Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-23
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

The discussion in the press and Congress
over the proposed manner of reforming the
civil service has not, in our judgment, been
fair on either side. The friends of reform
have aggravated the abuses of the service
and the opponents of reform have mis-
represented the plans by which the late
commission propose to secure more effi-
cient and permanent civil service. In re-
ference to the character of the evils to be
remedied, we say now as we have said
heretofore, that while we believe there are
serious abuses in the service, we yet think
they are overestimated. These abuses have
existed ever since Mr.. Marcy in the United
States Senate advocated the confirmation
of Mr.. Van Buren, as Minister to the Court
of st. James upon the ground that ''tO
the victor belong the spOils." The whole
theory of our civil service changed at that
time and with that change in the very
nature of things abuses followed.
These evils have grown or diminished
according to the standard of integrity fix
ed by the different administrations, but
they have ever since the time mentioned
existed to some extent. But we believe
Senators Morton and Sherman were war
ranted in their challenge to show i'll the
civil service of any government in Europe,
one more efficient or less expensive in pro-
portion to the number of officials employed
and the amount of money collected and
disbursed, than that of the United States.
While this is true we nevertheless think
that what evils do exist should be cured.
We therefore hope that the President will
give the plan matured by the eminent
board of commissioners, of which Mr..
Curtis was chairman, fair trial.
1t is very certain that the rules at first
proposed will he modified, in fact they
have already been modified We do not
now propose to consider the details of
these plans. The main points assailed are
lhat they establish permant civil service
not suited to our institutions; that the ex-
aminations will give the educated and
wealthy the advantage in securing official
positions and that they are destructive of
party organizations.
In reference to the first point it may be
said in reply that the evil anticipated is
entirely within the control of Congress.
We favor giving the President unlimited
control appointments now vested in him
by law. AS to the tenure of Office, that is
entirely within the control of Congress,
where a tenure is not fixed in the Consti-
tuition. The argument of Mr.. Webster on
this point in the Senate debate of 1885 is to
our minds conclusive.
The President has by law the power ofap-
pointment and he should have also the re-
sponsibility for removals. So long as the
people know who to hold accountable for
the character of their civil service, and so
long as Congress has the authority to pre-
scribe the term of officers, there can be no
danger to our institutions from too sta
BILE tenure. We need just enough stabili-
ty in our offices to secure efficiency and in
tegrity in the discharge of duty, and we
can certainly secure this without invading
the prerogatives of the executive depart
ment.
The next objection that the competitive
examinations give the advantages to the
educated and wealthy is that of the demo-
gogue. 1t is too soon now to urge any
such objections for the nature of the exam
nations applicants are required to sustain is
not yet fixed. We have too much respect
for the commission to treat seriously the
criticism that candidates for public posi-
ton are expected to have a scholarly or
collegiate training. The examinations
should of course depend upon the charac-
ter of the place to be filled. \ mere copy
ing clerk ought not to stand the same eX-
animation required of an accountant in
the Treasury or clerk in the Department
of State, handling foreign documents.
Men should be expected to be able to
do well and honestly the particular duties
required and SO far from giving the highly
educated or wealthy the preference-qual-
if1cations necessary for the position be-
ing equal, the person needing help either
because of infrmities or misfortunes in
life should have the preference. These are
matters easily arranged by an honest, ca
pable Administration, and wehave so much
confidence in the present one that we do
not propose to treat seriously the criticism
that it will enforce in this matter rules un-
reasonable or impracticable. In all these
respects, the Government should act as
near as possible upon the principles con-
trolling business men in like matters.
Those politicians who argue against the
reform as proposed because it is destructive
of party organizations are certainly hon
est and blunt in their criticism. AS our
government is organized parties are neces-
sary and do good. We need not control
them corruptly or passionately, but we
need the restraints and interest in public
affairs they create. Theory is one thing
and practice is another. 1t is very natural
that. in the selection of officers, the APP