall have power
to revoke the appointment of any subordinate officer
or cm1Ioyc and appont his successor al his discre-
without regard to the act. amendments. rules or
regulations aforesaid the civil service law and
D rues).
~ The League insists that effect of that is
only deputy collectors and deputy marshals
the competitive classified service but other
empoye in the office Of collector marshal from
messenger up to deputy This IS Of the most
sweeping Attacks made the classified service
through legislation long time. While it is impos-
sble exactly to estimate the number covered by the
provision, It will undoubtedly affect thousands
ployes in the field service throughout the country.
Coming upon heels OF the passage of the provision
the/tarin bin taking the income colec-
tionfforce Of the competitive classified service Il
efF regarded Of ominous significance. The League
is strongly opposed to taking the deputies out
of the competitive classified service and appealing
to members Of the House aid in securing the elimi-
nation OF the present amendment
The remonstrance to Congress that according
to the report Of the Commissioner Of Internal Reve
for the 1912 there were 1851 deputy collec-
tors of internal revenue and believed that there
arc at least deputy marshals in the compet-
tiye c.sssihed There addition large
force Of storekeepers and gaugers and great num-
hcr clerks and other subordinate employees in the
offices of marshals collectors.
Aside from the objection that this is rider egis
laiion of the worst there is sound argument
Tor the sweeping change in classification proposed. The
subordinate officers like storekeepers and gaugers
and members OF The clerical force have been the
classified service for many years with the result of
marked increase in efficiency of the and nota-
lc decrease in cost Of operation. comparison Of
conditions in 1896 and 1912 in the internal revenue
shows that the collections increased 12C
per ccrt. the expenses increased 26 per cent.
while the cost OF collection per Sioo pei
cent under the merit system.
The classification OF deputy msrshas and deputy
collectors Of internal revenue made in 1906 1905
respectively has been attacked however the groun,
that these deputies who gi' bond to their immediate
supcrors are "confdontaln employees and that tn
appointing officer should, therefore, have free han
their selection In reply il is assorted that prob
ably so cent Of tho deputy collectors Of mterna
actually nothing but clerks designate
deputies merely to give them authority to admin
plcyes and yet this provso makes distinction be
such deputies others who real deputies
but them all from the competitive classihc
service
II is contended that the bond given by the deput
marshal deputy collectors. whether IL 10 tn
marshal the collector to the government
SUFFICIENT protection against personal loss the hea
OF tho office. II is idle. furthermore argue that b
taking these places OF the competitive classihe
service the appointing officer will be given fire
hand in appointments. The deputies will be
come political patronage. The appointments
be made by politically chosen marshals and colec
tors who viii not have the exercise VIII Il
appointments uncassiaed Offices under them
wel-knoWn fact that appointing officers actual
exercise less discretion choice Of their subor
dnates when they outside the civil service la'
than when the places filled from civil servic
lists.
This provision, if it affected only eepute
would be backward step. The Civil Service Con
nssio- which said to have favored the provs
denied through its President, in a telegram to II
secretary Of the League that it either recommends
or favored the provision. but that the contrary
WAS opposed to such provision It would viola
pledges of all three Of the leading parties given
the last campaign that they would support mali
tain the merit system in the Federal government
In short the amendment merely is another yol
ion OF Democratic pledges TO the people and pro
rat their hunger for Office, certain Democra