Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-31
Merit System for State Officials.

After the first of the year Maryland
will select State officers ut present naineo
through political prefernent, by the merit
system. The new plan covers "all EN-
ployes Of State offices, departments,
boards. commissions and institutions other
then the military forces, with certain ex-
ceptions. but with power to put any or
all of the excepted positions in the oiassi-
fed service.
Maryland, like almost every other state
in the Union which is content to have Of
fees apportioned by party leaders IL
respective of the fitness or qualifications oi
the appointees, finds that the politician
who NAV be able to control the voters oil
a ward is usually inefficient at most other
duties, particularly as an employe OF the
State, when resting on the assurance
that his value to the party on election oay
will offset his shortcomings rs clerk OF
official the other 364 days in the year
The State found the old spoils system en-
couraged the employment of men not III
anv way qualified for their posts, SO that
the work was necessarily inefiiclently per
formed or it was necessary TO employ
more assistants, and consequently increase
the cost of administering the States al
fairs. until the expenditure in this dlrec-
ton reached most extravagant proper
tioDs.
In Maryland also, as in other States
the taxes have Increased to the point
where 1t would seem impossible to add 10
the burden, and the people have deteriihii-
cd thev shall not be compelled to support a
| lot of inefficient men in Office SIMPLY oe-
| cause they can get out the vote on eiectio"
| day or perform some service to tiieii
party. not infreQuently questionable anu
| nav them fat salaries and then engage
competent men to do their work. lhroueh
the spoils system there has grown up an
! office holding class in Maryland, Just as
| there is in Delaware and other sta tes'
| that compels fhe taxpayer TO requite them
as party workers.
| We have in this State a similar cohai-
tion Of affairs, though it perhaps is no' SO
pronounced as in many Of the larger com
munities. In this county, however, there
is very fair example Of gree to iced at
the taxpayers expense Here-apd we
are bv no means alone in this respect
we frd that the man once chosen Tor o.
| fcc becomes inoculated with the itch, to
hold IN 10 the end az his days lie may
start rs the elected head Of some one OF
the county row offices. and after the eN-
piration Of his term is likely to be an ap-
plioant for deputyship and not lnire'
uuentlv he is named irrespective q ms
capacity or ability Consequently oui
present ofiiceholders constitute sort o.
closed shop group, although. Of course
il must open its doors for occasional az
ditions 10 the ranks Perhaps there wopic
be little objection TO continuing IN on g
an efficient official, even almost indefinite
", for il is service the taxpayers have tn
right 70 demand rather than the pay
ment Of political or party obligations
Probably Delaware needs the merit sys
TEN 81 selecting officers as badly rs doe
MARYLAND and almost alI other States
and ii might he opportune TO press tn
matter before the coming session OF IN
State Legislature. There could be n
earnest partisan opposition from elthe
OF the political organizations, for j woul
promote the efficiency Of the service Of IN
various departments and make for econ
orv. which at this time is one Of the mos
urgent Of the public's demands