Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-05-10
Dailp Srsne.
Friday, May 10, 1872.


The problem Of Civil Service Reform
see 3 TO be a gardiAn knot which the wise
men ct Washington are utterly unao'e l"
unrAvel. The grea. trouble now existing
liz, in tho fac, that TOO much power is
placed in the hands of the unprinciPled and
avarieious Chief Magistrate and his political
.ssocia,ss Through this power he has
been enabled TO place in the best offices, his
relatives and those who by gold or political
ohioAnsry, have made themselves of some
service 10 his selfish ambition. Now, what
We want, and what necessity demands, is
the destruction Of this vast patronage which
the government has in its choice OF Office
holders, and, to secure men who are both
capable and faithful. II is Justice, that
the people should have q choice in the Sc
lection Of their public servants. Our post
masters, aud nearly all our civil office.
should be made eligible by the people
Who are better qualified to make the Sslec'
ton Of proper man for postmaster than
the community from which be will be
chosen. lis q well-knowu fact, that 9!
out Of 100 are appointed by the government
on the diotation Of Congressman, as a re-
ward for party feGlty. Such ihiuga ought
not 70 be. Il Is a shame. Cougressmen have
no more business 10 dictate Who shall be
postmasters IhAu they have Seleoimen, OF
school teachers, aud the whole business Of
their interference is a curse on the BODY
polite. When the constitution was adopted
there we're but 70 postmsstsrs in the couu
try and il was no Difficult, matter for officials
at Washington TO make = wise selection,
but, now when the number has increased &c
10000, with every prospect Of reaching
100000, the case is very different, and the
effect upon the country iS very pernicious
Il is making the country one monster gamb
ling bell-ruiniug her reputation abroad
ooTrupIiug her politics, and making he,
Offices but tools ia the hands Of ambition
officers 70 bolster up their ill.gOt,eu power
And wha, We have said of the post office, 4
equally applicable 70 other civil offices
Who can we better trust than the mer
chants Of New York, to make choice Of ih,
Collector for that port. IL is a noticeable
fact, that in any locality where the peopl,
have had their wishes consulted 10 regArt
70 the appointment Of a government officer
they are capable efficient men. We spssl
Of these offices, because they are nearer h
the people than many olhsrs-especisilTt h
Postmaster are now generally fllet
with men who are maAifestly incompetent
cod who, have been appointed for doinI
dirty work. All have more or less to d.
with the post office; and feel 81 interss
that il should be conducted in reference 4
the public veal, and no, to further partisan
ends. Isis lamenlabls fact, that on
post Offices are filed with men whose onl,
recommend is some service done to this OF
that congressman, and our custom house,
are 10 charge Of corrupt men, who have
either got them BY bribery or persona
fsAliy. Again the salary of custom house
officials ia TO large. We believe 10 paving
our public servants well, giving them g,io
pro quo, so Is TO secure the best talent, bu
as our custom houses are organized, a
present there is too much qujd for the quo