New-York tribune., 1871-01-03
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
SECRETARY cox IN THE NORTH AMERICAN
REVIEW.

article by the Secretary Of the Interior in the forth
coming number OF The worth American Rerier:
some forty years ago President OF the United States
first svoved and acted upon the discrimination 10 make
the use ~ governmental patronage means Of partisan
strife From that day 10 this hr cofrnptne narSnce Of
snch use OF the appointing power has been constantly
MdennS ressnIng out INTO new cirees nnt there = NO
mas escaped tho cont@eon OF the degrading hunt 10.
have suay iy5ss "a sno%n n Il at
seems 10 ne almost rniysIssy recognized ina our cyi
must be thoroughly reformed. unless we arc TO
admit that republican government I. failure IN
the Ordinary business administration of public affairs.
IL seems desirable that those who have had expert
ence In public ife without losing ath in the practicable
should he heard perhaps they could do val
ns6a work than to give without reserve the results OF
OF the means by which better csn be reached.
Let US begin at the fountainhead OF the dspensatiou
Of the President OF tho Usiisd ststeh
country, ard how his efficiency az the Executive is az
fected by this relation on the advent OF new admin
straon, We know that the capital swarms with crowds
OF ofceseekers applying for every imaginable place.
from dipcuiac position at foreign court 70 mes
with and credentials which experience
capacity, but which certify ON their lace that the
bearer Is one Of the most capable and deserving OF
ident were Of the most signal and decisive value.
The facility with which written reoommenGa-
tons procured leads to dupcity the part OF the
persons giving them and 1t IL no uncommon thing ior
who has written high eulOfum upon the character
note begging that his formal Endorsement may not DC re-
garded Of any weight. SO few Of those who Apply can
advisers advisers that it must remain choice among total
strangers, in which every effort 10 gain an insight
nenraaed Sy the conscousnes that the system itself
has destroyed the value OF testimony IN sucn cases no
his track ready to prove that he was the most u per
tery demorazed II he ia not instantly removed and his
place given to another. II month or two were All tnat
but he truth is w
OF tho President and all the members OF his cabinet
cry, during the whole term Of his Office and 10 forms
literally and absolutely the staple & Sf their %eFE y;
Congress do not escape SIMILAR burdens. Instead OF
studying the subjects OF legislation their tables are ied
letters from constituents seeking their influence 10
obtain place, and ranging tho whole gamut from obse
quiOus petition to insOlent and imperative demand
Leaving Washington, do not leave behind us the ap
pcaton nuisance Every Collector of Customs or Of In
tena Revenue every Assessor Postmaster and every
United aes Marshal, finds himself III gleaoer OF less
degree the object Of the same kind OF pressure.
A political difference between the Executive ana
Congress only increases the corruptiR eioihonus @ &
During Mr.. Johnson's administration, IL was no
tOrous that dupcy OF the most shameiGs tro9 one
end the Avenue and confirmation from the other
TO ono who was at all %I a .ne as
had invaded every department OF the administration,
and that maximum OF taxation was PrOduGing am nun IN
imum Of revenue The condition OF things was ono IN m
which honesty chimera and fraud was reaplng lts
harvest. 1t a game OF diamond cut diamond IN
which the two parties were using all their ana
renemens OF Intrigue to get The start OF eaeh ohcr IN
plundering the people under the shelter OF ~ a
TenureOf Office act which seemed to be skliif11ily 1iy
ADAPTED TO remove every trace of responsiolllty
from both the appointing and connrinlng powers
believe was exceptional in our history Because the
fact that such state OF things was possible Is tne
strongest proof that the system under which 1t existed
W6cn a President determines to use the patronage at
his disposal for personal party purpose results
practically in farming it out to Members OF Congress
The Influences most useful and most fornid-
able TO tho Executive are in Congress; AS
suming n purpose maintain what ia known
as party rule. through the usual subordlna-
ton Of rank and Importance IN the organlza-
ton the Congressman becomes almost inevitably the
most active and powerful " the dispensers OF patronage,
since he alone, OF the several departments OF the GOV
eminent is in immediate contact with the people, ana
has district to look after not too large TO permit gen.
