Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-23

pressure from pO-
civil service Law litical spoilsmen.
and Spoilsmen. T fhe Star stapS OF Ju "
16, 1888, denotes the relief that was
felt in Washington in consequence OF
the establishment of the merit system:
The civil service law enacted in the
last Congress is now in full force.
Hereafter none can be appointed to
subordinate positions under the Gov
eminent except those whose fitness
has been demonstrated by competitive
examination. At least that is the law.
The principal point made against the
new system by its opponents IS that
q competitive examination is not an
infallible test Of the applicants fitness
or unf1tness for the positions sought,
that man might fail to answer cor
rectly numerous questions in geography,
and even be unable to work out a SIM
pie algebraic problem, and yet be much
more competent for clerical work than
others who would make a far better
showing in the examination. It IS con-
tended, for instance, that If q copyist
Is needed, the man who can use his
pen with grace and facility will fill
the position far better than q finished
scholar who writes a poor hand. But
these objections are puerile when
weighed against the real merits of the
law and the good it is almost certain
to accomplish. Nobody has ever claimed
that the new system is perfect. but its
defects can be remedied. The law Is
destined to have one result that, even
should the competitive examination
scheme prove a total failure, will be
most beneficial 1t will relieve Gov
eminent clerks from that feeling of
dependence on politicians which has
hitherto existed. It is, If the law Is
carried out fully, no longer within the
power Of Congressman and others in
f1uential in politics to dictate the re-
moval and appointment Of Government
clerks. The subordinate ofncials' ten
ure of Office depends upon his own
conduct, and the applicant for place
need no longer truckle to the politician
to win his favor"
A general strike of telegraph opera
tors occurred so years ago throwing
c.- things badly out of
StrlKe OF the gear The Star of
Telegraphers. July t 20 d lsss, says;
between the telegraph companies and
their employees was brought to an
abrupt issue yesterday by the strike
Of the operators. The telegraph ON
Gals are sending each other assuring
messages and are boasting of their
facilities for transmitting dispatches;
but it IS evident that this is done in
the hope of dismaying the strikers.
The truth that the telegraph for COM
mercial and general business purposes
is paralyzed stares the public in the
face. The legal responsibility Of the
companies Is a question Of no little
importance as a factor in compelling
them to take measures looking to the
restoration Of facilities necessary to
the public use and business. It Is
doubtful If notification to the sender Of
q dispatch that he must risk delay
will release the company from liability
for damage resulting from failure to
deliver the telegram within q reason
able tine. II the companies keep their
ofaces open and receive pay for mes
sages. they assume responsibility for
lations imposed by the company as a
condition necessary to the sending Of
q message and relieving 1t from liabil-
ity in the event Of failure to perform
its contract have often been declared
by the courts to be without effect.
People who pay regular tolls for the
transmission of message are not likely
to be satisfied with the sending Of that
message by mail. The sender could
avail himself of that means Of commu-
nication for the common rates Of
postage. It is due to the public. from
both sides to this controversy. that 1t
should be settled at once II the hos
tile position now existing be abandoned
and the question of differences ap-
preached by both sides in q calm.
sensible and friendly spirit, a basis
of settlement can be easily reached"