Evening star., 1933-05-14
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Control Of the public utilities in the
District so years ago was not entrusted
to special commits.
AAe ouIueH OH sion as at present.
the Citizens. and complaints by
citizens on the score
Of inadequate service and nuisances were
often ineffective. The Star Of May Q,
1883, thus refers to the troublesome
matter of the dangerous Trail on z
street:
1T has been suggested that the resi-
dents upon E street. who have pro-
tested in vain to the Commissioners
against the destruction of their car
riage way by the laying of the double
track Trail, could get redress by an
appeal to the courts The citizens of
South Washington who, after vainly
seeking the aid of the District Gov
ernment to protect their rights and
property interests from the encroach-
ments of the railroad, took the matter
into their own hands. made their ap-
peal to the courts and, despite the re-
sistance made by the great railroad
corporation opposed to them and which
compelled the carrying of the fight to
the United States Supreme Court,
finally triumphed. The E street people
would perhaps have like success, fol-
lowing upon a long and costly contest
in the courts. but really things have
come to pretty pass when the people
have to continually organize as private
citizens for their own protection in de.
fault of any aid from the District OFF,
cialS appointed to guard their interests.
II any measure for the public good,
like the increase Of the water supply
or the improvement Of the river front,
is to be urged upon Congress. citi-
Zens' committee has to do the work
Again. when the District Government
have given up the city to the possession
Of all the thieves and burglars of the
country, citizens committee has to
shoulder the work of public protection.
II any public nuisance, like the as
phalt works, the steam cars in South
Washington and now the Trail on e
undertake the task. They not only have
to do the work without the co-opera-
ton Of the Commissioners, but they are
lucky II they do not encounter open or
covert opposition from the District Of
ficials A good many are tnquiring II
this is just the sort of government
needed for 10000 people"
The newly organized Civil Service
Commission was just getting into ac-
Civil Service ton so years ago.
The Star Of May 8,
Regulations. 1883. contains the
text of the regula-
tions just adopted and promulgated by
the President In the issue Of May
IL, 1883, is the following comment upon
them:
The civil service rules which have
just been officially promulgated are,
generally speaking, comprehensive and
practicable. There is nothing in them
smackng of the Utopian theory Of
some reformers for making the public
service better than it is possible for
humanity to attain. Competitive ex-
aminations of applicants in three
classes are provided for-those in the
Washington departments, those in Gus
toms districts employing so oficials,
and those in the postal service of cities
employing as many as so. 1t is re-
quired that applicants for positions
shall be of good moral character, as
we'll as physically and mentally quail
fed. It IS evident that the rules were
drafted with sincere purpose Of keep
Ing politics out Of the examinations.
Every requirement, apparently, that
could practically tend to this end Is
specifically laid down. But after all,
the essence of the reform sought for
lies in the enforcement Of the rules,
As to the construction of the rules,
the commission have done very we'll
Now let them see that their enforce
ment Is entrusted to the right kind
OF persons"