era personal acquaintance win all tne more prOmneh.
and active citizens and politicians in it, The practice OF
using the gift OF Offices Tor selfish or merely partisan pur
poses could not and did not stop WIN the iresl,
dent. Tho Congressman who received MS quota OF
the patronage bad hs own ends to accomplish with II;
Iunnng down the scale of honor anI importance OF
places we find everywhere among self seeking men the
10 the power they have to peIpetuae
bribery and all the rest OF the oathsome catalogue OF
political vices, thicken as we deseen TIL We reach inc
trough" doing the baot-sung or tho cdTbstone fight.
ing tor his party From top to bottom he whole class OF
politicians wno avow the purpose of keeping up ''th9
profit bound together by the common interest or the
"ir>" t. keen themselves in ana to Keep All others out
this kind Of education comes the Willingness 10
nay assessments salaries without rebellion. Men OF
good character in subordinate places learn 10 say win
passive submission, MY fanny prtad depends upVn
my retaining my place, and We had better have the half
bread, asking questions Tor cOneclentes
sake TO what IS done with the rest ms Is what mas
made possible that vulgar ruffan, clothed with the
rank OF United states Marshal could stand at the pay
table Of CustOmHOuNe and see TO it that inc party
tax was ina1orby Gedufed occdT t9en fin aGa
The monthly salary of each clerk and inspec-
tor ho stepped up for his money and Iecepted ior
more than into his hands. This, too, Is what mas
it possible under another and better party admin
istratioI, for the pay officer IN the Captol TO INFORM
GSe SOcEed 60 much Of their salaries 6y order Of
party committee. Finally long course OF hl5 educa-
on That nenumes ,Le mora semsq mas n"1e f ~ - PSro ]
away even thin disguise which had before testified 10
Government employe, eyyug Ia form al income TAX mol
| known to the statuie-DOoh. ~,
worthless and incompetent dependants OF persons " Of
influence" who nave often received their pay without
or bureau could rot intruct them with tho simplest
clerical duty. This Las often extended to cases III winch
shielded aud protected by that persOnag 80 potential III
Washiu gt0n the member from this district" An m
stance NAV be taken the experience ~ the chief oil
an important bureau given ny himself lie had adVls
ion OF clerks of general fair character among whom were
heads of families Of high and religious morality
Into this division, by th" influence of prominent mem
Der OF Congress was introduced youDg man WHO pr
oncnsivcy Ohscene in his common conversation rs 10
outrage tine feelings Of every decent man. ana U fovoke
from his fellOw-cleTks general remOnstTance against
his being allowed to remain Tne head OF the bureau
recommended ' dismissal on the double ground OF gen
erl ucomuetoncy and gross immortality, The Congress
man. with full knowledge OF the tact opposed ana Ioi
some time succeeded in preventing the removal; and
and energetic instance or
thr chirf of bureau the fellow finally disposed Of II
Iit, o rr,uoyo him TO another bureau ana the ofli
cpT Who had procured II to be done abused and per
secuted Nv Inc "meulbCr" whose patronage had been
| uferfcrCd with. - A., ~,
what thrn is tho remcdyi II is to apply to the civil
service completely and thorougy, the PLAN plnclpes
az common bus ness administrations to separate the
nbc oiccs absolutely and forever from all avortism
nepotsn and influence" to declare patronage IN al
~, ToTus To be antrepublican and dangerous TO the
state 10 find and practice upon principle OF selection
for office hch shall give every citizen OF the country
a perfectly equal chance 10 prove his capacity and
atness fnr the public service and to obtain posi-
ton I'm IL when he has made the proof with thorough IN
deuendence OF President, Secretary, or COngressn
a1d fIy and solely because OF his citizenship ana ms
dimes n Is further 10 adopt IN the permanent eiyll
service a tenure office daring good behavior win the
hrn ~ rl.Ir m the hghest grades OF the routine serV