New-York tribune., 1871-12-26
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
DEFECTS OF THE NEW SYSTEM.
fYROM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OP THB TRIBrNI

fpROM RBGULAR CORRESPONDENT OP THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-It is in the Govern
ment departments this city that hears the mott
thorough and judicous criticism q the plan OF
Civil Service reform prepared by Mr.. George williSm
Curtis and his fellow Commissioners The bureau off,
GERS and the experienced and Intelligent clerks from
long familiarity with the defects and evils Of the presons
system the most sincere, earnest, and well informed
advocates OF reform than any class Of Government
employees. Their opinion Of tho new system pro-
posed by the Commission Is almost unanimously that 10
excellent goes, but that stops half way
1t reforms in the appointment OF public o
GERS but not in their removal They agree that faith
fully carried out the new system will insure tho
appointment Of good men to Office without re-
gard to their political opinions or the strength
Of their political backing" but they say that this
Is but half the work that must be accomplished
II the Civil Service reform Is to be effective IN good
when In Office m is be protected against re-
inoval without Tho tenure OF oice must DEPEND
upon the industry efficiency and good behavior Of ia"
appointce and not upon the aprce OF the head OF de-
partment.
Next to political influence in controlling appoint
ments." said an old Treasury clerk, recently,
Ia discussing this subject, "the greatest e't
connected withl the Civil Service is tc uncertain
tenure Of office No knows that he may not any day
fnd yellow envelope his desk with note inside say
ing, Your services longer required ii" may b"
honest capable and experienced but he is Lahc 10 T
discharged without and without warning IN IL"
formula OF words that Is used In dlsmisSH rascal
Who accepts bribcs, or worthless fellow WHO -
drunk all the time. I know that the Commission
think that indirectly their plan will max pretty
secure tenure Of office FOR capable officials r Tie fact
that there will be political influence brOu :ht 20 bear
upon the appointing power to procure the cha'" o.
in order TO make place for another, and To
this extent the system will work we'll But dinis al,
are always for the purpose Of creating vacancy,
and perhaps III majority OF Secretary cIn
dismiss clerk because bis politics are not agree
able the powers that bc just well when the new
system gets TO working now. True, 1t would not DO
known who would be his successor, hut tbs would mako
difference. The fact that removals could be made on
account Of Objectionable politics would make Ill officials
subscrvient, politically, to their superors who pos
sessed the power of removal rs at present. and the Gov
eIumcnt departments would be just much political
machines they are. What We waEi
is prohibition against removal without cause.
the Advisory Board that is to supervise the wOk.t
of the new system have power OF judging Of the sui
hciency Of alleged causes for removal When clerk os
other official IL dismissed II he believes that his dismissal
made without good reason give him the right to ar
peal the Board and let the Board require of the officer
made the removal that h. shall specify t" reason.
for his action. and their validity Men removed
Tor wortessncs misconduct would never ask to CONN
before the Board, and probably few eases wond ever
come before it, because II IT given this appcat" jr.
rsdciou heads Of departments, and other oht ~ hay
ing the power OF renewal would exercise with pr"r
motives for the gooi OF the service alone"
Bureau officer in Of the Departments discussing,
the report Of the Commission said lately: dont be-
lievc get good Civil Service system nntl tho
tenure VI office is fixed during good behavior Here ~
where the Commissioners have left their work tncon-
plctc. They seem to have devised scheme for getting
good men in the lower grades. and making promotions
depend upon merit that 1t would be hard 10 improve
upon, you protect the public officers against
the whs OF their superors and the hostility Of pl!
ticias IL YOU 10 keep of experience. skill ant
integrity in place. The reform the Commi 'sion pr.
poses might be In fan operation and the rules sub
mitted enacted into law. AMI still there v0u!t
be- far as sre, nothing 10 prevent Democrats
President, should be elected next year, from turn
ing out every officer Of the Goyernm, nt Tie could
make clean sweep without infringing the rules OF tho
Commission, because those rules make no limitation
the power OF removal. There is another important
point. Permanency OF employment goes further t.
good service than high salaries n the clerks In
my bureau in their places officers
there would no trouble in getting the hrSt
for the present rates OF pay: and, with u" cfUconu
clerks that pernanency OF employment would attract 10
the service, the work in all the departments could b"
done with two-thirds the present force
The uncertain tenure Of Office is complained of ~ ail
Government employees OF the chkf evils of tho
present Civil Service systcm-or want OF system. To
experience Of hundreds is Ike that Of gentleman wLp
states his case follows: 81 have been A clerk ia tha
Interior Department for nine years and have
my position secure enough Ia warrant me in buying
little place and keeping house. When came her, tho
war going and no knew how 1t would ord;
then had Andy johnson for four years, and as E,-
publican, felt that might be spotted n they cat
1t. any day. When Grant came in ! should havi
been all right for four years. but the force iIs
somo OF the offices reduced, and we cx,
pccted It would be I'm ours. Then my mrinb,
OF Congress went out and bad no political
influence to keep in So il has happened that toa
nine years have lived with my wife and chill In board.
ing houses and saved nothing II had knpwn wien I
came here that should stay long, might havu
owned comfortable house, bought with the money
could have saved by living in home OF my Soma
clerks buy houses know but it is great risk. Ond
OF my friends bad just got settled in Lous' he hrd
made payment on, when nc WI. removed. He lo>t
all nc paid, and sold his furniture for onc-hd OF it-
cost"
The hope s expressed among the clerks ana other De.
partmen and Bureau officers that when Congress
to consider the report OF the Commissioners and In
pliance with the Presidents recommendation, cu"cb
it into law, as 1t Is believed will be done. the dcsc,
In these rules will be rcmcdied and
put upon tho power Of removal
VIRGINIA CCSTOM-HOCSE.
TO the EdttOr or The Tribune.
SIR: As the theory of Reform in tue Civil
Service adopted Iy the President some lustIa-
tious Of the practical workings Of Government patronage
In the South may not be- without interest reader
The small custOn district Of Yorktown Va, will az
instance to begin WITH Under the administrations OF
p,,cha and he AZ