New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-09
4 DEMAND FOR REFORM.

No such significant and weighty petition has
for many years been presented to Congress as
that introduced, tho other day, by Senator
Fenton. The petitioners are influential cltl-
zens of the United States; they represent tho
business centers Of not less than twenty-five
States Of the Union, and are to be accepted
az exponents of public sentiment which pre-
walls In q section Of country reaching from
Maine to the Gulf from the Atlantic seaDOard
TO the Missouri The petition is extraordinary,
because it is the spontaneous, compact and earn
est utterance of substantial citizens who have
no concern in any Of the petty political squad
bles which disgrace Congress and the e1ecu-
tive authorities of the nation, but are chiefly
intent on securing such reforms in the framing
and administration of the laws as shall protect
and conserve the important interests Of COM
merce. manufactures, and home industry.
They ask that Congress shall give early and
earnest attention to the laws which govern ap-
pointments to Office and removals from it, sal
aries and perquisites of public officers, and seiz-
| ures Of private books and papers. They believe
that the old fashioned Jeffersonian test of hon.
esty, efficiency, and capablity should alone gov
ern appointments to office that removals from
| Office should be made only on proof or the
| inability of the officer to abide this test {;
that officials should be adequately paid in
| proportion to the value of the services rem
| dered; and that the seizure and examination
Of books and papers of merchants and manu-
facturers should be sparingly permitted by
| the law. Do these requests seem unreason-
| ablea The time will undoubtedly come when
IL will be considered marvellous and shame
full thing that 1t was ever necessary to ask
Congress to attempt the reformation now
demanded.
The pressing necessity for recognizing and
purifying the Civil Service is seen in the con-
dition Of affairs which has called into exist
ence numberless investigations and inquests
all over the Union. Look at the committees
of inquiry which are at this moment sitting in
many of the principal cities Of the Republic.
Corruption In the disposal of places, bribery
and matchmaking in legislative bodies, buy
ing the way to the United States Sem
ate, farming out influence" to the
highest bidder, granting monOpOlies and
illegal favors in the Customs service,
using official position to advance per-
sonal interests against the public welfare
these are some of the offenses which now
require the reorganization of Special Committees
of Congress and legislative bodies. This state
Of things Is alarming. It calls for reform {;
and it would be profoundly discouraging if
we had not abiding faith in the virtue of
the people. and their power to purify or
pull down the governing interest whenever
it proves unfaithful or careless. The petition
to which we have referred is not to be flouted
OF neglected; it's contents are condensation
of the average public opinion of the time ;
the demand, sooner or later, will be heard.
Messieurs congressman busy yourselves with
your small schemes md palter If you will
with o reformation which you lack the
courage or virtue to begin in earnest but
know that outside the goOdy company of men
who now demand hearing and action, is vast
constituency which has begun to lose patience
with your dilatory inefiicency.