New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-11
THE CIVIL SERTIcE CyDER GRAyr

THE CIVIL SERTICE UNDER GRiNT
The country expects from President Grant a
vigorous enforcement Of the laws, and especially
pure and honest collection of the revenues
1t is conceded that many, if not most of the
subordinate officers through whom these duties
are performed are corrupt, negligent or in
competent The question before Congress and
the country is, how may we strengthen the
hands of the incoming administration for every
good and wise purpose, without abandoning
any of those salutary checks on the abuse of
Executive power and patronage which, if
not to be feared under President Grant, may
return with all their bancful force under his
successor.
The Democratic party gained at the last cleo
ton thirty new Members of Congress. while
the Republicans gained only four, leaving the
Democrats net gain of twentysx Congress
sional Districts This indication of popular
opinion should neither be feared nor despised.
1t should teach us that the mere grayitation
toward change, for the sake of change cspe-
caly while heavy burdens of taxation are
pressing on the people, is so strong tendency
that Republican administration must be at
once bold and wise, ahead of the people and
yet with the people, if it would transmit its
power in 1873 To Republican successor, or if
it would not be shorn of its power in 1871 by
Democratic Congress. In any event ii is wholly
needless to testify our confidence in President
Grant by repeating wholesome laws which we
would wish restored in the event of the cleo
ton in 1872 of John Il. Hoffman or Robert L.
Lee. We do not regard either of these contin
gencies as probable, but it does not become
Republicans of States which cast so large vote
for lIOratiO Seymour against Gen. Grant as
most of the United States did at the late cleo
ton to deny that such disaster is possible.
The common sense of all men will concedc
that if we change the laws for the government
of Il President with every new President we
elect. we have no law at all, but only caprice
There will be strong and interested efforts
made, by those who will affect to be the special
friends Of President Grant to repeal the Ten
ure-of-O Office law, and perhaps to delay or pre-
vent the passage of the Civil Service bill, on
the plea that both Will hamper his freedom in
cleansing the Augean stables of our Revenue
departments from the incompetent and corrupt
officials who now pOllute them. We, too, de-
sire that President Grant shall have all the
power for these purposes which is needed, and
which can in practice be welded by Presl-
dent. But there is broad distinction between
the Presidents apparent and his real power
over these appointments. When, under Presi
dent Jefferson, we had but 800 Custom House
officers and 1000 Postmasters to vest in the
President the legal power of appointment was
TO give him the actual power. But, now that
we have over G0,OOO officers to be appointed
as the apparent power of the President over
these appointments increases, his actual power
owing to their mere number, decreases, and
they are practically EARNED out" to Senators
and Members of Congress. These control them
without any public or acknowledged sense of
responsibility or of official duty for which
their constituents can hold them re-
sponsible, and without tho sanctions OF
an official OATH but in their private capacity
as politicians, to buy private support. AS TO
the Civil Service bill, therefore the question is,
whether the Presidents own actual power will
bo Increased by maintaining in his pamo some