New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-09
CIVIL SERVICE MESSAGE
THE NEW ErICr FIXING THE TENURE TOR PRES
ENT FEDERAL OFFICIALS.

Of March T. 1871 to devise rules and regulations for the
purpose Of reforming the Cvilseryce informs Congress
that these rules been adopted and will go int
effect the first day Of January 1874" This important
edict constituting IL does the executive law OF the
land should be clearly understood in order that law
abiding peSpIs may a2 gnOrsRty invade the rights OF
the privileged class which Il creates
1t has long been the dream OF patriotic men 70 see
reform Civil Service which should make merit ana
fitness weigh than devotion 20 the fortunes OF am
bilious individuals in the selection Of our public servants
The gross seshness which has organized into factions
and sought Office by pushing its chosen leaders into the
places which Offices could be distributed has so
standard Of character in public life that the
word politician formerly used to designate one versed In
the science of government ia now often term OF re-
proach Amopg those most prominent in calling atten
tiOn the under which the country suffers IN
this regard and certainly the sbest' has been
George ". Curtis who was placed at the head OF the
eminent gentlemen alluded to, because Of his known
sympathy with the strong current of public opinion on
the subject aud to whose brain and pen we are I'M
doubedy chiefly indebted for the essay and accompany
ing rules and regulations, the adoption OF which to-day
naugurates radical change in the mode OF admins
tering the Government OF the nation.
In the essay or report. We are favored with pre-
sentation by Mr. Curtis his best STYLE Of all the
woes which grow out Of the system OF filling the public
offceswhich has prevailed by common consent as ne
SAYS since 1882 Among other evils 20 which IL has led
informed that proved character and tested ca
pacy are not essential the Civil Service" and that
when partisan sympathy or activity take precedence
Of ability. industry and special fitness as QUALIFICATIONS
for the inferior offices Of the Government why the IN
feror Offices alone H. it impossible that the service
should have the efficiency and purity which economical
administration requires. and which the country has
right to demand" The wsspoTn VS. nads 81 R2ts2a
age TO infueSS canGses and conventions is graphically
shown and elections it is asserted becoming des-
perate conflict TO obtain all the Offices with their lawful
salaries aud all their unlawful chances Officials
are represented being sOrely tempted 10 act dlshon-
esty they not Of staying long IN their
places Honorable men, who enter the service with
the sncerest purpose OF doing their duty are forced
to profess what they do not believe in obedience u
To he presumed to rule Of action which cOmpels
honorable men" TO hang 10 office when called upon
20 relinquish either honor office. Offices bestowed az
a reward for political service are allowed 10 remain
filed by ineicency actual dishonesty, after these
are shown 10 exist Indeed. told that under the
4vstem which has prevailed Until yesterday " there
il the strongest temptation 20 conceal corrup-
ton" Certainly even Senator schurz has not charged
or minated more than IL here stated and compacenty
ndorsed by the President The humility Of the confess
sion Is doubtless intended an earnest Of repentance
for the sin. The Senate Investigating committee mig
well avoid 'the expense Of sending Tor persons anu
papers and adopt the Commissioners report as cover,
ing IN general me subjects concerning Whcn n{ thor
To inquire while senators Trumbul, schurZ, ana others
could from it, frame indictment and ndorse thereon
the plea OF guilty contained IN what Is sau anu ie' u
said in the Presidents accompanying message -, g..
Upon the subject Of recommendation 70 once oy sem
etors and Representatives II Is adnhted WIN Zen
reluctance that there are indeed many honorabe men
active in politics, whose motives are beyond slSpcson
but these rare specimens are 80. a. ~
generally careless and uniformed a. 70 In3oe tney
recommend. The climax seems to be reached however
when "A crisis like the following arrives;
Even il the appointing power declares that II PREFERS
certain person peculiarly fitted for the place, the ap
ponment Is nevertheless demanded or contested as Oh
right by the friends OF other persons II me appOhthg
power persists and the place is filled as PREFERS ~ Is
only after long and annoying resistance 10 pressure
Ruf should be the head Of department VINO mas some
measure Congress for which he wishes every vote
that he procure there Is powerful Temp @ me-
WELD the appointment TO secure the vote mus tne eva
system increases official temptation and makes honesty
difficult and II Is not surprising tna d nl wac ~
introduced into Congress making II peha oHehse LOT
members OF Congress to mportune the appointing power
Truly fearful test to which subject the Romanlike
virtue an average Cabinet Minister. he desires 10 APP
point lit 10 clerkshp, and cannot DO so, because
by appointing unfit dishonest one at the request OF
q wicked Congressman, he secure-prOcure II the
Comm ssioners' wOrd-a vote for bill in Congress. Mr.
Curtis should have told us under what code OF political
morals a member of the Executive Department, under
% government, socts votes for legislative
measures In any other form than by recommendations
officially addressed 10 the Judgment Of Congress, and
tb Fvacnv Department in anv of its branches 10 in
wade the Capitol FOR the purpose Of procuring legislation
for members of the legislative branch 70 seek con-
troll NJ executives appOintmentsi 1t is not q good
answer 10 say that Of great moment may have
been recommended by the Executive, ana De penang
The rghtgu influence OF the Executive in such cases
ceases with the recommendation. The failure 10 have
such recommendations needed will not render " honesty
difficult" with any who is fit TO sit IN the Executive
chair or around the council board OF the President II
need, measures fail the people will hold their repre-
srntayes In Congress alone responsible. II such views
/ a. have been quoted prevail II ought TO De
| surprising that a bill has not been introduced
| into Congress maxim II a penal ofense for Cab
| inef ministers 10 importune members OF Congress
for votes IL is what remarkable tnat so severe
censor ne Mr. Chris sees harm only in leaving offices
within reach Of the heads OF Departments, and none
bs Of the two Houses for the purpose of engineering
| Loo. al
wholly imaginary where " the head OF department y
! every vote that he procure" and seems totally
unconscious Of any improperly in anything
| menfs He would trust a Minister capable OF
offering brides but would take from him the material
for bribery in order that honesty" would be less DIFF
fcult" am, as an American citizen ashamed 10 read
such words official report from high an author
seeing the Cabinet OF Gen. Grant called in question as
being Of such weak and corrupt material and
to learn that he considers the situation pre-.
scented In the above quotation as offering "a powerful
temptation" to corruption The friends OF good govern.
ment will anXOusly watch 70 see whether the chief Of
the OF Civil Service Commissioners invested with
well nigh supreme power, wiz maintain his integrity
while Congress Is egslang upon the subject OF Civil
Service Reform He thinks that power In the matter OF
filling offices teDpts the Executive TO perous intrigue
Let hope that he is made OF sterner stun than he
have considered those with whom he associated
principally during his summer and Autumn labors:
The character OF the latest editorials in Hdpers Weekly
lished Court Journal and serve TO snow that Their
writer has not in his official capacity intended 70 bete
the Administration but has only exposed his own rather
exaggerated ideas the difficulty OF being dOnest
He thinks very good man may yield 10 q very
small temptation 80 do what he considers very
mean and wicked thing His constant prayer
should be, :" lead not into temptation"
AS 1.-THE Administrators share in all
the fearful abuses OF patronage do not find by the
report that it is worth mentioning. All wrongs seem now
to traceabe TO other source than the only
from which they had generally been supposed TO pro-
coed Perhaps Presidents and Ministers seem less the
enemies Of the people looks them the
hOgany and through glass, while those who seek offices
for themselves or friends are OF BAD enough TO do
anything, and will serve good enough victims to ap-
pease the popular indignation which at first avowed
against those who improperly bestowed patronage,
rather than against those who received il.
The report drawing the dreadful picture OF what