SCHURZ ON CIVIL SERVICE RE- FORM. Share full article. Dec. 13, 1894. Credit... The New York Times Archives. See the article in its original context from December 13, 1894, Page 4 Buy Reprints.

Civil service protection is a bedrock principle of how our federal government works. It dates back to 1883, and over 140 years we have generally broadened and strengthened those protections.

With several Massachusetts municipalities opting out of the civil service and many more considering that route, something had to be done to update a system clearly out of step with the times. As ...

The civil service system relies on its merit-based foundation to bring in hire, retain and engage its highly-skilled workforce. But, the last major changes to this system came decades ago in 1978.