Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-02-08
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY ., 1896.
Official Appoi"Imenss ss

The excellent report OF the Revenue
commission points ont au imperlecton
Of our civil service, which merits geneT-
al notice and consideration. II Is the
sustom Of making the appointment aud
continuance in office of certain officials
dependent solely on political Considera.
lions. II the office Ia one which requires
MO considerable amount of experience
or peculiar knowledge or skill for the
proper discharge of it's duties, no partc-
ulsr harm Is done by frequent changes
In its iucumbents But In this country
she appointments aud displscements of
officers, on purely political grounds, are
not confined to such cases. The Reve-
hue commission speak particularly with
reference 20 the customs and excise
branches of the revenue department.
and contrast their administration with
that OF like branches OF the European
govtrnments In s. way which Is not fa.
sorabIe TO this country. The commits
goners say concerning The customs sys-
hem of the United states, that there is
not, at this time, any Individual con
nected with this branch Of the revenue
who posseescs such an acquaintance
with the relations OF our customs sys-
ten 10 the trade and commerce OF our
county as ia possessed by the surcrvis-
sng officials OF the cuatoms departments
OF either Great Britain or France, aud,
what is more. there probably never will
b. any such. so Long as appointment
and continuance ia Office are made de-
pendent on political considerations.
They aOirm that as long as Che policy
prevails OF making the appointment, re-
sention and promotion Of officers of the
Yeveuue dependent on other circumstau-
stances than qualifications and good be
havior-a policy never adopted by any
private 6rm or corporation having &
dse regard to their own interests, aud
one entirely ignored by all the leading
Etates Of Europe thoroughly tffi p
eient and economical administration Of
the revenue, coupled with the education
OF a competent corps Of officials, cannot
reasonably be expected, They state as
examples of appointments under the
present system that inspectors OF spirits
have been appointed who were entirely
ignorant Of the hydrometer and disre-
garded its use; and inspectors of tobac-
90 who required to be instructed in the
the nature of the different varieties OF
this article when manufactured pre-
vious to entering upon the discharge of
their duties.
The commission are also informed
that efforts for the removal Of compe-
tent officers have, in some instances, un-
tOubtedly been made for the sole reason
tbat in tn faithful discharge of their
Duties they have interfered with the pri-
vate interests of wealthy and iu6uen-
tal individuals.
The estimates presented to the COM
mission Of the Losses experienced by the
government through frauds perpctrattd
IN connection with the New York Gus.
Som HOuse, range from &l2 900 600 to
5000 900 per annum. These frauds
sssse, or are rendered possible, in great
measure through the incompetence and
inexperieuce Of the government ON.
ploy ees.
They believe that if the Internal Rev.
enue law, as 1t now stands, we're thor
oughly executed. the receipts from it
would not fall short Of $500 900, 900 per
snnum. Aud their report says
The commission consider 1t inpera-
ave that some sction should be taken
Dy O"ngress on this subject, and that
tne necessities Of the country should
override any advantages that now may
accrue Ia the distribution OF patron
age In the revenue department of the
government. Good men, honest, compe-
Tent aud fncient, should be sought ont
And placed In the positions requiring
tact, skill and Judgment, and upon such
salaries ~ will enable them to live aud
continue honest. They should, more
over, hold their situations by such as
SURE" Tenure az IT, induce application
Rhd taithfulnesS. Thus would the gov.
-frn 'ne"t have the hem a. of experience,
everV YEAR growing more aud more val
pahIe."
TIE commissioners present the mat
RT fearltssll and thoroughly, aud their
ha'"hents should be txtmir ei, for ev-
Gy i"ss through iucumlettnt manage.
n'he "f the revenue must of course he
made up by 80 much additional taxa
tbn.
hAsuPtcruRI>o IN CIrIRs-The Sec