The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1918-10-11
Proposed Civil Service Amend
ment to Constitution Insures
Fit Appointments.
"PULL" NO LONGER A FACTOR.
Women Active in Support Of Measure,
Which Goes to People on Novem-
Der 5-NationaI Experts
Indorse It.

Colorado voters will have an oppor-
State the most efficiently administered
State in the Union by voting for the
civil service amendment to the Consti-
tuition. This amendment was initiated
by petition of $4,000 qualified electors
of the State, through the efforts of
Colorado citizens interested in the
merit and efficiency principle.
The amendment abolishes political
pull" as a means of obtaining State
offices All the appointive offices in
the State service, by the provisions of
this amendment. are made competitive
except the following: Judges. receiv-
ers, jurors, members of unsalaried
boards and commissions appointed by
the Governor, State Industrial Com
missioners, Public Utilities Commits
sioners the Governors private secre-
tary and three confidential employees
of his office, one deputy of each cleo
tive officer. deputy Commissioner of
Labor, officer, and teachers In educa-
tiOnal institutions not reformatory or
charitable In chara cter. attorneys, and
the officers and employees Of the Cen
eral Assembly
This is the most fsr-reaching leeis-
lation for efficient government ever
proposed for any State. The general
practice in other States has been to
make the minor positions competitive.
but to reserve the higher-paid Offices
for political spoils. Needless to say
such systems have produced the gross
est inefficiency. Every business man
knows 1t is absurd to have a trained
force of workers under the direction
of incompetent superiors.
Women's Committee Active in Support.
A Statewide partisan commit
tee of women is at work calling the i'm
portance of this amendment to the at
tention of voters in every county of
the State. and it seems certain that it
will be carried by a large majority.
The passage of the amendment
means. naturally. that the constant
swelling Of the State payroll will be
checked. Places now filed by polit-
ical spoilsmen who perform no func-
TONS but turn over their duties to
subordlnates. will henceforth be filed
their duties, and 1t may be prophe-
sled confidently that the constant de-
mand for extra employees will on this
account be reduced enormously. It
has been estimated that with an eff
Client Organization OF work and proper
distribution Of duties throughout the
State Offices an enormously greater
amount of work could be turned out
without any increase In the force, and
the people Of the State may therefore
look forward to greatly improved pub
lie service from their State govern
ment without added cost
Another vital reform that will be
accomplished by the amendment ia in
removals from the service. The prin-
cipal difficulty at present is the prac-
teal impossibility of removing incom-
petent State employees. They gener-
ally can muster enough political infiu-
ence to hold their Jobs In spite of their
superior officers. This Is a discrimina-
ton against the faithful and able en-
ployee. The amendment provides that
removals and promotions also shall be
solely on the basis Of service
The committees of citizens who are
canvassins the State in support Of
this amendment are seeking not only
to secure its passage, which they re-
gard as certain, but to roll up an i'm
pressive majority for the amendment
and thus impress the legislators with
the overwhelming determination of
the people to have their State offices
on an efficient and business-uke basis
and to do away with the political
patronage system which not only low
ers efficiency, but deeredes politics
into mere scramble for plumber. In
addition to this. It is believed that the
example of Colorado will inspire work
ers for good government in other
States to take similar action.
National Experts lndorse Measure.
The originstors of the proposed
Colorado amendment had the support
of the National Civil Service Reform
League. which for thirty-seven years
has worked for this reform in States
and cities and In the Federal govern
ment. The League has given its un-
qualified approval to the amendment
and has lent the services of it's expert
staff to the Colorado citizens commit
tees working for its passage.
Colorado has had civil service laws,
but because they were not written into
the Constitution 1t has been possible to
have them repealed or their purposes
otherwise frustrated by self-sesking
politicians.
Every voter should take pains to
vote for this amendment on November
B and insure the big majority that
Will make clear the purpose Of the
people to have a State government
free from sordid political manipula-'
ton and thoroushlY sound and an