The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-09
The Civil Service Reform.

american Reoieso, by the Hon. ]. D. Cox, lats
Secretary Of the Interior. Mr.. Cox write.
clearly and vigorously, expressing the ma
ture thoughts Of one who unites in himsel
the qualities of the practical statesman, witt
fervent desire for the welfare of the whole
country, and lasting faith in popular insti
tutions.
4 1t is universally recognized truth, Us
claimed by Mr.. Cox, that our civil service,
as now existing, is little better than nuis,
ance which must be abated, unless we de-
sire to be forced to the admission that Re-
publican government is a business failure.
He shows that the President, the members
of the Cabinet, and, to a great extent the
members Of Congress, are occupied most.oi
their time with the distribution Of public
offices, to the neglect Of the great interests
of the country. 1t is startling picture
The President overwhelmed with worthless,
because insincere, recommendations for
place. Senators and Representatives urging
the claims Of party followers at the depart
| ments, and returning to deny, privately,
| their public endorsements. All over the
land the swarm Of office-holders dis
pensing their subordinate patronage under
similar vicious influences. Supposing a case
that is not wholly imaginary, Mr.. Cox rep
resents o President determined to use his
patronage to secure his reelection, as prac-
ticing "a systematic bribery scarcely more
"disguised than the system Of corruption in
''troduced into the English Parliament under
''the Walpole Miuis III" and the same prin-
ciple, carried out through the lower grades
of dispensers Of patronage, brings ''the
'party to mean nothing but the organized
''body Of placemen."
From this common purpose to keep them
selves in favor, come those yet baser abuses,
against which Mr.. Cox contended in vain
the assessment OF Government employees by
20 committee of the party of purity and re-
''form;" the docking of the pay OF doorkeep-
ers, pages and folding-boys, and the super
vision OF United States Marshal over the
pay table of customhoase, to see that the
Government officer deducts the party tax
from the salary OF each clerk and inspector.
The subordinate. learns that he owes his
place to a power with which no sense of
duty to the public must be allowed to inter-
fere, and for whose interest he must do and
pay what he is bid, and no questions asked.
The committee which represents this power
has for its object Ito secure the reelection
ssof the present Congressman Of the party"
and is "a mutual insurance society for the
preservation Of place. machine for pre-
''ventibg free representation OF fthe people"
The law requiring preliminary examna-
ton of aspirants to Office, "from its very
"enactmcnt has been habitually disregard
sted, or the form OF an examination under it
'.made the veriest farce" The departments
are filed with incompetents, who regularly
draw their pay, while their work is done by
the few capable men who chance to be re-
tanned. Professional baseball players,
whose salaries the clubs which engage them
are unwilling or unable to pay, are provided
for as Government clerks by accommodate
ing Congressmen. And "the grossest and
'smost offensive immoralities" in Office have
been protected by the influence of members
OF Congress, to, whom the appointments
"belonged" by custom.
AIr. Cox's plan for remedying all these
evils is simple and sweeping. He would
have the public offices, separated absolutely
and forever from all favoritism and nepo-
tism, thrown open to every citizen Of the
whole country through competitive exam
ination. The entire civil service he would
conduct on plain business principles. The
efficiency and honesty Of the service should
be the supreme end in politics, and the
tenure OF Office should be made permanent
during good behavior, with the prospect Of
advancement by industry and devotion to
duty. Before the war in South Carolina there
was little inclination to remove nI5lic Off
Ger because there was change OF administra-
ton. Whatever the political complexion Of
the federal government, the conservative
temper Of the people prompted the desire
that the competent and trustworthy civil Off:
Ger should retap his place. During the past
tive years the system Of parceling out the
spoi,s has had full swing. Weknow, and feel,
the result.
Mr. Cox does not insist on an elaborate
scheme for recognizing the civil service,
but thinks that q direct expression by Con-
gress OF the views held in common by all
who desire to reform that service, and left to
the Executive to carry out in detail, would be
Sufficient. And as compensation for the
loss of power and dignity involved In the
loss OF its patronage" he advocates the ad-
mission of members of the Cabinet to the
floor Of each house Of Congress, with au-
thority to answer inquiries, and to take part
in debates upon subjects relating to their
own departments. This, he thinks, would
make the Executive as a whole "a ministry"
in the full sense with its proper access to,
and influence upon, the public opinion OF
tho no,1pfrv A c;po;Ior