Evening star., 1932-06-12
Capital Sidelights
by WILL p. KENNEDY.
Martyrs do not die In vain"

Wv AaOe aAC AAA VAIL
The assassination Of President Gar
field, on July 2, 1881. Is he vas about
to taxe . special train to visit his
alma mater, Williams College, williams
town, Mass. by q disgruntled ONCE
seeker under the old political spoils
system led to the establishment of the
Civil Service as a merit system, which
went into effect July Is, 1883.
This new system was set up with the
idea that "a Government position
should be badge Of honor"-and as q
real economy measure wiping out the
waste and extravaganza OF the old
regime-providing that those seeking
public office were no longer to be made
the sycophants to purveyors Of office
which rightfully belonged to the people -
The golden jubilee year Of the Civil
Service begins July l. 1t will be OBJ
served on that date by new law going
into effect-a legislative rider on an
appropriation bill-slashing the salaries
in this merit system"
Five years ago william c. Deming
president of the U. S. Civil Service
Commission, in a foreword to The
Romance of the Merit System" which
he called "a splendid contribution to
the epic Of popular government" writ
ten by Matthew F.. Halloran, an en-
ployee of the commission during its
entire existence. said:
IT we may call the Declaration OF
Independence our great charter of
liberty, and the Constitution the COM
pass by which the Ship of State is held
to its course. we may designate the
Civil Service act the ballast which pre-
serves an even keel in the stress OF
political storm"
Mr.. Halloran Is historian in retro
spect wrote: Looking back over a
period Of IS years Of trials. tribulations
and triumphs, the Civil Service Com
mission, guardians Of the merit system,
with 'Palmam Qui meruit ferat' as its
motto, rejoices over work well done,
No blemish furnishes its fair fame. Its
ponent part of a great Government.
"Profting by the experience of the
past, with renewed vigor and inspira-
ton for the future, as the NTH decade
draws near 1t Is well equipped to assist
in upholding and perpetuating the high
standard Of the Civil Service In carry
ing on the important work Of the Gov
ernment Of great and mighty Nation.
As the Army and Navy stand for
discipline and efficiency. 50 likewise does
the Civil Service under the merit system
uphold its best traditions.
This reward Of salary reduction at
the golden jubilee celebration Of a
merit system which for half century
has eficiently kept the countless activi-
ties OF the Government in operation for
the benefit Of al the people, no matter
what President or members OF Congress
might come or 60, falls upon thousands
who worked without salary increases
during the period Of the World War
while those in outside employment were
having their pay pyramided.
And throughout the decades there
have remained in this merit system
thousands doing the Governments work
by sheer devotion, giving inventive
genius scientific expertness, specialized
training and experience which they
could have sold for q much higher price
In the open market.
Out OF this civil service-now to be
rewarded with q wholesale pay cut
have come some OF the Nations best
executives. There was 4 youth, appoint
ed through q stenographer and type
writer examination, serving in the Post
once Department by transfer from the
New York customs house. When Presi-
dent Cleveland asked for a competent
stenographer for the White House staff
this youth was sent over. That was
George B. Cortelyou, who was stenogra-
pher and executive clerk to President
Cleveland, assistant secretary and secre-
tary to President Mckinley, secretary to
President Roosevelt, who later appointed
him to the cabinet, where he was sue
cessively Secretary of Commerce and
Labor. Postmaster General and Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. He left the public
service to become president of the Con-
solidated Gas Co. of New York. There
you see the merit system an open door
to brilliant executive career.
Members of Congress ought to appre
ciate the devotion that lies behind this
so years of civil service. for many OF
them were part of the merit system
temporarily. Among them are Repre-
sentatives John j. Boylan New York;
LeonidaS c. Dyer, Missouri: Butler B.
Hare, South Carolina; Homer Hoch.
Kansas; Mayer Jacobstein, New York.
and Addison T. Smith, Idaho. Patrick
j. Haltigan, reading clerk Of the House,
was formerly a printer in the Govern
ment Printing Once.
LC ORPOI tAldl NlNl SCINlCS
workers have for stepping out into
leadership IN the business and profes-
sional world is illustrated in many ro-
mantle careers, such As that of Frank
j. Hogan, nationally known as a leader
of the District bar, who came to Wash
ington from Georgia at the age of Is
and entered the Federal service at
81 200 a year, from which he resigned
when receiving $1,000
Many high State ofncials throughout
the country, leaders In the largest buSi-
ness enterprises, men of prominence
along all lines in the public eye, have
served their apprenticeship in the Gov
ernment service Clifford K. Bergman.
the internationally famous cartoonist Of
The Star, was o craftsman In the Pat
ent Once.
In each branch Of the Government
are executives who have worked their
way up from the lowest ranks to high
executive positions through sheer merit,
by dint of work we'll done and devotion
to duty. wearing proudly their badge Of
honor-"In the Federal Service
(which now brings them 4 pay cut
George r. Wales of the Civil Service
Commission. j. Edgar Hoover, director
OF the Bureau Of Investigations, Depart
ment of Justice: John Greene. deputy
public printer; John F. Bethune. first
foreign surveyor for the United States
Tariff Commission; Guy r. Allen. Bu-
reau of the Budget: Raymond F. Crist,
Department of Labor; Charles g. Alb
bott, secretary Of the Smithsonian In
stitution; Herbert D. Brown, chief Of
the Bureau Of Efficiency: Edward c.
Finney, Assistant Secretary, Department
Of the Interior: Wilbur j. Carr, Assist
ant Secretary of State; George r. Put
man, commissioner of light houses-are
among many who have climbed from an
entrance salary of $1,000 or less. Most
of these men have repeatedly refused
offers OF much higher salaries from pri-
vate industry.