Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-04-05
Civil Service Reform-Taking the
Alarm.

OAEA 6SN 'eNN .
Alarm.
The New York Mercantile Journal so thorough
" expresses our sentiments in its remarks on
Civil Service Reform, that we give them below
without abridgemcnt. After closely observing
the aspirations cf men for positions that they |
are totally incapable of filing, the most skeP- /
tical observer will admi. that Reform from the
lowest to the highest branches Of the Civil Ser
vice is the one thing ueedfal at this time:
We trust our readers. and all honest, thinking |
menthroughout the country are watching close
fY the progress of af, ,irs in regard to the civil
service reform. No ore who relliE,d the situa- |
tion expected for a moment that such measure |
could be carried through without opposition. |
The " "spoiIs Z" doctrine had been too long preV'
alent tide revenue and honors Of the country |
had been too often divided as booty among the |
victors to allow politicians willingly to reIii"
qrish the prize. How else could the political
parties be Fun? From what other source were
''ths siuews Of war to be furnished How
could Congressman purchase the votes requisite |
fnr their next election II there were to be no more
Custom House pickings or Post Office appoint |
ments, or a thousand other Offices within eIecu- |
tive control, which they could promise TO their
friends? No; this great corruption fund must |
remain while these gentlemen continue to look |
upon The country ss existing only to serve them |
and the party to which they belong. Nobndy |
was surprised, therefore, at the opposition
which awaited the effort to abolish this sys- |
tenn Of bribery, nor at the character Of the ar
guments used in assailng the measure. Rid |
icule and slang about uncivil Reform, "rhe |
Service Humbug," and the like, were the great
staple. Newspapers paraded it. No more com |
pls.e example could be given OF the exact char
ucter and force Of the argument than when |
SSArP, Of fIlinOis, stood up in the Honse Of Rep |
rasentativss, " with his thumb on his nose and
his fingers twirling" at the people, while like
mi in led members laughed aud applauded.
But, meantime. the people are OF different
mind. They have become snmewh hat too earI-
est to laugh at servants who are thus swapping |
their fingers in the peoples face. The present
year is uufavorable for appreciating these gyra-
ting arguments. The people in too many places
have paid the taxes and seen how the money |
g,es to reimburse election expenses, and enrich |
dishonest officials. So they haYe begun-And
on'y begun themselves to speak. The bus- |
mass men are first in order; not as claiming pre-
;.,o INT h.iro mora sccustonsd IN Ynress
= 80 -. ,.o,a ,oId
tner MINUS ie" u"1e 'so We "e'' 'o'D
t1at the first iustallment Of the strongest petition
ever received, in uont of the wealth aud stand |
ing Of its signers in the business world, was
presented in the Senate by New York Senator,
while similar petitions were presented in the
Senate BY New York Senator, while similar
petitious were presented in the House by sever
different members. The same petition has since
been followed from every direction. 1t earnest
iy requests Congress to give their earliest and
thorough attention to what the petitioners deem
to be ''soms of the most vital questions OF the
day, viz, the laws and regulations affecting an
governing the following subjects
"First. appointments to and removals from
public c6lee'' ,;.:,.. .S ;.,: NJ
.Jt:s ot;cs,,
"Third. Seizures Of prirafs books and pa
pers."
L9ese Ps!luoners, sy ~ rs from narson,I
nar;oros orJ observntion know. that in all
,h,se denartment, gross and iniquitous prac-
ticss ara the Inevitable result of the various ex-
i.iinG systems.
"The considerations which should alone gov
arm annnintments 10 nublic offices are eapabiity,
sS;r;rncy. and honesty.
Rem6yai from Office should occur solely up
on proof of incapaBility, ,eeisney. or aisharesty
q The salaries of prJlie officers Should be com
nnensurate with the analty of the men requires
and the duties to be performed
AN peromisites and moieties to officers should
No ahnlished as the inevitable effect of either is
n demoraIize the service, corrupt its servants, :"
10.
1,..i,, ,,,o p,,.;do,, ,vban
lhis 'ooAs "Ae en""'''"s "'V ''s''Vu' 49,
he urgently asks OF Congress help aud support
In deyisiug and carrying out reform In the
SO, 81 oDro;,,uarts n o1ics as we'll as
S'''", VI 1pP', = ..1 -
when he urges change OF 'he law iu Ioaaiu F"
requisites and moieties OF public officers, on
al. Ground that - IL bas always seemed 10 him
Wv svs,or, rrs, work nernicions.
tha' tne PreSeus y SS''"' -'4'' -
iyi holding out Inducements !" oe lax W TUE
scrutiny Of goods entered, to enable the officers
6nalIv n make large Seizures" More inAuen.
~, -, ai,n,J =. 80 rat;,i,ns
tia' names 'h"u a'0 e'ku0u ~ s"0'
thEoGEhouP the country cannot be fonn,'i In
Hsw England, they come from Boston, Portla nd,
~. C.Ia;s worohastar prov,denca Snrirg
bangor N",' c',-, =,
HELD i hasH"ru' Dew pr,sn,an'h npo,tIsSo,o.a% 8,