Evening star., 1955-01-19
Federal Merit SystemHodH Humble Stort
By David {. PerIman

TIE UukftOJ - c6Atoy VI tttE O0eksos
publication of the American Federd-
tioH of Government Employees and
has ipritten this article IN connection
NTH the zzd anniversary OF the sign
ing 0f the CiuH Seruice Act.l
nN January l6. 1883. the friends Of
~ civil service reform were begin-
ming to wonder if they had, perhaps,
Of the spoils system In the Federal
Government.
Just a week before, the House Of
Representatives had rushed through
final passage Of the civil service bill
a bill that bore the name Of Senator
George H. Pendleton Of Ohio, but had
actually been drafted by Dorman B.
Eaton, leading spokesman for the re-
form movement.
The civil service bill had passed the
Senate BY resounding 33-to-5 vote.
although the number Of absentees was
disappointingly large. When 1t reached
the. House. there were g few half
hearted efforts to recommit or amend
the bill. but its supporters kept up Q
steady chant Of 'Votel Votei" until.
after a mere one-hour debate. the
Pendleton bill passed without change.
Since President Arthur. himself, had
called for passage of civil service law.
the reformers considered that they had
every right to celebrate. But then
came the disconcerting news that
several top administration officials had
challenged the constitutionality Of the
measure and were urging the President
to veto it on the ground that it In
fringed upon his constitutional power
of appointment. This issue was to be
the chief topic for discussion at the
cabinet meeting on January l6.
AS it turned out, the fears Of the re-
formers proved to be groundless. The
Evening Star of that date tells us that.
at the cabinet meeting, The tenor OF
the discussion was favorable to the
signing Of the bill in its present shape"
Later that day, President Arthur
affixed his signature The merit system
was to get its first trial in this country.
For more than score of years. dis
tinguished but isolated voices had been
raised from pulpit and lecture platform
against the corruptness Of the spoils
system. The practical" politicians
brushed aside this criticism with q
mocking reference to "snivel service
reformers."
But when President James A. Gar
field was shot down by an assassin's
bullet In July, 1881, In the old Penn 4
sylvania Railroad depot - where the
National Gallery of Art now stands
people were no longer amused by jokes
about the "snivel service" movement.
The demented killer, Charles j. Gui-
teau, had been one Of the thousands Of
job seekers who had poured into WASH
ington for the Inauguration with claims
of political service to be paid for by
public Office. To the man on the street,
Garfield was victim of the spoils
system.
The congressional elections OF 1882,
which saw the defeat of several OF the
most outspoken opponents of civil
service reform, were the handwriting on
the wall so far as Congress was con-
cerned Civil service reform now be-
came top-priority legislation.
The less starry -eyed Of the reformers,
however were more restrained in their
elation at the passage Of the Pendleton
bill
That the battle for civil service
reform was not over-that it had, in
fact, just begun---was made very clear
in an Evening Star editorial following
the passage Of the Pendleton bill.
Since both the Democrats and the
Republicans have, at various times
claimed credit for the enactment of the
first civil service legislation, it is inter-
esting to read these comments from the
editorial. dated January 10, 1888:
-. The truth Is that there was
good deal of insincerity in the support
and passage Of the bill, and it pervaded
both parties about alike. The Demo-
Gratis sincerely wanted the bill beaten.
Since the November elections their
hope of success in 1884 have risen to
the highest degree. and Democratic
leadefs knew that their followers look
forward to the Offices with an eagerness
and a hunger born Of over 20 years
expulsion from the public crib. But
there was public sentiment in favor
of reform in the civil service which
Democratic Congressnen feared to
defy.
with the Republicans, there was
Just as much inSincerity. They re-
garded the measure as one of policy
rather than of principle. In the event
of Democratic success in 1884. the law
could serve to keep Republicans in
Office
Not too hopefully, The Star editorial
concluded What the bin may accom-
plish depends largely upon the Presi-
dent. He is really invested with power
enough to make it fair success or
total failure.
The new law was to take effect on
January 16 1888, six months after ii
had been signed ty the President.
Only a comparatively few positions
were specifically placed in the compet-
tive service under the initial act. But
the President had wide freedom to add
other groups Of jobs by executive order.
The spoils system did not die over
night. Three months after the passage
of the act, the classified columns Of the
newspapers still carried listings such as
these:
wanted---A position in one Of the
departments; win give s25 down and
SIS monthly. Address 8. T., Star once.