Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1912 — WAS TIME TO CALL A HALT [ARTICLE]

WAS TIME TO CALL A HALT

Democratic Modification of Civi! Service Law Justified By Acts of Public Servants. The Democratic members of congress have committed themselves to a modification of the civil service law which limits tenure of office of government employes to seven years. This modification appears to have been suggested by the results of investigations of the executive departments which, in round numbers, employ 23,000 people resident in Washington alone. Through organization these employes have established conditions and exerted influences which the Democrats do not believe yield to the government the highest degree of efficiency. The Democrats may be right.

There is no doubt whatever that the Democrats have pretty good grounds for assuming the position they have. Even though their claims concerning the efficiency of civil service protected employes should not be wholly sustained by critical examination of service rendered, the fact remains that there are approximately 200,000 men and women scattered over the country who yield political service to the administration to which they owe ap-

pointment, and to the party Which secured such appointment. It is notorious that during the ante-convention campaign just concluded there were no more active partisans than those holding federal office. The tendency of civil service protection is toward license, which, carried to extremes, would prove mischievous in this country Even Grover Cleveland denounced “pernicious activity” on the part of such employes. The underlying principle of civil service is reward for efficiency and faithfulness in official duties. If its protection of office holders extended only so far it would give the country thoroughly trained high class public servants If its prohibitions were more rigorously enforced there would be less “pernicious activity” in political affairs. But they are not. Whether it be the fault of the administration or the party in power, public servants have been becoming political bosses to such an extent that the Democrats have had the courage to call a halt: