American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-11
THE DEPARTMENTS AT WASHINGTON
NUMBER FIVE


NUMBER FIVE.
We resume this subject to-day in continue
ton of our article Of the Sd instant We then
proposed certain changes, which we said should
be gradual, and which should fully recognise
the power heretofore exercised by an incoming
Administration, as right to be abridged but
not destroyed.
We propose to terminate the incumbency of
all bureau heads on the Sd of March, 1858,
permitting the eligibility of their occupants to
reappointment. We then propose that the
secretaries of the several departments shall re-
move from Office one-third of all the clerks of
the Government; that the other two-thirds
to serve four years, and the second eight that
the secretaries shall then appoint with no other
restrictions than at present, for twelve years,
the other third-twelve years being the full term
of clerkship, one-third going out at the begin
ming of each administration; that thenceforth no
removal shall ever be made but for cause, to be
inquiredinto upon q fair and impartial trial. that
the secretaries shall thereafter exercise none
other than confirming powerin the introduction
of clerks, their nomination being made by the
heads of bureaus and the chief clerks of depart
ments, which latter officers shall be taken from
the clerks in the Offices of the secretaries, and
be subject to the same legal tenure and restric.
tons, and entitled to all the immunities and
privileges, and receive the same salaries, as are
conferred upon bureau heads.
! Army and navy officers should be excluded
as far as practicable from the civil service Of
the Government. Their peculiar notions of
discipline and obedience, and Of personal eleva-
ton above those subject to their orders, unfit
them for the control of freemen The Office
duties relating to the army and navy can
certainly be as well conducted by citizens as
can those of the heads of departments; and
while there would be no objection on the part
of citizens to the indulgence of that feeling
which the war button is SO apt to impart to its
wearer, within the pale of his professional du-
ties, or even when he comes into general society,
there is very strong, and as we think, laud
able aversion on the part of citizens to being
placed under its control.
We have thus endeavored to hint at few of
the evils of the existing system of administra-
ton, and to suggest such improvements as re-
Election has pointed out, in the hope of inducing
others, whose experience has been more ample,
whose information is more extended, and whose
inventive powers are superior, to examine the
subject.
Fifteen hundred dollars has been proposed as
the salary of all clerks. In this we do not
claim originality. 1t was suggested by the fact
that all Congressional clerks receive that sum,
session; and as our suggestions are intended
for Congress, we have, through their action,
good precedent for our guidance.
In former article we attempted an argument
in favor of the practicability of reform through
the intervention of Congress, solely predicated
upon the question of personal interest on the
part Of the members. 1t is proper here to re-
mark that this reasoning was drawn from what
is usually described as public opinion, which
attributes to personal motives every public
act. But there are many men in Congress who
require no such incentive to urge them onward
in efforts at reform. We have, as we think,
shown conclusiyely that no interest of per-
sonal nature can conflict with the proposed
changes and we shall look with confidence to
the next Congress for such legislation as will do
much for the interest of the Govemment-as
will advance materially the facilities Of citizens
in the transaction of their business with the
Government-as viii introduce into the public
service honesty and capacity-and last, though
not least such as will place upon the Govern
ment employments, from the greatest to the
least, the stamp of the genius of American inst-
tutions, as contrasted with that of kngly gov
ernments.
Believing that this reform is imperatively
called for by every consideration connected with
the purity of the Government, justice to its
employees, and proper regard for the genius
of our institutions, we solicit for it a calm
and candid judgment; and to any person desi-
rous of criticising our views, and who will meet
them with facts and arguments, our columns
shall be open.
We shall pursue the subject until satisfied
that every one is familiar with the state Of
things as it is and as it should be.
Mn. THAcKERAY, author Of ''Pendennis,"
will, it is said, visit this country early in the
autumn, to repeat his course Of lectures on the
English writers.-North Amer.
lo ,-;II L. z. e. 4loA