he Bush administration is moving quietly toward the most sweeping reform of the Civil Service system in a generation, a mammoth turnabout that would empower the Pentagon to scrap and replace the way it hires, pays, promotes and disciplines its roughly 750,000 civilian workers. The House has already rubber-stamped a plan proposed by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who wants the "flexibility" to become in effect the potentate of payroll. Under that bill, Mr. Rumsfeld and his managers would have final word on the merit, demerit and pay raises of workers, who would have minimal recourse to appeal. Workers are understandably anxious about this work force revolution, warning of a retreat toward the 19th-century spoils system of patronage and cronyism.

These concerns can be considerably eased by the Senate, which will be considering a creative alternative that would moderate the administration's plan through a balanced mix of concessions on reforms and safeguards for workers.