, 1870-12-11

On CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
The Secretary Of tho Treasury, speak
ing. in his annual report, of the proposed
reform in the civil sosvice system, points
ont, as pre,siling error, the sentiment
that, under republican government,
every man has right to an office, aud
he says that it is equally an error 10 rs
sume that Offices in the Treasury Dcpnr-
nsent are prizes winch the young men Of
the country may wisely seek. Ne have
70 doubt that tho Secretary is right in
estimating il as n misfortune for any
Young n,an having the capacity and fitness
for the duties Of clerk in the Treasury 10
accept such place with a view to per-
manency- As a genernl thing. such places
are poorly compensated when compared
with the like requirements in private en-
pioxment. Under the present system,
when the tenure is exclusively the poli.i-
cal favor of some person in power, ali az
pectation of pesmanency is visionary. It
is not strange, therefore, that the Secre-
tag should follow this by state
neut that many of the clerks
in his department are young
men who are preparing themselves, by
study, for other occupations, and Who, Ee-
ing without money, seek these offices as
means OF support. This is an official an
nouncenent Of the fact that, under the
preteuce Of fcompensating clerks for duties
performed in the Treasury Department,
the government is paying The board and
tuition OF regiment of students in the
medical, theological aud law schools of the
District Of Columbia. Instead Of having a
force Of clerks, it seems that the govern.
nlent has force of incompetent doctors,
lawyers. md divines, educating them at
the public expense. Wo have had some
recent disclosures as to the expense Of edu-
eating 1uidshipman at the Naval Acade-
,ny. by which it appears that the animal
cost of the institution, producing forty
graduates, is 1early S100, 900, or orer
ST., ,N0D a year ench. How much the gov
eminent is e1pending for the support aud
education OF these students. in the various
professional schools at Washington, might
lie Of interest. The Secretary prefers this
xYsten, to any other founded upon per
u,anent tenure for honesty. cnpacity, and
fitness At present, clerk holds Office
upon the nomination Of member of Con.
gr=ss. and is removed at the suggestion d
the same. If to this uncertainty of tenure
be added the suggestion that he avail him
self of the opportunity of the government
pension to study some profession, thert
y.an he hut little hope that the service thu!
constituted eau be either effective or dill
gent,
II, instead Of Icing preparatory schoo
FOR the education of clergymen, lawyers
and doctors, the Treasury Department va
IN Office for the discharge of public busi
ness, by clerks employed for that purpose
and selected for their competency, eac]
having the same assurance which othe
| persons employed in the same line Q
service in private institutions have, tin
10 long as be is faithful to his duty
proves competent, and gives satisfaction
| he will lie retained, it is more than prob,
bic that the efficiency of the service woul
lie greatly promoted. We are not impeacl
ing the value OF the services performed l.
the persons employed in the various dt
partments; they doubtless perform the
duty as well as any others holding ofit
under so precarioas tenure. The fa
that they use the opportunity to prepa1
themselves for some other employmel
when the time comes for their dismissa
exhibits merely their prudence. Our d
$o