ently, that the Governor has carried it too far when he has gone outside the organization to fill high "exempt" offices.

Without quarrelling over the moral issues involved, let me ask Mr. Farley, as one practical Democrat to another, to run back over the patronage records of Governors Sulzer, Dix and Glynn and discover, if he can, any party advantage that has accrued from the distribution of high State jobs to partisans.

Does he remember that trio of allwool Tammany public service commissioners-Edward E. McCall, J. Sargent Cram and Robert Colgate Wood?

Does he remember that true son of the Tiger, Gordon Reel, who served as superintendent of highways under

Dix?

Does he remember State Architect H. W. Hoefer, also from the Wigwam?

It is sometimes pleasant to forget the past, and it is almost necessary to do so in making such an appeal as Mr. Farley now makes, in far-off Chicago, to Governor Smith in Albany. But if the state chairman will reflect on the records of these "regular" office holders, and the amount of campaign ammunition they supplied to the Republican party in the first Whitman election, he may learn why the present Governor is taking a different tack.

Mr. Farley doubtless prides himself on being a "practical" politician, but his suggestion is about as practical from a purely partisan point of view as a suggestion to go back to stagecoaches. The Governor, in his appointments, has shown himself a hundred times more practical. He has seen the futility of making partisan appointments that only discredit the party.

A PRACTICAL DEMOCRAT.
New York, May 31.

The remarks of Mr. Farley, above referred to, are partially

quoted in the New York papers as follows:

One of the important factors for success in organization is the assistance we receive from men who have been honored by our party with high office. We all realize that we have not always received the aid to which the organization was entitled and which should have been legitimately extended. There are men so self-centered as to accept office from the hands of a political party and then attempt to elevate and ingratiate themselves with the opposition by ignoring or treating with indifference the party which had sponsored them.

Now, it is not my purpose to advocate a return to the spoils system. Grover Cleveland, that great Democrat, was the first to blaze the way towards real civil service reform and we do not want to take a step backward. We want and demand that the men placed in high office shall give to the organization responsible for their advancement the support that the organization has a right to demand. So long as our Government is a Government of parties, there should, and it is a fallacy to believe that there cannot, be found within Democratic ranks men equally as efficient and honest as among the opposition. Our leaders should realize that not infrequently they assist not only the individual but the party as well by helping to develop the latent capabilities of its membership.

It seems to me that the time has come to urge upon high officials of our party this view of practical party organization. We need their assistance in the conduct and maintenance of the organization. We do not ask that they help at the expense of the people or to the detriment of efficient government. The strict organization man should make the best public servant, for he demonstrates by his party allegiance that he takes an interest in the Government and pride in his party.

Statutory Salaries

WH

a

WHEN Congress decides that public interest requires certain public service to be performed, it appropriates a certain. sum of money with which to do it. The important thing, from the point of view of Congress as representing the people, is to get the job done, and to get it done in the most expeditious and economical way. The discovery of the most expeditious and economical way is a scientific process, and should properly be left to an expert executive agency. But instead of this, the appropriation bill will go on and define not only the object to be accomplished, but the precise manner of its accomplishment, even to the employment of m clerks at $900, n stenogphers at $1,100, and miscellaneous "experts," messengers and charwomen at salaries ranging between $2,500 and $250 a year.

The inclusion of these minute directions as to the spending of the money appropriated of course makes any scientific management of the project almost futile. Instead of a thousand employes at average salaries of $1,000, it might be found, for instance, that the work could be done better with two hundred employes at average salaries of $2,000, and the saving would be $600,000 a year, or sixty per cent. Under the present "statutory roll" system, however, no manager, however skilled he may be, is permitted to effect this saving.

The statutory roll is a survival from spoils days, when the purpose was to create as many jobs as possible with a given amount of money, and not to produce a maximum of

service. Modern administration demands that it be dispensed with.

Millennial?

Out of the recent meeting of the National Civil Service Reform League may come a reconstruction of the Federal Civil Service Commission into a civil service employment department. . . . A staff of experts would be maintained in the bureau of employment administration whose duties would be not only to see that persons of proper equipment were employed, but that they were so placed as to give the Government the best results from their abilities and give themselves an opportunity to apply initiative in their work. The purely mechanical service now given by classified employes would thus become extinct. The experts would come into direct contact with the employe and would exert a stimulating influence. The deadly routine of government work would be eliminated by placing employes where their individual efforts would count for advancement into lines of congenial occupation

lines which, because of their adaptation to them, would give greatest returns to the government. The standardization board recently appointed by Congress, which is now sitting in Washington, is working on this line. It is seeking to find some plan for more just and effective selection, placement and promotion. It will not only try to get satisfactory service, but to give the government satisfied employes.-Buffalo Express.

