45
THE MERIT SYSTEM
From Good Government
The shooting of President Garfield
in 1881 brought to a head, as no
amount of oratory would, the futility,
wastefulness and public misfeasance
of the spoils system— already a fifty-
year blight on the body politic. A
disappointed seeker for office shot the
Chief Executive because he did not get
preferment. From that day on the merit
system for civil service employees has
continued to grow under fostering Fed
eral laws, State laws and municipal
laws.
The basic principles of the merit
system are that civil servants shall be
appointed to office after proving their
competence by examination. They are
promised continuity of service if their
performance is standard, their conduct
is good, and if they refrain from active
participation in partisan politics. Like
wise they may expect promotion on
merit, equal pay with others who do
equal service, and most systems provide
retirement income at the end of their
active careers. The essence of the civil
service is a mutual contract with the
hiring authority—reciprocal and with a
right to appeal differences to a civil
service commission.
D
R
Central Pharmacy DRUGS
G
Guardian Bldg.
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Quisenherry's
'Salem, Oregon
410 State
NEW ORLEANS ISSUES BOOKLET
TO ANSWER QUERIES
As means of educating city em
ployees in the details of the municipal
civil service system, the New Orleans
Civil Service Commission has recently
published a booklet entitled, "Know
Your Civil Service.” The booklet, pre
pared in question-and-answer form,
provides detailed information on a wide
variety of topics, including classifica
tion, pay, examinations and appoint
ments, political activity, and veterans’
preference. Readers are invited to con
tact the Civil Service Commission of
fice for information on any points not
covered in the booklet.
In addition to distributing the book
let among present personnel in the city
service, the Commission plans to use it
as a means of acquainting new em
ployees with the civil service program.
Eugene
Hotel
Eugene, Oregon
Krauger's Lunch
Frank Krauger
Headquarters
For All Occasions
In the State Office Building
Salem , Oregon
C. E. McLean, Mgr.