The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-25


Washington, D. c., Oct. 25.-As an
employer Uncle Sam takes top rank
in the world. In the executive civil
service alone there are approximately
$4,000 persons, and the federal gov
ernment's annual payroll for the civil
branch exceeds $1,000, 000, 900. The
salaries range from $4,000 . year,
paid to the president Of the United
States, to the few dollars which make
the compensation Of the backwoods
fourth class postmaster.
The employees in the government OBJ
tain their positions In different ways.
About 1900 are appointed direct by
the president. They comprise the
higher officials, such as cabinet min
listers and their chief assistants, di-
plomats, consuls, judges, postmasters
above the fourth class, United States
district attorneys, marshals, heads Of
important bureaus, and members Of
various boards and commissions. These
appointments must be confirmed by
the senate.
About 100000 employees, who con-
stitute what Is known as the "classi-
fled service" receive their positions
through competitive examinations
taken under the auspices Of the civil
service commission. This body has
In charge the enforcement Of the pro-
visions Of the federal civil service law.
More than 100000 persons procure
their positions without competitive
examination, and are said to be in
the unclassified service. During the
depression emergency, the unclassi-
fled number was vastly increased,
more than $4,000 being In the Civil
Conservation camps, the relief work
err made up q huge total, and the
New Deal alphabetical agencies IN
army Of more than 100000 persons.
The extension Of the classified civil
service has been growing at an appre-
ciable rate in the last quarter CEN
tury. The National Civil Service Re-
form League contends that the time
h9s come to include in the classified
safvice many Of the positions now
lIed through appointments by the
president in the unclassified service.
"'- would relieve the president, it Is
u~-lared, from the heavy burdens Of
his office incurred In the settlement
OF patronage disputes and would add
to the efficiency Of the service.
Development Of System
The maintenance Of q competent
force for the operation Of the ma
chinery Of the federal government
always has involved many serious
problems. During the first forty years
after the organization Of the govern
ment, administrative practice with
regard to the civil service seemed to
conform to the intention Of the
founders. The constitution fixed the
terms Of no officers In the executive
branch Of the government except
those Of the president and vice pres
ident. It was the established prac-
tice during these first forty years to
permit executive officers, except
members Of the cabinet, to hold office
for an indefinite period during good
behavior. This practice was changed
in 1920 by the four-year tenure act.
The spoils system, as it was officially
described as early as 1885, was intro
duced and extended until It per-
meated the entire civil service Of the
country, and. In the opinion Of lead
ing statesmen, threatened completely
to change the form Of government.
When Andrew Jackson came to the
White House in 1929 there was mob
rush to serve the government under
the guise Of reform. It was expressed
in 1882 by Senator Marcy Of New
York Is q belief that ito the victors
belong the spoils." There was great
dismay In the service where many Of
the old employees had expected to la
Dor the rest Of their lives. One Of
them committed suicide. The spoils
system reached its apogee from l645
to 1865. Then the tide turned and
pioneers Of reform came out. It be-
came . campaign issue in 1872, but
was not expressed In definite law UNI
til 1883 when congress passed and
President Arthur signed the Pendle-
ton Act. which began with modestly