Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-08-21
c. N. Eassett Says Civil Ser.
vice Should Not Be Used
to Hurt Efficiency

law as TO be unable to remove a laZ
or incompetent public employee, bu
that still civil service law which pre-
cludes the building up of a politica
machine by appointments TO publi
offices is the general gist OF the concIn
sion reached by c. N. Fassett, mayo
OF Spokane under the commission
form Of government
At the request Of the Star-Bulletir
Mr.. Fassett wrote his views on char
ter framing, which were published last
Wednesday. His views on the civil ser
vice problem are contained in the fol
lowing article. which was originally
an address at a convention of thu
League of Washington Municipalities
Mr.. Fassett's address follows:
What Is known as Civil Services
Reform was formally introduced int
the United States government service
by a rider attached to an appropria
ton bill. In 1869. This bill authorized
President Grant to make rules fol
the regulation of the civil service, and
10 appoint commission TO execute
them. Pursuant to this statute, he
appointed commission of seven, with
I..'a ~, as 1870. =. :. =,
NV tne ~v,a ~ eisn soi ~ 49,. so -. :.
lns Sh'.eu o 'naueu
previous TO this time, and as far
back as the first Presidents term
the matter had been considered. Al
the time OF the adoption OF the Con
stitution no great nation except China
had any means Of filling government
pos,elons W meals =. coinpes.s -.' "a =
ssna1 - ahu - ,, ,Hs sor ,asi.
Seu ~ SAa ..,, spY ..ss- -. -. -.
- my pu.,.'s -. 80 -
..,.lllns - sns - -
tns pepiic D.p'ness, .uey Nsle epp ~.
ssesl We q aue ~ us 80 lie,
.y..'y ~ S r - a ,assts ,. 10
49, spln Ie as,.s1 s a..s;,, : :,
- anu snslI ias.. asa. ~ 4, =, 3
~ :. - - -. -. o,,a.,
nie1ese y, Sou,sel.s a,i- ~ -. -.
"a ll nls 49, 49, 80 az
uss ~ Snine Sne s,'ne -. - = :
''.'1sl leoeion
49, = ~ uss eues
''e ~. 80 y. rss.ss.s ....,,, a;a 10. on.
sne S.nes. 49, w 49, -
ISet 80 $500 ~ ~ - =,
~ sy1ls 'ssas ' a.. "' 1870 ~ -
tEeeeeenl ~ "n,sA .hss saa ~ -
1890 =. s'.s sr.e-,....
eessson VIZ nv r T,ars 49,, 49,
INT .snss a. snas s,,,.. ard xv.s.
-. - -. ...s-,,,,
Y u 'on - plo ,. 49, - "a. .s,,,;r
u snen l.ns ,ses.ass -, nss 1870, 1870
.nas ~ VIC =
en ~ = '''I - ap r,o,,iS enso,ut oniv the
=, = s,,h,;c n,acs and while he would
onen hts nr,vate nurse 10 the needy.
Il firmls refused appoinfments On
env other .pround thar ability 10 per-
f-,-,,, .,ell tha d,.tiea of the office A.
i>,,.- - enc ~ his reIatives who had
.. 1870, snr an anno.nfment Is sin in
'c<iefanca hlanflv refusing the favor
'end. censuring the apnlicant for pre-
cunning to ask II.
with the enormous growth of the
business OF the country after the adop-
fion OF the federal Constitution, the
number Of public servants multiplied
with great rapidity, and the problems
incident TO their appointment and re-
|iroRal became more and more diff
'cuf. At the inauguration OF each new
President. offica-seekers flocked TO.
Washington and literally besieged the
new incumbent. In one instance the
hungry horde descended upon the
White House at the Presidents first
reception. jammed the rooms, wreck
ed the furniture. tore the clothing Of
the Presidential party and the guests,
and raised havoc in general
spoils system Popular.
Il need not here 90 into the argu-
ments advanced TO uphold the spoils
system OF filling public places. II was
popular for many years, and is often
held to have been necessary In the
earlier years of the Republic to ala
in the formation OF and assist IN mold
ing together the various parties which
guaranteed the proper balance OF po-'
Iitscal power.
congress has always been divided
ca this subject. even during the ad'
ministration OF president jackson,
who may be fairly called the hlgh