Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-02
PLANS FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORM

Washington, Jan. 2.-If every man
and woman receiving salaries out Of
funds collected from American tax
payer. were marshalled in n great pa
rade for review by the President, the line
might move on down Pennsylvania
avenue every working hour a every
working day for a month, and AZ the end
Of that time the last Of the marchers
would not yet have come into view.
II the Army and the Navy we're in
cluded, nearly six weeks would he re-
quired for the parade 20 pass a giyen
point in regular formation, according
10 estimates made by Army officers.
The civilian employees Of the Federal,
State and local governments, taken by
themselves, would require over 20 days.
The number Of civilian public en-
ployes in the United States, according
/ 10 figures submitted AZ n recent conven-
| ton Of the National Civil Service Re-
/ form League in Washington, IL 5000. 600.
| One person out Of every seven families
in the country is supported NJ least in
/ part from public funds
The combined salaries Of civil service
employees amount 20 some $4,000. O0O.-
I wv liAAilAAANf r. ENAAA NfhAAN fNNANI TO NIlI-
whole cost Of the entire Federal Govern
nent for the next fiscal year, and several
times greater than the total Of Govern
ment expenditures in any one year prior
90 the war.
After a careful survey, experts of the
Civil Service Reform League estimated
that fully one-fourth Of the 20, 900, 600
600 paid annually 10 civilian public
servants throughout tho United States is
wasted Part Of this waste takes place
in the Federal Government, but BY far
the greatest proportion occurs in State
and local governments. OF the total
Of 3 100000 civilian public employees, tho
Federal Government pays the salaries
Of only 100000.
The Civil Service Reform League set
itself the task AZ It's December conven-
ton Of bringing about the saving OF as
much as possible Of the 500, 100000 Ol
annual wastagc. Until this time the
League. since its establishment ~ yearl
ago, has devoted its principal attention
TO the extension and protection Of Tho
merit principle throughout the civil
service. This principle requires tha'
all candidates for appoIntive position
undergo competitive examinations ant
that the appointments be given 20 th'
persons standing highest IN such ex
amina'ions. The opposite Of the men
system Of appointment and promotion
Is the spoils system, under which Office
paid for by the public are given b.
politicians 10 political workers a. 70
wards for campaign services.
Plan to Extend Merit Syste m.
Their merit system, naturally, has
prominent place IN the Leagues program
, for pre- venting the present wastage ]
the Federal. State, and local civil sol
vices. In - Of the * States there is a
yet no adequate legislation embodyin
the merit principle The league vi
undertake during the coming year
secure such legislation IN some state
and IN others 20 secure merit systei
amendments 70 state constitutions tn
: States IN which the Leagues princip'
? efforts will be ccntered during 1923 Al
PENNSYLVANIA. Connecticut, Nebrask,
D Minnesota, Kentucky Indiana an
4 Virginia
z The civil service system has ofte
y been said 20 retain dead wood IN tf
various governmental services. II
notable, therefore. that the first prii
ciple set out in the Civil Service Refor1
Leagues program calls for the elimIni
ton OF useless places and Of incompetei
and unfit public employees"
Stress IL laid upon the importance
paving adequate salaries and Of ecu
pay for equal work 20 the competent en-
plOyes remaining IN the service after
general house cleaning has been effecte
Only the most capable of these employ
should thereafter be promoted. and pr
motion as the result Of political pl
should be abandoned