The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1871-04-05
The Civil Service Reform.

We give our readers some short ex-
tracts from an article in the last number
of the " h. ReUie,o, entitled "Civil
Service Reform" The article is written
by Hon. Jacob d. Cox, formerly Secre-
tary of Interior, he having been called
to that Office by General Grant upon his
advent to the Presidency.
He came into the Cabinet imbued with
the opinion that the Civil Service needed
reforming, and that as an honest officer
and true patriot, he was bound to carry
on the public work in the most efficient as
well as the most economical way. He
set himself, therefore, to the correcting OF
abuses, which were so fragrant as to pre-
clude all hope of Improvement of the
service, with the determination to make
but few removals from office. The same
party elected him that had elected his
predecessor, and most, if not all, those in
Office claimed to be good Republicans.
But 10000 hungry applicants at Wash
ington on the 4th of March, reinforced
by the thousands during the first weeks
of the Administration, created such a
pressure that when the few removals
deemed polite and necessary had been
made, it was found impossible to stop the
current. The party leaders demanded
changes, not so much for reason of polit-
zeal heresy of those in Office as from the
urgent clamors of their needy followers,
and as the Democrats were not in power,
it was a case of one wing of the Repub-
lean party devouring the other.
Secretary Cox attempted reform in his
Department by taking appointments into
his own hands; by instituting methods
for determining the competency and char
acter OF the applicants; and by refusing
to accept the dictation on Congressman or
others. He was making thorough work,
but the reformer was ahead of the times,
and the result was, that he was called
upon to desist, or retire from the Cabinet.
He chose the latter alternative.
The article therefore may be considered
as authoritative in its facts, and as exhib-
iting, from an interior standpoint, the
abuses and mischiefs that have crept into
the administration ofpublic affairs in the
L. S. from the adoption of the party doctri-
ne, to the victor belongs the spoils." So
long,as the nation was rich and prosperous,
this corruption and Encouragement did
not attract public attention, but the load
of a war debt, with its necessity of heavy
taxation, brings to light the enormous
cost to the nation of ITS civil service, as it
has been managed in the past. Mr..
Jenckes, in the House, and Mr.. Schurz,
in the Senate, have taken up this reform
in earnest, and have introduced bills to
do away with the abuses.
1t is probable that the Reform viii
come into prominence in the next Presi-
dental canvass, for the press, as well as
many public men, are declaring them
selves favorable to its immediate consider
alton. The article will amply repay pc
rusal, but our space viii permit of only
brief extracts relating to one or two of
the points discussed:
The mischiefs and abuses in the present sys-
TEN have become gradually known, until at length
it seems to be almost universally recognized that
our civil service, as it exists, is little better
than a nuisance that must be thoroughly re-
formed. unless we are to admit that Republican
government is failure in the ordinary business
administration of public affairs"
"Oa the advent of every administration. the
capital swarms with crowds Of ofice-seekers
applying for every imaginable place, from d.
plomatic position at foreign court, TO a messenger
ship in a department at home. They come armed
with recommendations and credentials which ex-
perience has proven 10 be worthless as evidences
Of character or capacity. but which certify on
their face. that the bearer is one Of the most ca
pable and deserving Of men-Rhose IabOrs in the