A city manager needs a good civil service law as a means of procuring expeditiously competent and expert help. Its value as a bulwark against the spoils system is beyond question. It is assumed by many advocates of city manager government that upon its adoption by the municipality, political interferences in the administration of the departments of the municipal government automatically disappears. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The pressure of local political organizations may increase or diminish as public opinion asserts itself. But a popular vote on the adoption of city manager government does not automatically subdue the spoils system, and the city manager therefore requires a strong civil service system above all else. The League commends to city managers the principles of the merit system as essential to their own salvation. RESOLUTIONS OF THE LEAGUE Adopted January 12, 1926 The League adopted the following resolutions: 1. The National Civil Service Reform League heartily commends the recommendations made by President Coolidge in his annual message in so far as it favors the classification under the civil service of all postmasters, collectors of customs, collectors of internal revenue and prohibition agents, but it does not advise the "covering in" of these employees and in particular of the prohibition agents, who, owing to the extensive corruption which has prevailed in that branch of the service, should be appointed only after competitive tests under the law, as recommended in two previous messages of the President. 2. The League condemns the retention of the Personnel Classification Board as proven to be inefficient and useless and recommends that it be abolished and that its functions together with the personnel functions of the Efficiency Bureau be transferred to the United States Civil Service Commission. 3. The policy of the Post Office Department in seeking and acting upon the recommendation of members of Congress and local politicians in making selections from eligible lists for postmasters and rural free delivery carriers has resulted in the continuance of the operation of the spoils system in appointments to these places in the postal service. The League again condems this practice of the Post Office Department and urges upon the President and the Postmaster General that appointments to these positions be made without participation of members of Congress or politicians in the selection. It is a palpable evasion of the spirit if not the letter of the civil service law to permit the exercise by members of Congress of practical dictation over these appointments. We believe the President should prevent this evasion by issuing an executive order providing for the appointment of the highest name on the eligible list. 4. The League urges the enactment by Congress of a law that will permit the President in his discretion to extend the classified civil service to the many positions now in the exempt class. 5. The League urges, pending the enactment of laws necessary to obtain the competitive classification of Deputy Collectors of Internal Revenue, prompt executive action to end the present abuse of the needless substitution of exempt Deputies for competitive clerks throughout the service. 6. The League calls upon the citizens of the thirty-eight states that now have no civil service laws to urge the enactment by their legislatures of laws applying the merit system to the state and local services, and upon the citizens of the ten states having civil service laws to improve and extend their application. Much is heard of the alleged failure of the great political parties to represent clearly differentiated principles, but so long as patronage, federal, state and local, remains to be fought for as a major aim of political organizations, parties can never be made to function primarily as sincere and courageous organs of public opinion and exponents of political principles. The way to make principles rule is to abolish all spoils. The following statement from the auditors, Price, Waterhouse & Company, having been approved by the Executive Committee of the League, was submitted in connection with the annual report of the Treasurer: PRICE, WATERHOUSE & COMPANY, New York City. 56 Pine Street, December 9, 1925. NATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE REFORM LEAGUE, 8 West 40th Street, New York City. DEAR SIRS: We have examined the books and accounts for a further period of six months ending November 30, 1925, and in this connection we have prepared and submit herewith a summarized statement of the receipts and disbursements for the fiscal year ending November 30, 1925. The receipts as shown by the cash book were checked to the bank statements and found to have been properly deposited. Subscriptions and dues as shown by the stubs of receipt book were traced to the cash book and were found in order. Receipt stub No. 2335 was marked void, as an error was made in filling in the receipt for issue. The cancelled receipt form was not produced for our inspection and we were informed by the management that it had been thrown away inadvertently. Properly approved vouchers and cancelled paid checks, except those outstanding, were examined by us in support of all disbursements. The cash in banks at November 30, 1925, as stated by the books was verified by means of certificates obtained direct by us from the depositories. The cash on hand was verified by count during the course of our examination. Mr. H. W. Marsh has furnished us with a certificate to the effect that the $200.00 par value United States Third Liberty Bonds are held in the safe deposit box of the Civil Service Reform Association for the account of the National Civil Service Reform League. The Fifth Avenue Bank of New York has certified that at November 30, 1925, there were on deposit with them for the National Civil Service Reform League's account $5,000.00 par value United States Third Liberty Loan Bonds. Yours very truly, PRICE, WATERHOUSE & CO. NATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE REFORM LEAGUE SUMMARIZED STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 1925 Balance at December 1, 1924 (excluding $5,000.00 U. S. Liberty Loan Bonds): Cash in bank and on hand.... $ 4,363.66 200.00 $ 4,563.66 $17,985.01 1,880.00 2,100.00 580.00 1,000.00 Balance at November 30, 1925 (Excluding $5,000 U. S. Liberty Loan Bonds): Cash in bank and on hand. Liberty bonds $ 6,444.41 6,708.32 3,297.82 2,300.00 1,389.84 1,783.93 900.15 647.82 184.15 434.73 1,728.34 135.94 480.00 316.41 $26,751.86 $ 2,944.31 200.00 $ 3,144.31 Total Funds Balance as above... .$3,144.31 U. S. Third Liberty Loan Bonds.. 5,000.00 $8.144 31 |