The Elbert County tribune., 1919-06-06
PULL" Nc LONGER A FACTOR.

Colorado voters will have an oppor-
tunity on November 5 to make this
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 25,000 qualified electors
OF the State. through the efforts OF
Colorado citizens interested in the
merit end efficiency principle.
The amendment al olishes 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 unsalarled
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 elec-
tive officer deputy Commissioner of
Labor. officer, and teachers In educa
tional institutions not reformatory or
charitable In character, attorneys, and
the officers and employees of the Can
eral Assembly.
This is the most far-reachlng leqls-
lation for efficient government ever
proposed for any State. The general
practice In other States has been 10
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 inefficlency. Every business man
knows 1t is absurd to have a trained
sorce of workers under the direction
Of incompetent superiors
Womens Committee Active in Support.
A Statewide non-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 1t seems certain that II
Will be carried by large majority.
The passage of the amendment
means, naturally, that the constant
swelling Of the State payroll will be
checked. Places now filled by polit-
jcal spoilsmen who perform no func-
uons. but turn over their duties to
subordinates. will henceforth be filed
by trained men who Will attend to
their duties, and 1t may be prophe-
sled confidently that the constant de-
mand for extra employees will on this
account be reduced enormously. 1t
has been estimated that with an eff
Client organization of work and proper
distribution of duties throughout the
Btate 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
Ifc service from their State govern
nent without added cost.
Another vital reform that will be
accomplished by the amendment is in
removals from the service. The prin-
cipal difficulty Mt present Is the prac-
tical impossibility of removing incom-
petent State employees. They gener-
ally can muster enough political infu-
ence to held their Jobs in spite Of their
superior officers. This is n discrimina-
tion 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
canvassing 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-like basis
and to do away with the political
patronage system which not only low
ers efficiency, but degrades politics
INTO a mere scramble for plunder. In
addition to this. 1t is believed that the
example of Colorado viii inspire work
ers for good government In other
States to take similar action.
National Experts Indorse Measure.
The originators of the proposed
Colorado amendment had the support
Of the National Civil Service Reform
League, which for thirty-seven years
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 its 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
thS Constitution II 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