Evening star., 1922-04-25
The Attorney General and the
Civil Service.

Characterization by Attorney Cen
eral Harry Daugherty of the civil
service as IAN interference in the
discharge of public duty" seems to
have failed to strike any responsive
commendation in the editorial col
umns of the nations newspapers.
Many of them admit there is a need
for increased efficiency in government
departments. But they seem unit
in agreement that abolition Of the
present system of appointment and
the return to the plan of political
preferment would be a step back
ward.
THE trouble with most individuals
who decry the merit system" sug-
sests the Cleveland Plain Dealer tn-
dependent democraiic), is that the
only substitute they offer is worse
than the system itself. even II one
accepts their own estimate of IT. FIJI
ing offices with spoilsmen. which. IN
plain terms, is the alternative propo-
sition, does not appeal to friends OF
good government as sound sus-
gestion.'' The Syracuse, N. y. Her.
aid GndependenD believes that a
political enemy of the Attorney Cen
eral might have said with justice to
his remarks that they were sheer
nonsense. Not being his enemy. the
Herald will not say that" And the
Norfolk, Va, Virginian-Pilot Qnde-
pendent democratic) is convinced tnat
Mr.. Daugherty's adverse criticism OF
civil service and his advocacy OF par
tisan appointments are reactionary to
a startling degree and run counter
to present-day tendencies" -
Suggesting that 1T hopes" the AT
torney General was right in saying
that in slamming the civil service ne
did not represent the admintstra-
ton" the Boston Post dndependent
declares 'it should hardly
be necessary to argue at this day the
wholesome and beneficial effect OF
the civil service as applied to our ma
tional business" while the Peters.
burg, Va, Progress and 1ndex-Appeai
independently dismisses the criticism
by recalling that lots of f1apdo0dle
has been spoken and written about
our civil service laws" The Baiti-
more Sun Independent democratic),
admitting that '"if the head OF gov
ernment depar tment who was both
perfectly honest and perfectly efii-
subordinates without hindrance." he
might even. "as Mr.. DaugheTty sug-
gests, get along with two-thirds OF
the number of employees and get twice
as much work out of them" But the
Sun points out this is impossible and
declares: What is needed is not the
repeal Of the civil service law. out
q more rigid enforcement OF 1t. TO
which the Baltimore News (indepenoent)
adds that civil service "is not per1ec-
ton. by long shot, but; but o, on nse rne
service than anything else which we
The competency Of political ap-
pointees is questioned by the Spring.
Held. Ohio, News (democratic), which
believes they are named Tor what
they can do for the party and not Tor
the nation" and it declares that lots
OF times they are utterly unqualined
for holding public Office. Civil service
must remain, and 1t ought to pc
stren9thened instead OF discourage.
This sentiment Ii Endorsed oy the
Christian Science Monitor dndepend-
entl, which, admitting that there Is
gross and inexcusabie inefhciency. no
doubt, as Mr. Daugherty insists, says
that the remedy cannot be founo
where he believes 1t exists. me
search should be for something better.
not for something worse than the
methods now endured" It suggests.
That Attorney General Daugherty
will find support in Connecticut for
his opinions is admitted by the Hart.
ford Times (democratic), which ar.
rnes that "Connecticut never has had
reai civil service" It adds that 1t can
agree with Mr.. Daugherty that the
spoils system is far better for the
nufposss Of the politicians than the
ciyii service. and since anything that
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