The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-12-20
The Var ON CipH SerUice Referm-Ns
Practical Workings.
From the Detroit Advertiser and Tribune

and mercenary politicians who look upon
politics only as system of Office getting,
and regard Presidential election as
chiefly important in its effect upon the
distribution of " the spoils,' should
have profound adherence of any sys
TEN of Civil Service Reform. Nobody
is surprised therefore that, although the
Republican party in National conven-
tion distinctly pledged itself to reform
of the Civil Service, and the campaign
has been fought and won upon that
pledge, many Republicans Of the baser
sort are making war upon the present
system of Civil Service Reform They
would be equally opposed to any system
which subordinates the selfish claims of
partisan workers to the efficiency and
honesty of the public service. The
present Civil Service regulations, of
course, have their defects--all new ex-
periments in the direction of progress
must-but the principal defect in them
is that the changes which they prescribe
are not sufficiently radical aud compre'
hensive.
However, the working of even the
present system, incomplete as it is, has
been eminently satisfactory, and shows
a marked improvement over the old
principle for the distribution of Offices
the JacksOnian motto To the vic
tors belong the spoils,' n principle
which has done more than all other in-
huences combined for the corruption and
Generalization of our politics. Take
two instances OF late occurrence In a
single city. The Chicago Journol calls
attention to the fact that under the
rules of the civil service now in opera
ton, two vacancies, created by the res
ignations of the Chief Clerk of Post
Office, aud the Deputy Collector of the
port have been filled by promotions from
the experienced and tested officers al
ready employed, instead Of by the ap
pointment OF men utterly without
knowledge or qualification for the work
of the position, aud whose only recon-
mendatou would be that they were good
political wre.workers and active parti
sans. Commenting upon this the Jour
nal well says;
Now, under the Cd system, Post
master Eastman might have gone ont
side the office to FIJI the vacancy by the
selection of some useful ward bum
mer, or favoritc of some political mag
nate. The question of actual ftnes,
would not have been taken into account
90 consult the good of the service
rather than the wishes of the politi
clans, would have made bis own decapi
tation at az early day sure But the
civil service system being in operation
( the Postmaster promoted the oftlcla
next in rank, and the vacancy thus ere
atcd is also filed by promotion, and Sc
on down. The resignation of the Chiet
Clerk gave an opportunity to reward
some half a dozen members Of the force
for their fidelity in the service, and tha
opportunity has been improved. If q
new man comes in through that vacan
cy, he will begin at the bottom of thc
ladder, and not, as under the old sys
TEN, at the top of it.
The New York BaHetta, Il iourua
especially devoted TO the commercial in
terests of New y ork city, makes all EN-
phatic appeal for reform in the ciyi
service, and points the way to a practl
cal reform, which, without tests or ex
aminations, simply requires the restora
tion of executive responsibility aud tx
clusion Of local political interference, il
an editorial from which we extrac. tn
following:
" The question Of Civil Service Re
form, which is a mere sentimental ide
/ Though a highly popular one) to til
people of the United States generally
is a matter of vital interest and import
ance to the business men and merchant
of the city of New York Tie bulk O
the Federal revenue is collected in thi
city, and here the Treasury movement
are inaugurated which a. ct 20 a create
or less degree the busiu S. Of the who'll
country. 1t is, therefore, a matter o
the higaest importance that The official
who represent the United 6tates Gov
ernment in this city should be familia
with business routine; with n cape
for the prompt and efficient discharge o
business, and above all, that they shoul,
be honest and above suspicion a fail
ure in these grand essentials, or in an,
one of them, involves the most serious
consequences Errors or delays in val
uation may involve the loss of an entir,
seasons trade to an importer In fact
only those persons who are personally
cognizant Of the routine of Custom
House and Treasury Department bust
ness can have any idea Of the annoy
ances and expenses to which New \ Yorl
merchants are exposed by the incompe
tence of the Federal officials in this city
"There is not only pressing neces
sity for reform in New York, but to be
effective, the source of power in Wash
inpton must first be purified. 1t is al.