Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-04-26

The St Adams Messenger copies the despatch
to the Associated Press announcing the appoint
ment of Gen. Wells as Collector Of Customs for
Vermont, together with the new seventh rule Of
the civil service reform, and adds:
Now, we sre driven to one Of four conclusions
first that the above Washington despatch is not
true; or %, that If true an examination oil sub
ordinates has been held aud none hsye been
found qualified; or 90, that the President has
been oyerridden by influence and 20 conciuded
70 make this cSse an exception TO the rules or
4th, that he is, as HE enemies say, insincere IN
| proposing this civil service reform and does not
mean to abide by it
We do not see that The Messenger is necesasri-
y shut up to any of the conclusions of itE four
horned dilemm. There is smother alternative,
viz: that the proper arrangements a" for the
enforcement of these rules had not been made
when this appointment was. 1t will he re-
membered that the Presidents order, sccompa-
nying the new rules, resd as follows a: " The rec
concentrations as herewith published ere ap-
proved, and the provisions will be enforced, as
rapidly as the proper arrangements can be
made
Nowit is conceivable to Us. that with the nos.
earnest purpose TO &c, the rules into force at the
esrles. possible moment, some time would be
needed to make proper arrangements" in the
| Departments; to provide the necessary examin-
ing boards, the means whereby the heads Of de-
partments may ascertain the qualifications q
suboriins,es, AMI in general, to make definite
throu 1h1ut, tie details for an entire change Of
the whole system under which government ap-
pointments have been made for forty years psst
There II no doubt that the experiment of the re-
form vas damaged by the has;e with which the
Civil Service Commission submitted, and the
President pu, in fore, The FIRST Get Of rules They
had to be witdirawn SO once In trying again.
the President allows time for the proper arrange
ments to he made In tae meantime, Of course,
imDortsat fioes cannot lie vacant, sud sppoint-
ments to them are msIe il the OLD wsy, which =
nsijrity orour ns,ious. legislators still think the
bss; way.
Here. ;bon, is clearly possible alternative
No. 5; and We accept it because Is, the Washing
ton despstcn is DO doubt true q, no ezsmina-
ton Of su5orl.ustes mas been held 81, We 30
not believe the President Las seen ' overriisa -
ia this case; and 4h, we do not believe the p-esi-
dent 10 be iusiucers. Geo. Wlism Curtis says
the President i sincere Gen. Ilavey says the
same and Gen Garfield st-;el in ,ae House last
week
l have shown you tls. 81 began with the presi-
dent. AID that j, has UeeE followed up b. the
presi lent. bat. to msEe myself Jouhly sure,
called. last evening. or sac president himself,
and concerted with him On this matter Of civil
service I'm aud have h4l no impression
made Ola my mind from. any conversation with
any mau more strong OF more clear IEsn this,
that in AL this MISTER Of civil service reform the
president is not ouly sincere, but be is n earnest
Gen. Gnda,I. st Is srevn, would have made
this s,steuen. It'll. s.-oag.r, f lie had u7tbaen
called to order Eow wc consider Mr.. Curtis,
Gen. Hsvley, and Gen. Gul-I 60 Re three
honest, 5r;gl: ,al inieT=alaa, friends Of civil
service reform eud itt1ey arc satisfied with the
presidents pc si;i-n, un1a fall EuoElelze. we
oagh, to be.
We may ali tha- this is no, political az
pointmeat; Gen. Wells is ID mole u politician,
than John A. Arthur, CHEZ Deputy Collector,
whom The Messenger asys should have been pro-
motel t. FIJI the vacancy, sal vlo uaqre'tion-
ably has excellent qualifications for the Office.
He, Uhe Genar-9 IS simply gentleman Of b sh
personal clsra1ter AMI busire-s qualifications
with the kind Of reco.i " puaHc service ia
the vsr, vli,i roae Of us lthe -lcs. niger We
think, iao,alaiJ lsye been IN tae habit 81 main
tliuiag, ss9ali teis,e.-'zei IN appoi ltme1tf
% the civil se-y ice