New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-12

Iuc responsibility OF DONG So n0er tn
authority of said law, convened body 9
e gentlemen eminently qualified for the wOrl
to devise rules and regulations to effect tn
needed reform. Their labOrs are not We
} complete, but it is believed that they vii
, succeed in devising a plan which can b
adopted. to the great relief Of the executive
the heads of departments and members 0
{ Congress, and which will rebound to tn
tone and interest of the public service A
all events, the experiment shall have fai
trial
If the plan adopted by these gentlemen
should be that of an examining board,
established in Washington, to examin
into and pass upon the qualifications o
men that are recommended for fedora
service in States where they reside; W,
believe it will fail. Republican and Dem
ocratic custom and law have always con
coded the right of community to max,
choice of its public servants either di
rectly by ballot when elective OR by re
commentator when Office is conferred
by appointment. This good old custom
had its origin with the formation of the
| government. 1t is custom strictly in
accordance with the true principles OF
self government, and the people will not
relinquish it for any plan that may be de-
vised to take power out of their hands
10 establish an ''examing board in
Washington, the members of which are to
determine who are fit to hold Office, would
render It necessary for every community
to present candidates to this 'sexamininc
board for confirmation of their will be-
fore an appointment could be had. This
board will have the power to supervise
and defeat the will of the people,
1t may we'll be thought this plan. if
adopted, would become serious clog in
stead Of an advantage to any movement
looking to civil service reform. What
guarantee have the people that such a
tribunal would not, by a system 0: cor
rupt favoritism, recommend men for
office totally unfit and unknown to the
communities in which they are appointed
to serve? And how can an examining
board determine the competency of
man for an important public position:
They may pass upon his scholarship by
questions and examining
specimens of penmanship. etc. but as
scholars do not always make competent
public servants, an examining board"
could not determine as to qualifications
for office. These can only be determined
after man has performed the duties of
public Office 1t would be hard for the
examining board to tell whether man
would even make a good clerk in one of
the departments Of government at Wash |
ington. That question could be more
readily solved by placing the candidate
sor such position at work The Presi-
lent and heads of departments are much
better qualified to determine appoint
nents than any power that may be sub
for them in the shape of an sex
mining board Besides the need for
'ivil service reform is too urgent and
PRESSING to be delayed by experiments
resident and the Secretary of the Treas
Try to the condition of the federal civil
ervice in this city. The Customhouse
made the headquarters Of political
abal, Of which the collector of the Dor,
5 head centre two of the deputy collect
rs are State Senator's, and quite a num-
yer OF other Customhouse officials are
aelnbers Of the State Legislature. The
will soon be in session. and
hen these Customhouse official, Will leave
helr duties at the CustOmhouse to take
heir places in the Legislature, at a sea-
On Of the year when the interests of our
lerchants and the government demand
here should be no neglect. Here is a
nance for civil service reform that de-
lands immediate attention The evil has
xisted for many months, and the Pres-
ent has been repeatedly notified of its
zistence. He was made aware of the
ntrage that was committed last summer ,
y federal officials in using the Custom I
ouse as place for holding political j
invention, and of the further outrage
erpetrated by the same individuals in
alling in United States troops to assist
lem in packing the convention with their
wn friends, and excluding from it their
olitical opponents. This is the kind Of 7
vii service reform that the public inter
It demands should be done at once, and f
he President has it in his power to do it. L
ill he do it?