The New York herald., 1872-12-17


TO raK EOFToR or TuE HERALD
"ctvii service REFORM" as a theory. is suggestive
ofreIief for all the evils connected with the ap-
pcnfments to ofice In all the civil departments OF
the government. IL is the great panscea for ex-
istng political abuses Most Presidential elections
have promised important reforms. The last inven-
uon OF poaiticians was 'civil service REFORM" IL
originated with Senators in Congress, who by their
uihgent enorts In procuring appointments for
relatives ana friends, generally In utter disregard
oil ntness. did much to render 'scvi service re-
form" necessary and popular. The din raised in
Congress. and by the "lberal republican" and
democratic Journals bewildcrcd and begued the
people 40 generally that the republican party was
constrained TO acceptit It as an issue In the recent
Presidential canvass But now that this theory is
about TO be tested, however plausible as theory.
u viii be found utterly impractcable Or, ifit be
carried into arbitrary effect II will occasion abuses
hr greater than any we have hitherto expe-
rienced.
This phase OF "civil service" was inaugurated
by aud exists only in despotic and m0narchical
governments. In England IL enables the arist0cracy
10 establish their dependent relatives in permanent
aud profitable offices, sinecures and pensions
but AZ IL inconsistent with and repugnant to a
republican form OF government, the fundamental
principle OF which places all the Offices Of the gov
crment within the reach OF all Its citizens. The
attempt 10 close the doors and avenues which lead
to civil service appointments against ninety-nine
out OF every one hundred electors Will certainly
ana signally fail. To give the idea expression In
another form. any attempt TO create privileged
Class or TO build up an 0nice-h0lding aristocracy
win prove discreditably abortiyc. During the first
thirty or forty years. after the inaugura.
tion OF q school ut West Point for the educa.
ton OF young men who were to become the
officers OF our regular army, that institution cx-
cited strong popular jealousy In and out oil Con-
gress. On several occasions the House OF Repre-.
sentatives all but refused the annual Wost Point
appropriation. Indeed, but for the opportune oc.
currcncc OF the Mexican war, where the value OF
Gated, the school in which Grant and Sherman,
Thomas, sheridan, &c were educated, might
have ceased 10 exist But what Is indispensable
TO the army and navy ID quite unnecessary to the
"civil service" Of the government. The pro-
granlme now attempted to be carried out Is
scarcely less absurd than one which should render
all citizens ineligible for s'civil service" who had
not received college education. And yet nothing
rraduates of COLLEGES To- be- dnG amsn@ te
drones and imbeciles OF society. No stronger illus
traton OF the fatality OF the civil service reform"
Is needed than the fact that neither the late Dean
Richmond nor Commodore Vanderbilt could pass
an examination Tor subordinate Office In the Gus
II all the people have not right to compete for
the honors and emoluments OF office republican
institutions are sham and fraud. The senators
and journals that have howled longest and loud
est in favor Of civil service reform" would be the
last to adopt 1t II they had obtained power. In
deed no man, when he comes practically to deal
with the question, fail to discover the mpossl-
bility OF adhering to It, The great burden OF the
cry against Gran Grant was na ne aaa hed
honest men. And yet the effect Of now applying
this 'civil service" doctrine will be to keep all
definite period. It converts the departments at
Washington, the custom houses and post offices In
our large cses INTO n close as tn pras
dent, instead or being at liberty to cast his eye over
the Union to find the most capable and deserving
many instances this would work well enough, for
1t is not unfrequently the case that subordinate,
titled to have often n sach cases
cancies .occasioned by the death or resignation
seward. to u' appoint tGe late william l.
fsgT ss sa s lad su and non
estly as chief clerk jnd assistant for twenty-five
years. was capable, and although not an active
politician, had always voted the whig and repub.
can tickets. When the late Preston King died
urged the appointment Of his deputy Mr.. Clinch
most Of the duties under nalf dozen administra-
tions, knew that his appointment would be &C
% sons, again in Wi when General Dix resigned the Naval
Once urged the appointment OF his capable and
meritorious deputy. MI. Franklin. These, how.
and will not work. II the ''cvi service" doctrine
had obtained at the close OF the rebellion what
woald have been the fate OF several thousand
wounded Union soldiers who in reward for their
patriotism and galantry, are now usefuily EN-
pl0yed IN our custom houses and post offices
torily OF the first 'cvt service" question arising
since his reelection, in obedience to the new
policy and against the politicians, merchants,
bankers &C., OF Philadelphia, simply because the
deputy whom he appointed postmaster was gen.
tleman OF acknowledged ability and integrity,
whose personal claims and fitness were generally
recognized but he will very soon encounter OBJ
stacles that will render obedience to the "civil
service" regulation quite impossible. For ex-
ample:-lt is generally understood that Secretary
4th March. 1.-THE President Is to be bound by "cv
service reform" Secretary Fsh's successor will be
Mr.. Hunter, the very capable and merltOrious
chief clerk Of the department., who has dis
charged these duties for mere than forty
years. Nor does the rule rest here; for President
limited In his selection to the subordinates in
the different departments Of the federal govern
ment. II the "civ service reform' should be es
tablished result OF the Presidential election of
1872, may we not fairly assume the Procrustean phi
losophy as the rule by which to determine the
qualifications for "civil service in 1915. And the
sooner these facts are comprehended by Congress-
by heads OF departments and by the President him
self, the easier 1t will be to return to common
sense view Of their duties and responsibilities. 1t
doctrine or rotation in oflce," and yet there is no
sounder principle applicable TO the question. Why,
II the fathers Of our country and the trainers OF
its constitution did not intend to establish the
principle Of rotation In offlce," were the
terms OF President and Vice President fixed at four
years. But every rule has It's limitations Very
competent and faithful public officers should not