Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-12
The Spells Movement.

Though hard hit by the adoption by
the House of the Senate amendment
throwing open TO- the spoils method of
appointment all deputy colectorships and
deputy marshalships, the merit system Ia
by no means defeated. There was a loud
and exceedingly frank expression of hos
tility to il in the course OF the debate
in the House on the Senate amendment.
Some members took occasion to declare,
even. that the republic is in danger from
too much civil service reform. Some at
tackled the merit principle because it had
they averred, been badly administered
and shamefuily ignored by republican adj
nlinistrations. Some plainly stated the
case in simple terms as that of needy
line of partisans waiting for a chance
at the public trough. When the full de-
bate has been printed in the Congress
sional Record-many of the speeches will
appear hereafter. in accordance with a
time-honored custom-it will make a most
interesting chapter for general reading.
Unfortunately, il will never be read in
full The country will never tie wholly
appIised of the bluntness with which the
merit principle was assailed and the di-
vision of offices TO partisans solely and
simply because they are partisans was
advocated II.
Notwithstanding this infraction Of the
merit principle. IL will remain the domi-
mating factor in the selection of govern
ment workers 1t Is uncomfortable that
the country will revert TO the old custom
of wholesale distribution Of the offices
to the patty friends of those who have
come temporarily 20 power. President
Wilson. "a strong advocate Of civil service
reform, is not likely to stand for such a
departure lie is even now sorey tried
by the adoption of the spoils amendment
10y the Senate and the House. and under
heavy pressure to veto the bill ii ii comes
10 him with this paragraph contained
in It. 49, h-
Still, the spectacle offered by this action
is distressing to those who have watched
the development of the national civil
service system from the old out-and-out
spells basis to the present conditions.
There have been lapseS from the high
principle to be sure failures on the part
Of administrators to observe the spirit
and the letter of the law, evas.ons to
make room for partisans by the displacing
9f longer serving partisans Of another po-
litical stripe. But these lapses and fail
ures and evasions have been in the main
committed under pressure from Congress
itself The cry. for patronage comes
chiefly from theflegislative halls There
is no warrant FOR the criticism that the
law has not been carried into effect
strictly. coming from those who have
been mainly responsible for it's avoidance
and displacement.
IL is matter Of wonder whether any.
of those who have been instrumental in
having the merit principle set aside in
this particular instance would actually
vote for a complete sweeping away Of
all civil service reform. Would they by
their votes In the House and the Senate
abolish the civil service commission and
repeal the law requiring the selection Of
clerks and subordinates by competition
based upon merit? Would they revert
at one move to the old spoils system,
giving a new administration power to
sweep out of Office all incumbents and to
appoint in their places partisans of their
own stripe? That is the logical outcome
of such move as that which has just
carried the Senate amendment to the de-
fciency bill through the House.