Evening star., 1915-12-02

fifth annual meeting Of the organization.
| For over third of a century" the re-
port stated, the merit system has been
gaining ground. until 1t Is now ready.
with the aid Of public opinion, to storm
that medieval intrenchment Of the spoils
system built on the phrase. by and with
the advice and consent OF the Senate
Confirmation by the Senate OF those Of
flcials who have nothing to do with the
determination of public policy blocks the
STEADY progress of civil service reform -
! The demolition of this system, the
council stated. rests with public opinion.
| AS first step the report recommend
ed the cooperation of commercial
| bodies. labor unions and other business
have as its special purpose to secure
i legislation providing for the competi-
tive classification of first. second and
| third class postmasters.
! The council reviewed the activities in
state legislatures with regard to civil
service reform, and came to the con
| clusion that progress has actually
| been made IN year repiete with hos
tile attacks upon social legislation.
Councils Annual Report.
/ The annual report Of the council is.
: in part. as follows:
AT this the thirty-fifth meeting Of
!, the National Civil Service Reform
League the council invites the atten-
tion of Congress and the general pub
lie to it's program and outlook for the
future. For over third Of a century
the merit system has been gaining
ground, until 1t is now ready, with the
aid of public opinion. to storm that me-
dieval intrenchment of the spoils sys-
the advice and consent of the Senate"
Confirmation by the Senate OF those
officials who have nothing to do with
the determination of public policy
blocks the steady progress OF civil
service reform.
"Mr. Bryce Is authority for the state
ment that in providing for the con-
firming power the trainers of the Con-
stitution intended only that the Senate
should check the President by the re-
lection of those appointees who were
unfit for office. 1t should be noted,
however. that from the introduction of
the spoils system over eighty years
ago down to the present day these Of
fees have been treated as the per-
quisites of the senators and represen-
tatives of the party in power, and no
departure from this pernicious prac-
tice or to force an issue upon his con-
stitutional right of nomination.
al 4AC1Sly a. ~ n6SAIS.
These Senate confirmed officers. with
the exception of mere handful, have
nothing to do with the determination
Of governmental policy; they are merely
superior administrative officers differ
ing not in kind but in grade only from
other members of the classified service
They comprise with others the army
of postmasters, collectors of customs
Il
and marshals who are encamped in
every corner of the country, and their
use as political agents of the party in
power is a prostitution of the civil
service.
What defense can be made of a sys-
TEN which makes the lawmakers of
the country distributors of offices?
What argument can be presented for
the retention of such a system? The
demolition of this system rests with
public opinion. 1t remains for the ad-
vocates of the merit system to secure
an enlightened public opinion which
shall demand that the higher Offices be
placed in the classified service. Ten
main outside the scope of the civil
service rules In democratic states
these patronage appointees are the po-
htical agents Of their congressional
sponsors: in republican states they are
the political agents Of the sdminstra-
ton in power. All Of them are subject
to summary removal by the President.
Such a system fosters a practice by
which great numbers of municipal
officials are from time to time and more
or less persistently absent from their
offices, devoting their energies not to
the business of their Offices, but to the
control of local political affairs.
Not until these higher auministra-
tive posts are withdrawn from the field
of politics will the service have that
permanence which is essential to eff
cheney.
Classification of Postmasters.
"As first step in this direction the
league asks the cooperation of COM
mercial bodies. labor unions and other
business organizations in an energetic
campaign which will have as it's special
purpose to secure legislation providing
for the competitive classification of
first, second and third class post
masters.
Real progress has been made in the
administration of the foreign service
by the passage of the Stone-Flood bill"
This bill provided for the classification
Of the diplomatic secretaries and con-
signment of the members Of the service
to these grades. The President was
also authorized TO transfer these offices
from one post to another "as the In
terests OF the service may rsquire-
The report continues: while civil
service reform has maintained its
steady advance in the federal service,
yet state legislatures have been reluc-
tant 10 pass civil service bills for OBJ
vious reasons" After a review Of con-
ditions in various states the report
says:
'If this legislative record means any
thing, 1t indicates that the merit sys-
TEN is not losing ground and that prog
ress has actually been made in a year
replete with hostile attacks upon social
legislation"