Boston Postmaster Examination

Investigation of the records of candidates in the examination for postmaster at Boston has been completed by the Civil Service Commission's examiners, and it is understood that the result will be certified shortly to the Postoffice Department.

Preference Amendments

The amendments to the MartinBaumes veteran preference bill, adopted at the last session of the New York legislature, place world war veterans on the same plane as those of the Spanish war, instead of giving priority to the latter. They also provide that to be entitled to preference a veteran must have been a resident of New York at the time of entering the military service. The amendments do not, of course, greatly improve the bill from either the scientific or the democratic point of view, but they make it necessary to pass the bill again in 1921 before it can be submitted to the people as a proposed constitutional amendment.

Women Eligible for the Force

A ruling of the New York Municipal Civil Service Commission admits women to police examinations on the same terms as men, and it is said that if they qualify they will have the same chance of appointment. Doubt is expressed, however, as to their ability to pass the exacting physical tests. The policewomen who may be appointed through these examinations are in a different category from those who were appointed without examination under war emergency legislation.

Assembly to Meet in Rochester

The Assembly of Civil Service Commissions is scheduled to meet in Rochester, June 11-13.

-Wallgren, in the Stars and Stripes.

Is it Politics?

The Hylan administration took office on January 1, 1918, when Dr. Jonathan C. Day was appointed to the commissionership of public markets. Almost since the day of the appointment, Dr. Day has tried to secure the exemption of three directors of important bureaus. The Municipal Commission has been perfectly agreeable, the Corporation Counsel has gone so far as to make it possible for the Hylan appointees to receive their salaries pending final disposition of the application by the State Commission. Colonel Rice seems ready to grant the exemption, Judge Clark to deny, with Commissioner Smith in the doubtful column.

No one has challenged the statement of representatives of the New York Association that competition is practicable as a means of filling these places, which have nothing to do with the determination of public policy.

Veteran Preference: Brief of Law Committee, Hon. Samuel H. Ordway, chairman, filed with U. S. Attorney General. Argument concerning interpretation of preference rider to Census Act.

Presidential Postmasters: Investigation of administration of executive order of March 31, 1917, delayed pending return of President Wilson from Europe.

Ohio: Letters sent to Calendar Committee of Legislature in opposition to Liggitt veteran preference bill.

General Federation of Women's Clubs: League represented by field secretary at conference of national officers and chairmen, Asheville, N. C., May 27-29.

PENNSYLVANIA C. S. REFORM ASSOCIATION

May 12: Senate Bills Nos. 321 and 322 passed by Senate as introduced by Senator Woodward and transmitted to the House; referred to the Committee on Municipal Affairs. Senate Bill No. 323 extending civil service system to the County of Philadelphia not reported out of Senate Committee on Municipal Affairs.

May 13: Public hearing held before House Committee on Municipal Affairs in reference to State Civil Service Bill; Messrs. Riter, Scott and Faught spoke. At hearing before House Committee on Judiciary Special Mr. Riter spoke in behalf of Constitutional Amendment to protect appointed officers from arbitrary removal.

May 16: Meeting of Executive Committee at City Club; twenty-four persons elected to membership. Decided to continue cooperating with Philadelphia Charter Committee for passage of Woodward bills.

May 20: Public hearing before House Committee on Municipal Affairs attended by Governor and Attorney General in reference to Senate Bills Nos. 321 and 322.

May 28: Meeting held at Harrisburg for organizing the People's Association of Pennsylvania, to prepare for revision of Constitution of Pennsylvania by Constitutional Convention.

N. Y. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ASSOCIATION Annual Meeting: Held May 14 at Hotel Astor. See Article.

Legislation: Governor Smith vetoes obnoxious County Civil Service bill and various ill-considered pension measures against which Association had protested. Mayor Hylan vetoes municipal guard bill and a number of private pension and re-hearing bills. See article.

Libraries: Inquiry begun by field staff into employment situation in State and municipal libraries, with particular reference to service rating systems.

Policewomen: Action by Association (Albert de Roode, counsel), to restrain payment of salaries to new appointees under emergency act authorizing employment for "duration of war" without examination.

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NATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE REFORM LEAGUE Executive Committee: New Committee appointed. Meeting announced for June 24, to act on report of Committee on Foreign Serivce.

ITEMS FOR THE CALENDAR

Should be in not later than the 20th of the month preceding publication. Officers and members of local Associations are invited to contribute items for classifications under the names of their respective organizations.