The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-12-27
Civil Seryise Reform.

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His prompt decision TO apply the new
rules to the Postmastership OF Philadel'
phia showed that he had determined to
enforce real reform, without fear or
favor. The criticism of Fred Douglass,
that "civil service reform places enc
mics of the Republican party, and even
avowed rebels. on an equal footing with
Woodworking Republicans, however COM
petent and honest" has drawn from
President Grant very full explanation
of his views on the whole subject of the
practical application of the new civil
service rules to appointments to office.
Upon the authority OF the Washington
RepubLicaG, President Grant believes
that:
"First of all, other things being equal.
the men who stood by the party should
be appointed in preference to those who
have been opposed TO it but TO protect
the public service there must be some
standard of requirement, and no man
who falls below it can be appointed,
merely to strengthen the party. There
is large class of persons who are en-
titled to Office on many grounds, such as
service in the late war, fidelity to Re-
publican principles, etc, but in addi'
ton to these qualifications they must
be put up to a certain standard OF ETH
cheney before, in the future, they can be
appointed. When they are thus quail
fed in an educational point, which is
not to be decided or determined on the
competitive plan. then they are in all
cases to get the preference. If the Gov
eminent has favors to give, they should,
in the opinion of the President, go to
the person who has stood by the Gov
eminent. provided he is fitted for the
position he may seek"
The good sense Of these views will
commend itself TO all those who are not
controlled by passion or prejudice.
That Cabinet should be selected from
the ranks of those who agree, generally,
with the President on questions of
public policy is universally admitted.
1t cannot be successfully denied that
heads of departments, equally with the
Cabinet, should alse be of the same
political faith. Below these grades,
other considerations must enter into
the mind of the President in making
appointments to the civil service. 1t is
a mistake to suppose that, in the depart
ments at Washington, there are not
now many clerks who disagree politi-
cally with the President and the domni-
nant party; not few of these have
been in the Government service from
fifteen to forty years; their political
views are never questioned they are
retained because Of their experience and
efficiency, and their tenure of office is
practically for life. The pay of clerks in
the departments is only moderate far
from sufficient to enrich the employe,
and can be no temptation to any man
who does not, from the start, propose to
devote his life to the thankless drudgery
of bookkeeping, and labor of a kindred
nature. No truer sentiment was uttered
during the late campaign than that OF
Senator Wilson, when he said " The
oficeholders of this country are an army
of beggars.n Ii is fact worthy of note
that the pay OF the officers in the civil
service departments of European Gov
ernments is much larger than in oul
own; this is conspicuously true of En-
gland. And yet the cost of living In the
United States is greater than in any
other country; so that the smaller pay
and larger expenses of our Government
employees reduce the vast ma ority o
them to a position next door to beggary
demonstrating the literal truth OF the
remark of the new Vice President
These facts also demonstrate, with equa
conclusiveness, the absurdity OF th'
charge banded over the country tina
the officeholders renominated Presiden
Grant and secured his reelection. 1t j
an undoubted fact that no class OF citl
zens of the same social and intellectual
grade exercise lees influence upon thei
fellow-countrymen in elections than tn
sixty thousand otiiceholders in tn
United States. However unjust 1t ma,
be, it is neverth eless true, that the me
ment a man accepts position undo
government he parts with moiety c
the good opinion of his friends an
neighEors.
The American people are so sell
reliant and confident of their ability 4
hew their way unaided to success an
fortune that they feel a certain amour
of contempt for the man who sur
renders his independence by subjectin
his chances 10 obtain livelihood, 10 Tia
whim of even the President of tn
United States After few hundreds c
the offices have been filled the residu
are exceedingly undesirable, yieldin
no profit. and comforting no honor upo
the appontees. But the offices are NJ
cessary TO the conduct OF the affairs {
the Government, and as they belong
nobody of right they should be so b.
slowed as TO conduce to the advance
ment of the practical efficiently OF Ia
civil service OF the country. How
accomplish this purpose is the questio
which has agitated Congress and tn
country for the last few years and tn
Civil Service Board, recommended an
appointed by President Grant, dratte
code of rules subjecting all applicant
to competitive examination. Thes
rules reauire in the applicant to pass a
examination under their provisions
liberal education, and, if rigidy e.
forced, will bar from office many me
practically fitted TO fill the position
sought perhaps far more efficiency tina
their competitors, and in this way ter
TO create an aristocracy Of otfic
holders. This should be avoided, N
only as inconsistent, but also as sur
in the end, to defeat the very intent
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