The Meeker herald., 1918-10-12
Proposed Civil Service Amend
ment to Constitution lnsures
Fit Appointments.
"PULL" NO LONGER A FACTOR.
Women Active In Support Of Measure.
Which Goes to People on Noven-
Der 5-Nationai Experts
Indorse II.


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 25.OOO qualified electors
OF the State. through the efforts OF
Colorado citizens Interested In the
merit and efficiency principle.
The amendment nbolishes political
"pull" ms II means OF obtaining State
Offices All the nppointive Offices In
the State service, by the provisions OF
this amendment, are made competitive
except the following: Judges, receiv-
crs, Jurors, members OF unsnlnricd
boards and commissions appointed by
the Governor, Stnte Industrial Com
mIssloncrs. Public Utilities Commits
sIoners. the Governors private secre-
tary and three confidential employees
of his Office. one deputy OF ench cleo
tive officer, deputy Commissioner Of
Labor, officers and teachers In cducn-
tiOnnl institutions not refOrmntory or
charitable In character, attorneys. and
the officers and employees of the Cen
ernl Assembly.
This is the most far-rcnching legs-
lation for efficient government ever
proposed for any State. The general
practice In other Stntes has been to
make the minor positions competitive.
hut to reserve the higher-paid offices
for political spells. Needless to say
such systems have produced the gross
est Ineiilclency. Every business nnn
knows 1t is absurd to have trained
force OF workers under. the direction
Of incompetent slIperiors.
Women's Committee Active In Support.
A Statewide non-partIsnn commit
tee OF women Is at work calling the i'm
portnnce of this amendment to the at
tention of voters In every county OF
the State. and 1t seems certain that II
will he carried by n large majority.
The passage of the amendment
means. naturally. that the constant
swelling of the State payroll will be
checked Places now filed by polii-
ical spOilsmen who perform no func-
lions. but turn over their duties TO
subOrdlnates. Will hencefOrth be fllcd
by trained men who will attend to
their duties. and 1t ma. be pfo7hc-
sled confidently that the constant de
mand for extra employees will or this
account be reduced enormously. II
has been estimated that with IN eif-
Client organization OF work and proper
distribution OF duties throughout the
State Offices nm enormously greater
amount OF work could be turned out
without a%y increase In the'force, and
the people Of the State may therefore
a . l,- t,,,n null,
lie service from their State govern
ment without added cost.
Another vital reform that Will he
accomplished by the amendment Is in
removals from the service. The prin-
cipnl difficulty at present Is the prac-
teal impossibility of removing incom-
petent State employees. They gcncr-
ally can muster enough political intlu-
ence to hold their jobs In spite OF their
superior officers. This is discrimina
ton against the faithful and able en-
ployce. The amendment provides that
removals and promotions also shall be
solely on the basis OF service
The committees OF citizens who are
.canvassing the State In support of
this amendment are seeking not only
to secure Its passage. which they re-
gnrd as certain, but to roll up nm 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 IN efficient and business-like basis
and to do away with the political
patronage system which not only low
ers efficiency, but degrndes politics