The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-19
The Civil Service
NJ Y. Tribune.

w T
In the early part of Mr.. Lincoln's admins
tration one of the humorous journals of New
York published what is called an account of
q Cabinet meeting" "There has been great
discussion in the Cabinet" " it said, "upon the
question of the nomination of a Postmaster
for frontier town of Maine. There are two
claimants, Smith and Jones. Smith demands
the Office because he furnished lanterns for
the 'Wide-Awakes' during the canvass. Jones
brings testimony to show that he contributed
the oil for the lanterns. The delicate ques-
tion involved has given President Lincoln
much anxiety, and, after several stormy meet
ings of the Cabinet, he is still unable to decide
whether the Office should be given to the pro-
prietor of the lanterns or the contributor of the
OIL" This satire gives an idea of the trou-
bles that surrounded Mr.. Lincoln when he
came into Office. He never was free from
them, indeed. Much of the care and oppres-
sion and WEAKNESS that came over him were
caused by his yielding to the clamorous en-
treaties Of Office beggars who filed his parlors,
and crowded his lobbies, and obtained an easy
surrender of his precious time.
Mr.. Jenokes, in his speech at the University
building, on Saturday evening, cited another
illustration. After sketching the character OF
the civil service under the early Presidents of
the United States, he dwelt upon the change
made by President Jackson, and quoted from
tences:-' Some of the consequences of this
change are the ollowing:-Formerly the Gov
eminent was served by the elite of the country.
1t is now served to considerable extent by
its refuse. How has this reversal taken place
in the system Because men of intelligence,
virtue, and ability desire to establish their
business on basis of psrmanency. The fact
that man holds offce"-this was in 1899
'under the Government, implies that he is
one of three characters, namely; an adven-
turer, an incompetent person, or scoun-
drel." We hesitate to apply a criticism
so sweeping to the men now in pub
lie service, but one fact is evident. The
Government of the United States is served by
a lower class Of men than those employed in
any other country, or in any branch of private
business In nearly all the departments there
are young men from college, or from good
home influences, who have character and
industry. But they soon fly from Office. They
find little inducement to remain. They can
only hold their positions by neglscting their
business and giving time to politics. They
see promotion awarded to noisy, eager, incom-
petent men, who have no merit but partisan
devotion to this Senator or that Representa-
tive. No future remains but to rust away
and be forgotten in an obscure bureau, with a
small salary, and children coming to them,
and the responsibilities of life crowding upon
their shoulders, without any corresponding
advancement. II there were any system by
which these young men could be kept
i'll the public service and gradually
promoted; if they could feel that their labors
would be rewarded by the Government as the
labors of their fellows are rewarded by private
employers, then good men would be induced
to remain in the national employment, and a
feeling of esprit de corps would surround its
departments, which is now limited to the
army and the navy. In the army the young
lieutenant, or even the worthy soldier, feels
that no unsurmountable obstacle to his ad
vancement exists, provided he is worthy o
| advancement. Time and service will probably
bring to him honors as great as those which
rest upon the brows Of his commanding Off
| GERS. The consequence is, that as a class the
officers of the army and the navy are superior
while, on the other hand, the men who fill
our civil service are in many cases adven
turers, frequently of doubtful character and il
limited instances worthy and competent.
We had hoped that the Civil Tenure. of -ofic
bill would have been 30 amended as to saw
the principle which gives public employmen
to those who are worthy. The repeal of tn
bill by the House we regret. We pay no at
tention to the speculations of journals lik
the Herald and the Times, that its repeal wa
a triumph of Conservatism" over "radi
calsm," and that it was demanded by Genera
Grant. We believe the House to be governe
by higher considerations, and we should los
much of our confidence in General Grant
we believed that he would expect any Con
gTess to hastily change well-considere
policy. Those who advise our new Presiden
most wisely are the men who say to him that
If he would take bonds for the success of hi
administration, he will counsel the passag
of measure which will elevate th
public service. The passage of Mr.. Jencke.
bill will, we are sure, do much toward
that result. OF the details of his bill We hav
nothing to say. 1t may be wise to create
board, making the Vice President the head
it, or itmay be- wise TO ignore the Vice Pres
, dency and appoint an independent Board
Commissioners. What should be done, how
ever, is to purify the civil emplOyments. W
see the result of inefficient service in the in
, perfect collection of taxes, the constantly n
curing frauds upon the revenue, the loss
. millions to the Treasury, the conversion
great places like the Custom House int
political hospitals for decsyed politician
, and the general sentiment in the minds of th
people that TO be employed in the collection
| the revenue is to be engaged in discreditab
occupation. In fact, an honorable man car
, not seriously contemplate entering publ
Office without regret.
We are, therefore, for the passage of NJ
) Jenckes' bill, or Tor bill embodyipg its priI
cipal ideas. We trust the House will cons
7 der this measure broadly, promptly, and il
J trepidly, and that it will be deferred by L
: considerations but those Of public welfar
: General Grants administration will be su
1 cess if the men who serve him are worthy
q lie can only find worthy men by making 1t a
i object for them to serve the Government. i
: can best do that by inducing Congress to ell
a vate the standard of public employment, o
3 falling in Congress, to take upOu himself thl