Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-01-03
How il W OrkS

We fuj in 9 New York paper the l9i.ow-
jrs telegram from Washington
WHui>erox, December 2S.-Strous pres
sure Is brought 70 bear upon departmental
Gi :ers 70 induce them II fiji an clerical
vacancies before the civil service rulcs 20 in
CO effect Several prominent congressman
,h1 have long been known - advocates %
civil lerv.ce reform are among those who are
trying 70 secure The Immediate appointment
30 persons who DO not desire 90 undergo thu
street examination which viii BE- required
after the l>t Of January.
Cinsres-lnen are already MAILING com
plants that their recommendations are dis
regarded by Cabinet yffc rs N the maxim
d appointments, and dissatisfaction wit
civil service reform at this preliminary stag.
- begun b show itself
VINO the prominent Congressman are doe
nYs appear, bat we have noticed among tn,
iuIg lists 81 callers ur1n the President
during the last days of the year The uamo-
of well known administration senators. The
correspondent who gives the above informa-
{ on rs. however. nearlyright as to the view F
IF IN my persons who have talked civil ser
vice reform. when those persons ore Gale
upon to actually try the article. We could,
and can, see no good reason why the reform
should have been 90 long postponed, and
when tic President finally decided to give
trial, 10 was not clear why he shouIr
nave put of the day for 1t to 20 into effec
until january i'st. instead Of putting it in
force Immediately For all practical pui :
poses there was no need of a days DELAY
and it is not easy therefore TO get rid Of the
suspicion that the postponement was tor the
purpose Of allowing some days for acts q
favJritism 10 appointing and removing officers
u violation IF the spirit Of the proposed re
form However this may be, the timc ba.
now arrived, and the reform Is, we trust
started on its iair trial. aud the delay ha
evidently not been lous enough to suit
persons y no have hitherto had a control
greater or less patronage. We are not sur
prised that Congressman should be dissatisfe
tat their recommendations. are being dis
REGARDED, for the practice of allowing Con-
Lressnen 10 practically control many APP
poir tments has been 50 long in ezistenc,
ami has been regarded as such an important
part Of a CongTes=m4n's duties. both by Oh,
member and his constituents, that suddei
end 10 all that business could hardly fail 10
cause disturbance, and this termination 81
that sort OF work will create even moIe
CONSERVATION with the ofice-seeking portion
the people tIau with Congressman The
FREEMAN has frequently expressed the opin-
in that a greas deal Of the talk about civil
service reform was mere talk. intended to
make real reformers believe that something
was to be done, but really not meant to leaC
to any practical result. We have thougl
that some Of the political platforms and the
annual messages Of presidents on the subject
were mainly FOR the purpose Of keeping 10
az pearauces, and were not expected to bean
any actual frulr aud the course appoint
ments TO Office have taken until now has az
fJrded considerable warrant TO this opinion.
Quite likely the congressman referred to by
the telegram we have copied above. cannot
yet comprehend that it is possible officers are
TO be hereafter separated from politics and
fAvoritism, and to 20 solely upoa merit 4
refJrm 50 sweeping can hardly be made clear
to tho vision Of the active politician except
by actual experience, and the lirst facts Of