New-York tribune., 1869-03-17
pFTRENcBvEyr MUST BE HAD.

Washington reports atlTm the existence OF
persistent pressure upon Heads of De
partments by Members of Congress for places
wherewith to reward needy constituents. In
so far as these demands involve merely the
supersedure of ins by outs we do not regret
it. Rotation in office" is generally whole
some, even to those who disrelish it. No De-
| partment clerk who is worth his salt ought to
wish to remain in Office more than four years
at furthest. Let young, active, energetic work
ers be appointed to clerkships; let each under
stand that he is to be retained but four years,
and be admOnished to save at least one
third of his earnings from the outset; let him
go out with the AdmnistratiOnthat appointed
him, having saved the means wherewith to
start in some private business (settling and
working a quarteT-sectiOn of public land, if he
can do no better); and let the next brood fol-
low in the footsteps of its predecessor. We
believe this best for service and servants alike:
for, though there are doubtless few clerks
and higher officers in the departments whose
rare capacity or special knowledge it would be
difficult to replace, yet so many tend to be.
come fossils the moment they fancy themselves
fixtures, that the public interest would be de-
cidedly promoted 10y general clearing-out as
often as once in four years. We do not object,
therefore, to wholesale changes we only insist
that the Secretaries shall be allowed ample
time to familiarize themselves with tho ma
chinery Of their respective Departments and
the merits of their subordinates before they
are required to make them.
But more urgent even than this is the re-
quirement that the number of clerical and other
Government employees shall be greatly reduced.
That number was necessarily swelled by the
exigencies Of War; it has since been reduced,
but not nearly so much as it should be. Half
the Assistant Assessors, Collectors, &c, of In
ternal Revenue that were absolutely required
when we had taxes on everything, from q
baby's first garment to an old mans sbTOud,
ought now to suffice, since more than three
fourths of the articles subjected to War Taxes
have been wholly relieved from impost. Yet
we know that, where Assessors and Collectors
have discharged subordinates under general
orders from the Treasury to retrench, Members
of Congress have inteTceded at Washington
and obtained their restoration. This must come
to a full stop, and the wheel must revolvo in
the opposite direction. Three per cent. at fur
thest should assess and collect the Internal
Revenue, and we hope it will soon be made to
do so.
AS to the Customs, we judge that twenty-five
per cent. of the present cost IF their collection
ought to be saved, and that this City should
contribute her full quota toward the reduction.
1t ought not to cost nearly one per cent. Of
the money collected here to collect it, but it
does. If we could only dispel tho prevalent
Illusion that the public service is political
aims house, wherein the lame and the halt,
and the paralytic, are to be fed and fattened
at the public cost, the needed reform would
be easy. But almost every one has a brother,
or cousin, OF son, or nephew who does MT seem
10 know how to take care Of himself, hence
is presumed admirably calculated to oficate as
q guardian of the public interests and welfare.
" To the victors belong the spoils of the van
"quished," is the accepted maxim. and we sub
NIT, only protesting that it is mot the People
and their Treasury who are rightfuIly van
pushed Let the winning party have It's pap
but let no dime OF it be lavished on q hungry
partisan who cannot, or does not, give value
received for every dime he fobs, and let tire
fewest officers that can do the work suffice
and, if one must be retained OF appointed who
can do but half-work let him DO content with
half-pay.
1t Is the crying evil Of our day that working
for the public pays better, or is supposed to
pay better, than working fog yourself Tie
farmers or the mechanics son would rather
be an Inspector of Customs or Policeman than
inherit bis fathers business and follow 1t. The
soil is neglected aud often deserted, because
those who should cultivate it fancy they can
do better as tide-waiters or post office clerks
The laws and the policy which beguile them
into that deluSiOn have very much to answer
for.
We pray the Secretary Of tho Treasury aud