New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-15
THE WEEKLY REPUBLICAN
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Remarks Of Senator TrumbuII

Remarks Of Senator TrumbuIl.
In the United States Senate last Monday
Mr.. COnkling moved the consideration OF
the resolution directing the military com
mittee to inquire into the defalcation OF
Paymaster Hodge.
Mr. Trunlbuil suggested that he had bet
ter wait for action on HIS concur ent reso-
luton appointing special committee on
,retrenchment and civil service reform.
Mr. Wilson favored Mr.. Trumbull S
proposition.
MIR. Logan argued that the committee on
finance should Investigate the Hodge case.
Mr.. Trumbull moved TO substitute his re-
solution for Conkling's, and read from the
report of the Joint committee on retreuch-
ment and abuses in the New York custom
house, to show the necessity for revival of
that committee. That report showed that
the salaries of supernulnerary weighers
alone amounted to seventy-fve thousand
dollars year, and that by the warehousing
system in use importers We're robbed of i'm
mense sums annually, and that a great
many other kinds of plundering We're gong
on in the name Of the government. 1t was
generally believed throughout the country
that the patronage of the government was
used for mere partisan purposes, OK worse,
in many cases. for personal purposes, and
the time had come when it was necessary
to investigate in every department of
the government whether these things
were as charged. to. expose them if
they were so. and. if not, set the
public mind at rest by a statement
of the truth. In ollen times. removal from
subordinate government offices was OF rare
occurrence. There were only nine remov-
ais during the eight years OF Washington's
administration, and only ten during that of
the elder Adams. Even Jefferson. who,
when he came into power, fund offices
filed with his political adversaries. removed
only thirty-nine persons during his two
terms. Madison removed but five during
his eight years; Monroe only nine. and
John q. Adams only two. In those DAYS
men were appointed to office for their
fidelity to the constitution, their ability and
integrity and not for mere partisan reasons.
Jackson, however. made a great many re-
movals. and introduced the spols doe
tIine which has ever since been lesSening
the purity of civil service. Party organiza-
ton was necessary and proper. and when
party came into power. it ought, OF course.
to select for all Offices persons in harmony
with itself: but when il came to filing sub
ordinate aud merely ministerial offices, the
question should not be about mere party
connections, but about their fitness to per-
form the duties Of the Offices and their in
tcgrty. He fTrumbull did not believe in
using the patronage and power of the gov,
tor the purpose of perpetuating
power, but for the purpose OF promoting
measures best for the interest OF the whole
aud. therefore, he was in favor OF
filling subordinate government offices with
I he most upright and capable men who could
be found TO take them instead of with
mere partisans. OF late years. however.
the appointment to offices under the gov
had become not merely a party !
matter, but, in great many instances, ii |
personal matter Every Senator knew that |
the principal grounds upon which office |
was sought or obtained now We're that the |
was poor or unwell or had been |
unfortunate in business and wanted the |
to give him an Office by which !
he could retrieve his fortunes. or else upon
The ground that he had been very intiuen-
ial at some election. In this connection
Mr.. Irumbull read an extract from the tes-
ImOny OF a witness named Horton. exam
ned by the committee on retrenchment
"ho on being asked what influence had OBJ
aimed for him his position in the New York
'ustomhouse replied that it was his
.wn political status. Now. said Mr..
l'rumbuli. l want this committee for
he purpose of following up investi-
cations that have been made in re-
lard to this question of the use of patron
ge. ] want reform. and substantial
eform, OF the civil service. | believ@it
would be long step toward reform to pass
law dIscOnnectiDg the members of Con
,ress with appointments to office. l intro
uced bill some time ago to that effect. If
hat were law, so that no man Should be
pl,ointed to any office who had obtained a
from any member of Con
ress, it would have a salutary effect not
My upon applicants for office, but upon
MEMBERS Of Congress and heads of depart
lenfs; also the independence of members
I Congress can not be maintained when
hey have put themselves under obligations
br the appointment Of their fricndsto Office
nd the independence of heads Of depart
rents can not be maintained when they are
able to be assalled by members, unless
hey shoW them favors in the way Of ap-
ointments to Office. 1t is no unusual thing,
ven in this body, for appointments have
zen made; at least such things have
.enlred i'll former times. think there is
broad a general impression that there is
leat corruption in the public service. The
axe exposures III New York have awakened ,
pnbllc sentiment on this subject through
III the nation. But how was il possible for
to pelpetrate those trauds!. 1t
eyer would have been possible. except
pom this principle of par,>an>hip in Off I
IA! POSITIONS 10 you suppose that the
re people OF New York OF so many millions
dollars have go; those millions!
,ubt not they have considerable por- ;
on. hu, believe that they have had 10 :
iend many Of those millions 10 ke4i, 4;
lrm>clves in power year after year. The
one, has been paid to persons with politi- |
il "inilncncc>p paid for the packing of {
and carrying elections by ballot :
hifing. Let us separate the federal gov
from any such use OF It's patronage
L Us have q higher state of morals amonr
officials. Let lis elevate both official in
gritty and public authority by insisting :
At the public patronage of the country {
all no more be- used for the use of selfish :
d partisan purposes than the public money {
the treasury. Let us do this. and. with
c government purified. republican institu .
ms may be continued but. unless we can :
We purity in the. administration of the j
vernment, the prediction OF Clay. that the I
public would 90 down ii despo:isn
rse than that of Constantinonle, iuu-t. 9
,uer or later be fulfilled. ! c