The Merit System in San Francisco.

A

OUTLINE OF ITS ORIGIN AND ADOPTION, SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF THE MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION TO THE NATIONAL CIVIL

SERVICE REFORM LEAGUE.

N many respects the past history of San Francisco presents a dismal aspect. Its efforts for public improvements have resulted generally in failure. The record of our municipal government heretofore has, in short, been generally marked by extravagance and inefficiency. The streets and sewers of the city have cost, for instance, over $34,000,000, a charge attributable most clearly to the continuous lack of method and discipline that has characterized our public work.

Various reasons are assigned as the cause of this apparent municipal failure. An impartial investigation will disclose as the primal cause the existence of the political "spoils " system. Aside from the management of the Free Public Library, civil service reform has been unknown in the administration of our city government. Nearly every other department has been made to subserve the purposes of party politics and patronage.

The principle of merit in the public service has been practically eliminated. Partisan politics has been the basis upon which have depended the appointment, promotion and removal of practically all our public officials and employees. Devotion to the city's welfare has rarely been considered in the selection of the servants of the people. Our predicaments, therefore, may truthfully be ascribed to the same general cause that James Bryce has cited as the reason that has made municipal government America's one conspicuous failure.

The Merchants' Association is largely responsible for the origin of the merit system in the future government of San Francisco. One of the first objects of this Association, as stated in its constitution, is "to devise and recommend such

municipal measures as may seem wise and expedient." Pursuant thereto, the Merchants' Association advocated, as the cardinal principles of the new charter, "civil service reform, economical administration and home rule." It is gratifying to report that the charter as adopted by the people of San Francisco is in fact based upon these three fundamental doctrines.

On the first of the new year, the new charter will take effect. Its most significant feature is Article XIII, upon the Civil Service. This principle of the charter may really be considered as a pivot upon which the balance rests. In truth, we feel that the success or failure of the charter as a whole depends upon the faithful execution of its civil service provisions.

In a recent letter, Dr. Albert Shaw has declared to us that "The municipal service system of San Francisco must be regarded henceforth as one of the most advanced adopted anywhere." The civil service sections are clear, concise and simple. The language is plain and liable to no reasonable mis-interpretation. The various principles may be summarized in the declaration that appointment to office should be based upon merit, promotion for efficiency and removal for just cause only. Some other communities have by unfortunate errors discredited the merit system. We believe these mistakes have nearly all been avoided in our charter.

All rules and regulations governing the civil service should be clear and simple, and in this particular we feel that our sysem is not lacking. Clerks and other employees in the public service are required to pass examinations based upon the requirements of the positions sought. Laborers are selected by priority of registration. If properly fitted, those who first enroll for positions requiring unskilled labor will be the ones to be first selected. Examinations must be conduted in a public and impartial manner. Everything must be open and above board.

San Francisco may justly be congratulated upon having recently selected as Mayor, for the third term, a citizen who is sincerely committed to the principles of the merit system. His devotion to the cause of civil service reform has never been questioned. In accordance with the provisions of the new charter, Mayor Phelan will appoint the first three Civil

Service Commissioners, to hold office for one, two and three years. It is required in terms that they shall be "devoted to the principles of civil service reform." The regular term of the Commissioners will be for three years, one going out of office each year. This will preserve a continuity in the service, and prevent the appointment of an entirely new Commission by any later Mayor. It may truthfully be said that upon the judicious selection of the Civil Service Commissioners will rest the future welfare and prosperity of the government of San Francisco.

Though the achievement of securing and adoping a municipal charter with civil service reform as its first principle is indeed most encouraging, it is, nevertheless, only a step in the right direction. Excellent as are the provisions of our Civil Service Article, they will not execute themselves. Public opinion is an irresistible lever for good or evil municipal government. We shall not forget that our city is remote from the great centers of influence favorable to the merit system. Moreover, our state government is managed and conducted with little regard for civil service reform. California as yet has no state civil service law. The citizens of San Francisco, therefore, owe a solemn duty not only to themselves but to posterity, in taking care that the civil service provisions in the new charter are faithfully executed. The Merchants' Association may certainly be counted upon to put forth its best and strongest efforts to sustain the integrity of the system.

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

National Civil-Service Reform League.

I.

The name of this organization shall be the National CivilService Reform League.

II.

The object of the National Civil Service Reform League shall be to promote the purposes and to facilitate the correspondence and the united action of the Civil Service Reform Associations.

III.

The League shall consist of all the Civil Service Reform Associations in the United States which signify their willingness to become members thereof. Any association hereafter expressing such willingness shall become a member of the League upon its being accepted as such by the League or the Executive Committee. Any member of any such association may be present at any meeting of the League and take part in the debates or discussions as the by-laws may provide.

IV.

At any meeting of the League, each association belonging to it shall be entitled to one vote upon every question coming before the League; such vote may be cast by a personal representative designated by each association, or by proxy, as the by-laws may provide. If no such designation be made the delegates from such association present at such meeting, or a majority of them, may cast the vote of such association.

V.

The officers of the League shall be a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and nine Vice-Presidents; and there shall be a General Committee and an Executive Committee. The officers and the committees shall hold office until their successors are appointed or elected.

VI.

The President and Vice-Presidents shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting of the League.

The Secretary and Treasurer shall be chosen, and may be removed, by the General Committee.

The General Committee shall be chosen annually, and shall consist of one delegate from each association belonging to the League; and one additional delegate for every two hundred members, or major fraction thereof, of such association as certified by its secretary. Each association shall elect

its own delegates in such manner as it may determine. The members of the Executive Committee shall be exofficio members of the General Committee.

Any member of the General Committee may act by proxy. The General Committee shall keep a record of its proceedings, and shall make a report to the League at the annual meeting. A vacancy in any office, except that of Vice-President, may be filled by the General Committee for the remainder of the term.

The General Committee may delegate to the Executive Committee any of its powers; provided, however, that it may at any time resume the powers so delegated.

The Executive Committee shall consist of twenty-one members to be elected annually by the General Committee and shall have power to fix its own quorum. And any member of the Executive Committee may act by proxy.

VII.

The General Committee may, subject to these articles, manage the affairs of the League, direct and dispose of the