RESOURCES

Check the State Civil Service YouTube Channel for this webinar or any of the shows you might have missed at: https://goo.gl/Yc1PdK

For handouts from all the Success Series Webinars, visit: https://bit.ly/2Kbn6Qa In case you wanted more of the history of civil service that we discussed in the Success Series webinar, here’s a great article from The Bridge, July 2010.

Charles Dunbar and Civil Service Reform By Becky Cresap

“De-ducts,” “deadheads,” and “double-dippers” are funny words when you first glance at them, but these

definitions are all too familiar when looking back on Louisiana’s political history and its infamous “spoils” system. The spoils system was one in which a politician or political party awarded government jobs to specific individuals as a reward for voting for the winning party.

These appointments often required a “de-duct,” or a percentage of your paycheck given to support the incumbent’s candidacy and party. During the years of the spoils system, certain methods were used to keep individuals voting for the same political party. “Deadheads”

were persons who collected government checks for doing

WATCH FOR INFORMATION ON THE NEW SEASON little or no productive labor for the state, and “double COMING SOON TO YOUR INBOX! dippers” were individuals on two or more state payrolls. The history of Civil Service is The statute drafted by Dunbar influencing the vote or political The Louisiana Civil Service the story of the struggle between and enacted into law created a action of any employee. In return, League, created in 1940 and led the supporters of the spoils comprehensive Civil Service an employee in the classified by Dunbar to promote the merit system and the advocates of an system for state government. The system was forbidden from system concept, recognized that employment system based on Civil Service law established a contributing to a political the challenges to the civil service merit. From the early 1800’s statewide “Office of Director of organization or purpose, system could only be overcome through the administration of Personnel” (known today as the becoming a member of a by having a constitutional Huey Long, the spoils system was Director of Civil Service) that was national, state, or local amendment to establish and the customary way of not appointed by any governor. It committee of a political party, or protect it. Dunbar drafted the government employment. also provided for the creation of a making public speeches or constitutional amendment and it classification plan by which state statements as part of a political was adopted in 1952. Only in the late 1930’s, during jobs are placed into various campaign. the governorship of Richard classes, called for competitive Now, established by the State Leche, did change begin to occur qualifying examinations, and Throughout the 1940’s, Constitution, the civil service because some state employees declared who would be a supporters of the spoils system system cannot be repealed or objected to “de-ducts” and went classified or unclassified continued to attack the new amended except by a two-thirds public with claims of corruption. employee. statute and eventually repealed vote of the Legislature and the prohibition of political activity subsequent ratification by a More change came as a result The Civil Service law by classified employees. majority of voters. of the 1940 Governor’s race when established the Civil Service Sam Jones, on a reformist Commission and charged it with Department heads used The Louisiana Civil Service platform, defeated spoils system certain responsibilities, such as coercion and threats to influence system has seen many changes supporter Earl K. Long. Governor approving pay plans and hearing voting and encourage partisan since the early reform days of the Jones promised a complete employee appeals. Employees political activities of employees. forties. However, pioneering the reorganization of state could be subjected to disciplinary Although the threat of politically- initial reform through much government and formed a civil action, including dismissal, but based disciplinary action was opposition was a man who service reform committee to that “cause” had to be shown by their gone, the risk of denied pay believed in a fair and just system, end. At the head of the civil appointing authority if such raises, promotions, and transfers Charles E. Dunbar Jr. Today, his service reform committee was actions were taken. Political or to less favorable locations still honorable name lives on through Charles E. Dunbar, Jr., considered religious reasons were not influenced employees’ political the Dunbar career service awards today to be the “father” of civil “cause” for disciplinary action. behavior. In 1948, a special given out each year by the service in Louisiana. A prominent session in the Legislature Louisiana Civil Service League to lawyer and civic leader from New Finally, the Civil Service law repealed the state civil service classified civil service employees Orleans, he led the committee in forbade any person from using law. who distinguish themselves studying leading civil service laws political pressure in connection through unselfish service to the of both the United States and with any appointment or citizens of Louisiana. foreign countries. promotion for the purpose of