The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-27
sPIRxx or xHH PRESS.
Editorial Opinions OF the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph,
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.


Prom the ~ Y. Sun
A Joint resolution has been reported in the
Senate respecting the manner of making ap-
peintments to Office in the civil service. It
authorizes the President to prescribe such
rules and regulations for the admission of
persons to the civil service of the United
States as in his judgment will best promote
the efficiency thereof, and ascertain the fit
ness of each candidate in respect to age,
health, character, knowledge, and ability.
The President is also authorized to employ
suitable persons to conduct inquiries upon
these subjects, and to establish regulations
for the conduct of those who may receive ap-
pointments He is likewise empowered to
prescribe fees to be paid by all persons
applying for appointments, except such
classes of honorably discharged soldiers as
he may exempt. These fees are to be ap-
piled to pay the expenses of making such in
luiries.
This joint resolution is very good, and we
trust that it will be passed by both houses,
and become one of the laws of the land. We
hope also that, in devising the proposed
rules and regulations, the President will pay
due attention to two or three principles which
are of primary Importance, but which, un-
less his attention should be earnestly called
to the subject, might by accident be over
looked and omitted. These principles are
briefly as follows
1. All relations of the President, or of any
member of his family, or of his wife's family,
should be considered as fit, qualified, and
suitable for any branch of the public service,
and should be regarded as perfectly entitled
to any place or places which they may prefer
or desire, in preference to all other persons.
No examination whatever should be required
from any relation of the President, or from
any relation of any of his relations In order
20 avoid oaaidaDto hnUauar oil ann1iaoptc
for Office who expect to be appointed by rea-
son of their relationship to the President, or
to any member of his or his wife's family,
should be required to file documentary evil
dence that they are in reality related to him
or them either by birth or marriage or spi-
ritual affinity. Relations should be preferred
in proportion to the nearness of their rela-
tionship.
II. Persons who give presents to the Presi-
dent should be entitled to appointments with
out examination or any other evidence that
they are qualified beyond proof of the fact
that they have given presnts So far as pos-
sible the offices conferred should be proper
toned to the magnitude and value of the
presents given. This class of applicants
should always have the preference next after
the relations of the President or of his or Of
his wifes relations.
III. AS evidence of knowledge, ability, and
character, testimony may be submitted that
the applicant has succeeded in making money
out of any confidential position he may have
previously held as, for instance, if he has
been railway director, by betraying the
interests of the stockholders, or if be has
been employed as legal adviser, by selling
his clients to the opposite parties. Proofs Of
talent and success in this direction should be
regarded as of the first consequence, and as
commencing the candidate to the most valu-
able and confidential Offices
~ No person not relation of the Presi-
dent, or who has not given him presents,
should be appointed to any Office unless he
belongs to the temperance society.
BY observing these fundamental princi-
pies, and giving them due prominence and
weight in the rules and regulations to be
prescribed, there can be no doubt that the
President will soon be able to bring about a
thorough reform in the civil service, and to
elevate it to a wholesome and satisfactory
condition