The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-12-20

the President seem 70 regard every
complaint as direct personal injury to
themselves. In place Of facilitating the
prompt redress of grievances and the
correction of errors every possible delay
ard frivolous objection is interposed,
and all the resources Of red tapeism are
invoked to protect the delinquent Off.
ial against the honest merchant.
1t is time that all this should cease,
and the news that the President has re-
solved to enforce perfectly honest and
business.like administration of the laws,
has already gone far to inaugurate an
era of good feeling that is most refresh
ing after the recent whirl of political
excitement. He has only to persevere
in this policy in order to attain high
degree of popularity, and most hon.
orable place in history. 1t is true he
may invoke the enmity of the politi.
clans, who are already beginning to
hound against him for his independence.
But the people will rally round him in
proportion as he pcrseveres in the re.
form of abuses which have too long
been stain upon the American name
and character"
General Boynton the well known aud
reliable correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Gazette, has written letter, published
in recent issue Of that paper, giving a
full description of the character of the
competitive examination to which candi-
dates for clerkships in the Treasury
Department are subjected aud the sys.
tenn of marks which regulates the sand
ing Of applicants. He sums mp the
result as follows
Thus FAR about seven hundred
names have been placed upon the eligi.
bic list in the Treasury, and about
sixty five positions have been filled. OF
these fifteen were women and two were
colored men, The proportion Of the
latter passing has been fully as large as
among the whites IT first the heads
of bureaus were not, in all cases, dis.
posed to give much help. As with
other politicians, they wished to hold
fast to their power and the partial con-
troll they exercised over the patronage
OF their Offices.
Of late the board has sought to enlist
the different bureau chiefs by applying
to them 70 prepare questions of gep
cral character, and also such Us pertain
especially TO the duties of their respect
i've Offices. The result of this has been
to secure fair cooperation with the
board. The effect upon the entire de-
| partment has been Of most beneficial
character, since the clerks who look to
promotion are now constantly seeking
to make themselves more familiar with
its business. The system opens new
field for women While under the old
system they received but nine hundred
dollars, no matter what grade Of work
they might perform, they are now free
to compete for the twelve hundred dollar
places, and once first class clerks, they,
like others, can compete for any vacancy
which comes above them In this way
several have already reached third class,
or next to the highest positions"
This varied testimony shows at once
the need Of 'he reform, and the fact that
the present regulations, though they
may be imperfect, are already doing
much good in substituting practical efll-
cheney for political influence in the Sc
lection Of clerks in the executive de.
partments Of the Government. The
proper work of the Republicans in
Congress is TO improve and extend, in
stead Of impeding and embarrassing,
this salutary measure. The people will
watch the course Of their representatives,
upon this question, and those who fail
in their duty will te called to strict
account