The Portland daily press., 1868-11-24

The Republican party has SO far done All
that it has promised to do. 1t prohlseu ~
prevent the extension of slavery. IL mas uon'
so. 1t next promised to preserve the ln.esii'S
of the Union How faithfully II hep' In"'
pledge all the world knows. 1t promlseo W
abolish slavery and to secure the freedmen III
their civil and political rights, ana by the &C,
ton of a loyal Congress and the election OF
Grant and Colfax the consummatian of that
purpose is made secure.
One thing already promised-and it is not
probable that Republicans have done making
promises-remains partially unfulfilled. By
its platforms, the speeches of ITS public men
and the declarations OF its journalists the Re-
publican party has most solemnly pledged it
self to reduce the expenses of the government
and to make such expenditure is necessary
with the most scrupulous regard for economy
and integrity. Part fulfllment may ihdeeu
be Boosted. The appropriations ior the oiner-
emit denartments of the public service are
smaller each wear. A decrease of expenditure
has enabled Congress to reduce taxation and
relieve some branches of industry altogether
The Freedmen's Bureau will never ask for an
other dollar, as it goes out of existence in less
than forty days. We are told that the Secre
Secretary of the Treasury's estimates for the
fiscal year ending June 30th 1870 will be from
forty to fifty millions less than they were for
the present year. Basing his estimates upon
the average OF the last nine months he finds
that while the Navy demands thirty.five mil
lions this year, twenty millions will be amply
sufficient for next year. The new revenue law
is said TO work admirably, though it has not
yet gone fully into operation on account of the
unfortunate squabbles of Commissioner Roll
Inns and Secretary McCuloch in regard to the
appointment of supervisors. 1t $ anticipated
that tie Internal Revenue receipts for the cur
rent year will not fall much short OF one hun
d ed and ninety millions In some respects
therefore it may be claimed that the financial
management of the party has been wise and
successful.
But one thing more imperatively demands
attention and that is indicated in the follow
in2 Washington dispatch
Some of the heads of Bureaus, if not of De-
partmeDts, win, in their annual reports, rec
Ommend the principles of the Civil Service
bill of Mr.. Jenckes. Commissioner Foote of
the Patent Office, has already instituted an ex-
animation into the qualifications of his assis-
tants and employees on this basis. He APP
pointed a committee composed of men of ex-
perlence, who have prepared report which
shows deplorabe inefficiency in the office,
particularly among Assistant examiners, who
are described as, 10 many cases, without expe-
Renee, and destitute OF any element of kpowl-
edge essential to their business. This Com
mittee will recommend the discharge OF all
such and the retention or appointment otnone
but men thoroughly qualified. Commissioner
Rollins, of the Internal Revenue Bureau, is
known to favor the English Civil Service sys-
tie n in the appointment OF revenue officers,
and will probably recommend it in his forth
coming report.
A hundred times have we expressed the
opinion that nothing but the irresistible pres
sure of public opinion will ever carry Mr..
Jenckes' Civil Service bill through Congress.
The personal interest of every member is ad-
verse to the bill and this fact makes the meas
ure halt at every step. Its wisdom is SO obvi-
GUS and the evils il is intended to remedy are
so outrageous that one either in or out of
Congress, undertakes to offer verbal oEpos-
ton. 1t is not often that even difficulties in
respect to its details are suggested. No man |
wants to put himself ON record in opposition |
to freeing the public service from laundering
incompetents, abolishing the sale of offices for |
influence or gold and saving the peoples mon
ey by means of prudence and honesty in all |
departments and bureaus of the government. |
The bill would deprive Congressman of their
patronage, and they consequently call to their
aid the great moral force show net to do it, in
opposing it. Before they will move in the
matter to any purpose it will move in the mat
ter to any purpose it will be found necessary
to hold, public meetings and use such other
stimulants as the exigencies of the case may
demand