Evening star., 1933-01-17
BENEFITS OF CIVIL.
SERVICE OUTLINED
Campbell, in 50th Annives-
sary Address, ReaSsureS
Workers of Jobs.

Civil Service. employees need have no
alarm as to the safety of their posi-
tions under the new administration,
Thomas E. Campbell. president of the
Civil Service Commission. said last
night In a radio address marking the
f1ftieth anniversary of the signing Of
the Civil Service act, by President
Arthur
when Gov. Roosevelt enters the
White House on March 4 there need
be no fear that he will not be as dill
gent as his predecessors in the preser-
yation Of the merit system in Federal
employment President Campbell 0e-
cIared from Station VOL. In response
to an inquiry addressed to him by the
National Civil Servics Reform League,
Gov. Roosevelt said this:
The National Civil Service Reform
League must take me or leave me on
my record. ! have often expressed my
self as a firm believer in Civil Service
reform, and have had many occasions
to uphold the merit system both as
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy ano
as Governor of the State of New York" !"
Tells of SpoiIs System.
Campbell compared this present as
pect Of Government employment with
that prevailing before enactment of
Ci7il Service legislation, quoting from a
contemporary writer who described the
evils under the old spoils system.
Changes are constantly made, and
the struggle for places goes on from
years end to years end,' this COM
mentator said. AS appointments are
not made upon the merits of the ap-
plicants, their capacity forms no ground
for retaining them in office. Each one
holds his place, it would seem, by the
favor of the head of his bureau, and
6S a means of retaining that place he
exerts himself to secure the favor of
that head The higher officials take
good care that it shall be known among
their subordinates that they hold their
official lives in their hands. Conse-
quently, there is a feeling of uncer-
tainty on all sides, and no one knows
at what moment he may lose his place.
Men fawn upon and f1atter their SUI
periors in the most Sickening manner.
They exert themselves, not to discharge
their duties well and faithfully, but
to please their superiors by humoring
them and pandering to their Whims and
caprices Naturally enough, such a life
takes all the manhood out of man
and transforms him into an object OF
contempt.
Parties Got "Piunder"
"tSmall as the salaries are, those
who have earned them are not allowed
to enjoy them. The party to which
they belong claims a share in the Gov
eminent plunder," and clerks must pay
the toll demanded Of them upon pain
Of losing their places. Whenever money
is needed for political purposes the
leaders of the party in power. whether
Republican or Democratic, levy an as
sessment upon each Federal office
holder, the sum being regulated by the
amount Of his GaIary. Woe to the clerk
who dareS to disregard it! 1t matters
not how much he may need the amount,
which is always heavy for him. He
must pay it or he will be discharged,
and some one put in his place who
will be more anenable to party dis
cipline.
"a Government clerk has at least
20 rivals constantly working against
him, each one hoping to have him dis
charged ard BE- appointed in his stead.
kll sorts cf stories are told to his pref
udice, and he is haunted with fear
of being discharged, which poisons all
his pleasures He has no independ-
ence while in Office 10 true manhood.
Outlines Various Benefits.
Outlining the various benefits that
lave accrued to Government workers
tb~oalgh Civil Scryica. Mr. Campbell
felicitated them on behalf of himself
ana his associate commissioners.
You may say that Government en-
ployes have been subjected to some
severe jolts within the past year, and
that they are not altogether to be
congratulated" he continued "but l
think that upon further consideration
you will realize that the situation of
Federal employees today is far, far beta
ter and more secure than that of those
who were employed under the political
spoils system which obtained prior to
the enactment of the Civil Service law
In 1883