New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-20
A NEW CIVIL SERVICE REFORM DEMANDED

| A NEW CIVIL SERVICE REFORM DEMANDED.
THE PRESENT SYSTEM THE CAUSE or REPUBLI-
| CAN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN OFFICE
| THE TRUE THEORY.
| The following is the substance OF some re-
marks made by the Hon. James 5. Pike ON ClVh service
Reform before the Liberal Republican District Conyen-
| ton at Belfast Me-, July 30:
principal object have in view IN this present con
theory practice OF Congress politics That such
views the subject have long been maured anu often
expressed, and only avail myself OF the existing Slr
| practical efficacy. | think the true place 10 begin
genuine Civil Service Reform y IN the PRIMARY as
s eoSsi For principal abuse rd
Of lies in 70 the on G% nsr OF All the Fedo
poinments and 1t is claim they VIII never suIlenoet
wholly opposed to leaving the besOwment OF Federal
offices hands Of members Of Congress to be used
ends and to shape and control local politics and po
clans and TO operate as perpetual barrier AGAINST te
this power in a blind confidence OF its potency has
brought the Republican party 10 us Pfesen at do nat
threatens its overthrow am eonhdent s9at 90 10
Oyerstate whom that this 10 the cause Oh lne o9 "
tine S OF Of the Cnennat movement il is the
leading cause the and the rupture OF inc
IN ITSELF and mscheyOus In its effects am Ior re-
forming altogether In my own way have contributes
| accession OF Gen. Grant to power. BIT the eomDmed
action of Members of Congress have rendered an ih
ydual action and protest utterly nugatOry. The whole
machinery of the Republican party having under tns
system lae liIo tne anvVbnre eycept through
the radical action of bolt The Republican VINO mus
ms Tnsf@ qs e hed 10 S be- Completely JUSTIFIED in his
endeayors to accomplish his objects by whatever means
ana methods may he left open to him. MY Greco 49, you
shall not muzzle tine that treadeth out the corn
The plan which have proposed and adhere 10 10 re-
form these abuses Is to adopt the principle OF election IN
all Federal appointments Let the party ID power I'D s
various localities present candidate, Iary cnoSe era
ballot to al the places 10 when tney are a.
entitled Wherever and whenever an appointment 70
candidate instead of calling on the member OF Con:
gress The people are as competent 10 say VINO shi,
are TO choose Representatives and Senators and Govern
This is the true Civil Service Reform demshded ~
advancing Intelligence and increasing participation OF
the MOSES IN Ro o natronase inherited from the old
arstOcrauc governments and had RENTED tno wnos
| the people at large
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION A FAILURE.
Our Civil Service Reformers, who vanly propose COM
petitiye examinations cure for the evils OF the
existing system totally fail to meet tho demand OF the
ease Their ideas in the first place involve tho rejection
OF the doctrine Of rotation in Office which is violation
of the very law OF political life In the second place
their system is inadequate since 1t merely prOpOsess
method OF securing certain capacity for place. Bus
the American lack in office is not much capacity "A
honesty. And this, competitive examination doea
nothing to secure Again. reform that fails to recognize
| the demand which political triumph creates will In
eyaby a failure. For our history SHOWS ana reason
sustains the position tDdb
r does involve general change Of the Oceholders noe
only the principal ones-GoVernors senator's Iepreseh
atves in Congress- Foreign Ministers, and sueh-Dut OF
the smaller officers appointed throughout the conn
try And this is natural and reasonable Ana as tns
people become and more engaged in poltlcs. ana
more eager for the rewards Of political
il that be pOssibesO 1t Is certain the spread OF ts
sentiment will increase. The demands OF the political
actors will become wider as Wen as more lmpeaunv
The attempt resist this tendency Is not IN accord WIN
the snrit OF our institutions the manifest tendencies
of our times In word, rotation in Office Is to pc as
take the progress events instead of its being less ana
less it Is to be and more the habit OF our politics
tenures any body Of Eed and permanent eSed
Then under the system .. absolute abdcaton of the
appointing mower ~ tne Executive branch OF the Gov
ernment tie member Is the sole and irresponsible dis
penser OF offices in his district He makes and nnmakes
the Postmasters, Collectors OF Customs, Inspectors,
Deputies Collectors and assessors Of Internal Revenue
and every other local Cincla varying IN number and
character with the position of his district whether on
the sea. the lakes or wholly inland Then he has, be-
side, the appointment OF small army OF clerks In the
various departments, of candidates OF military and
a 9Se tont the stock IN trade. with whioa no
| starts on n,,s nominating expedition In
s saSs w ganfhhs eso s and Spd il
the field generally walks over the course whenever
is backed by affiliations with brother members and by toe
operations Of state and County ana Town ana 0 f1h
| thoughtful maneuvering in advance.
Congress is unit against Civil Service Reform in any
Curtis's system believing that the most inefficient Of
any that can be suggested but at heart is opposed to
the abolition Of the FranSng system and ii Is utterly
hostile TO any modification OF the caucus and convention
system, for without this machinery many OF It's members
would come to a sudden aud igno6e end OF course. all
such general statements must have thor EXCEPTIONS
! r.. the great body run in mold made by ono
machine and they don't want break the die. The Re
publican members consider themselves the party lts
officers its CAPTAINS, its orderly sergeans, and % con
siderable extent prlYates. We wish to reform tne
| whole thing. A., pu....
The following resolutions were offered by MI fiKe ana
| adopted unanimously by the Convenient
RESOLUTIONS.
Rod That Civil Service Reform 1 necessity OF the hme aud
thai the dem snd for longer safely POSTPONED
Resolved That Reform 10 be wholly compatible VIA
doctrine which we hold 10 DO esseH 70 punn
can admin siratio OF free institutions 49,
declares fu favor Of the adopos
OF principle the body Of executive appointments
candidates baos
among the people localities which the spponees
10
es That this Convention declares tina persons
the people capacity should during the period heJ arc 70
enploye their Official dulles and not under
function public leaders teachers In this wJ
ony believe possible TO avoid bringing the patronage OF ~
GoverrlaeBt eonaict with the freedom Of elections