REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

MRS. SARAH S. PLATT DECKER, CHAIRMAN, COLORADO.

MADAM PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION: The five questions submitted by the chairman of the Committee on Civil Service Reform, at the request of the President and Board of Directors, were as follows:

1. Has your club ever had a program upon the subject of Civil Service Reform?

2. Have you any knowledge of your State Institutions, having in charge the dependent, defective and delinquent?

3. Are the officers of these Institutions appointed because of their merit or through political influence?

4. Have you a visiting committee for the jail in your city?

5. Is there a Civil Service law in your City or State? This report is based upon the answers received to the first question, namely:

Has your club ever had a program upon the subject of Civil Service Reform? The four remaining questions were intended as suggestive for definite work, which would follow a careful study of the subject through the club program. In the majority of cases this is a just estimate, although there are exceptions of clubs, which have done fine practical work, without the study of the fundamental idea. In all cases the membership of the clubs has been taken from the 1909 Directory. This makes apparent discrepancies in the tabulation. As in the instance of Alabama, the first state alphabetically, forty-six clubs are scheduled, and reports are received from fifty-nine, Alabama having a present membership of sixty. seven. Other states will show like difference owing to increase in number of clubs since the Directory was issued.

Of the 5,290 clubs, answers were received from 1,839, of which 1,449 report no activity, and 390 answer the question in the affirmative.

The two "banner" states are Michigan and Florida, the former having a majority of nineteen clubs reporting interest, and Florida having eight in excess of the negatives. Five states-Georgia, North Carolina, Utah, Canal Zone and West Virginia-have not a club reporting activity under this head.

Your chairman feels, however, that a detailed statistical report of work attempted, is not the paramount question today, and accordingly this program has been arranged with a view to presenting the doctrine, and the reasons for the "faith that is in us." The chairman must take a moment of time, however, to make one earnest appeal to the State Presidents. This entreaty is in reference to the appointment of the respective State Chairman of the Civil Service Reform Committee.

Letters of this sort have been frequently received during the past two years. To quote, "I have been appointed State Chairman of Civil Service Reform. Please give me some information about the work, as I do not even know the meaning

of the subject." To endeavor to educate a chairman by letter, on a great question in political economy, with the hope that she will in turn educate a whole State in one year, is worse than a "forlorn hope," and the failure in many States to understand this subject, which is the actual underlying foundation of all good government and the basis of hope for all reforms, is largely due to a selection of State Chairman, without sufficient consideration of their fitness and knowledge of the subject. Will not each State President heed this most heartfelt appeal? Do not choose a chairman because of her geographical situation, nor her club affiliation, but because she believes in Civil Service Reform, and is willing to work for it. Do not choose her for one year only. The woman who enters into this campaign should enlist for the war, and no change of administration should affect these captains. Crystalized, the two requests made of the State Presidents are as follows:

First, select the State Chairman of the Civic Service Committee because of her belief in, and understanding of the cause.

Second, let it be a law of each State Federation that such a chairman shall remain in office for an indefinite period.

HISTORY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
COMMITTEE.

THE INCEPTION.

MISS GEORGIE A. BACON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MADAM PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION: The actual inception of the Civil Service Reform Committee dates back eight years. In order to thoroughly understand the reason of its existence, I shall suggest to you in rapid succession the need of such a movement, the persons who stood sponsor at its birth, the reasons why women should aid in its development, and its adoption as a part of the work of this great organization.

Did time allow, I should ask you to go back to the administration of Andrew Jackson and see how the influences which emanated from Aaron Burr and his skilled political pupil, Martin Van Buren, were responsible for the introduction into our national life of that system whose watchword is "To the victor belong the spoils."