New-York tribune., 1872-05-08
REFORWING THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Mr.. +. V. Smalley, formerly an Ohio jour
nalist, has been for nearly seven years the
Clerk of the Military Committee of the House
of Representatives. During vacation OF
Congress, q year and half ago, he was en-
gagged to furnish some correspondence for
THE TRIBUNE from the South. The work
was so satisfactory. that wo gladly availed
ourselves, on his return to Washington, of
whatever service his official duties left him
time to render, and would at any time
have welcomed more. Gen. John CO.
burn of Indiana, the Chairman of the
Military Committee, has now done us a
favor by releasing Mr.. Smalley from his
official duties, for the assigned reason that the
Editor of The TRIBUNE was nominated by the
Cincinnati Convention. THE TRIBUNE tenders
Gen. Coburn thanks. We can pay Mr.. Smalley
better salary than Congress did; and we
shall have the benefit of his full time, which
we have all along wanted. So far, therefore,
as private interests are concerned we have
every reason for welcoming, not one for regret
ting Gen. COburn's action. In what we have
to add of the light it sheds on the professed
devotion of the Administration to Civil Service
Reform, we shall speak without the least personal
But these are matters for the public to con-
slider. On what possible grounds can Gen. Co.
burn or his friends Justify to themselves so
gross a violation of the principles they have all
this Winter pretended to favorq For seven
years this gentleman has fulfilled without
blame the duties of Clerk to an important
Committee. He is better fitted to perform
them now than ever before, by his added ma
turity and experience. lie is dismissed, ille-
gally let it be observed, by Mr.. Co
burn, for reason too whimsical 20
be seriously considered-because the Editor Of
this paper has been nominated for high pub
lie office. 1t is not Mr.. Snalley's connection
with this paper which is objected to; that
has continued more than year with the full
knowledge Of the Committee. This valuable
and irreproachable cmploy6 is dismissed with
ont word of warning, simply because con-
vention of citizens have made nomination
which is not agreeable to MIR. Coblrn.
One such act of puerile caprice throws more
light upon the real intentions of the Admin
istration phalanx in Congress in regard to
Civil Service Reform than wilderness of
speeches and resolutions. A short time ago
we were treated to the edifying spectacle OF
Gen. Garfield trying to convince the House OF
Representatives of the sincerity OF Gen. Grant
in the work of Civil Service Reform, and
Gen. Grants most intimate friends and parti-
sans denouncing and ridiculing the movement
and insisting that the President was no more
in earnest about it than they were. This act
of Coburn's is striking instance of that de-
praved and cynical disregard for even the ap-
pearance of public conscience which has be-
come of late so dangerous a characteristic Of
the Administration. They regard the public
Offices within their reach as their own property,
to be used as they please. The tone
of official morality has fallen 30 low
that nothing but venality is considered
"off color" Doubtless, Mr.. Coburn thinks he
has done fine thing because he gratitied his
spite, and made no money, in depriving his
Committee of its competent and experienced
Clerk We think there are some millions of
Americans, who have nothing to hope or fear
from parties, who take different view of the
nature of public officers and of the RESPONSE
bility of the appointing power. But there
must be radical changes in Congress and else
where before these better views can be made
to prevail.