Evening star., 1933-10-29
Rebuilding the Merit System.

Serious charges are made in state
ment by Luther c. Steward, president
Of the National Federation of Federal
Employees, regarding alleged abuse of
the merit system by ''the largest army
of political job hunters in the Nations
history" Mr.. Stewards charges are
general, rejecting more the tenor Of
stories repeated by word Of mouth every
day in Washington than the findings
of a careful investigation supported by
presentation of fact. Such statements
as In many instances, newly appointed
politicians with administrative author
ity have begun forcing out capable, ex-
perienced employees with competitive
status in order to replace them with
political hangers-on" should properly be
accompanied by names and organiza-
tions, and in his statement Mr.. Steward
omits such data.
But, and this is fact equally i'm
portant, what are the general conditions
which have made natural the presenta-
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Mr.. Steward? In the beginning there
were the repeated attempts by individ-
ual members Of Congress to tear down
protective bulwarks of the civil service
merit system, under the guise that this
or that section of the country enjoyed
a favored position as concerned quota
representation The attacks were made
in such bald terms as to force the
inference that the merit system was to
be torn asunder to permit unhampered
enjoyment Of political spoils. Next there
was the creation of the new agencies
Of Government, in which the selection
Of employees was removed from the
civil service merit requirements. Later
there has been the process of reorgan-
ization. which invites, through certain
of its mechanical details, the practice
CT the spoils system. And all along
there have been incidents of lay-offs
and rearrangement of personnel which
might conceivably have been taken on
the grounds of economy, but which, at
the same time, weakened the merit sys-
tenn and subjected the moves to sus-
picion. Nobody knows what injustices
have been done in the name of econ
omy, but which were actually dictated
by the vicissitudes Of politics.
In such an emergency as the present,
when the contradictory aims Of saving
money by the millions and spending 1t
or lending 1t by the billions require not
only the cutting down Of personnel, but
the rapid hiring Of personnel, the merit
system may, on the grounds Of expe-
diency alone, require temporary altera-
ton. The system was altered during
the war emergency, and the results of
such alterations are with us still.
But when the first fever OF the
emergency subsidies and is replaced by
the steady, If rapid, pulse Of routine
activity the effort should be made not
only to repair Immediately the damage
already done the merit system, but to
repair confidence in that system. This
system has at times proven itself to
be the best refuge Tor the harasseo
patronage dispenser. But II Is not the
property of the politicians. 1t belongs
to the taxpayers. 1t represents the best
guarantee against wasteful inef1ciency
in government and the corruption OF
which waste and ineflciency sometimes
stand as symbols. The civil service and
its merit system should be unaffected
by the ebb and flow of political tides
and stand above them like a rock.
Some day it will, as the taxpayers,
through experience, learn the cost OF
making it a plaything for politicians.
The machinery for rebuilding the merit
system and strengthening its protective
devices against further attack cannot
be set In motion too soon.