Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-22
The Civil Service Problem,

Editor Star:-From all quarters seem to come
evidences that the new plan of "CiviI Service
Reform" fails to secuD the popular appreciation
necessary to its success. The debate a couple
OF days since i'm the Senate was but an expression
there, Of the nearly unanimous verdict of cit,
ana country: among the press, and in th.
departments themselves. The illustrated paper,
have taken it up, and made it the subject o.
some Of their drollest pictures.
II is the opinion of shrewd judges, who have
and In Official life, that there can he no pla,
devised which will be better than the existing
one, y Judicioas Sly administered We are not sure
but this last point gives the hint Of the reai
trouble. As to political parties, they mxst exist
in the United States. Patronage inevitably fol
lows. Our institutions are q composite; unpre-
cedently good upon the whole, but not without
some things which are to be tolerated, not APP
The attempt to rest the appointment of a,
least five to eight thousand Washington clerks
having their peculiar duties in the Treasury, In
terror, War, Navy and State Departments, and
OF the great army OF little andlarge pOstmasters,
custom house officers, and internal revenue EN-
Ployes, scattered over our American area of mil
cally chronological, chemical, historical. O,
dainty grammatical or geographical acquire
ments-or rather on the accumulatiOns and re-
eepuvity OF their memory In those helds-would
. nation deservedly noted for its discrimination
and practical common sense.
We 90 nor, however, blame the effort foi
Civil Service Reform" because we like the
spirit of inquiry into evils and deficiencies every
where, and the effort to ameliOrate them. We
think 1t arose out Of highly c0mmendable mo-
tves in the President, and that excellent Seer
tary whs is said to be its only champion in tn.
Cabinet. But the selection OF the members OF
the commission was not a good one. The head
and front Of it was and Is fair authority in
technical literary questions, but has no knowl-
edge, by experience or otherwise, of department,
life. The time will come when the long repor,
OF the commission, and the proposed regulations
will be pointed to as an unprecedented Joke, or
as proof that men only make middle when
interfering with what they do not understand
We say then that as far as at present an
pears the theory Of appointment to ofice must
IN all Likelihood remain and be practically
operated on the same as hitherto. 1t is INSOFAR
ably connected with the special theory and prac-
tice of our American politics; not perfection a.
IT H-nor rs innocent as the angels-but con.
ststent With all the rest and An Indispensable
part of it, And even as it is, there are some
grave reforms imperatively necessary The
clerks and Official appontees have their rights
There Is zoo much caprice in promotion, and
even appointment.
In conclusion, We think We express the delib-
crate judgment Of all who have had opportuni.
ties to scan department life here In Washington
long and thoroughly, when We cay the wonder is
not ct the deficiencies or c01yupti0ns of the civil
service, but that the immense and complicated
business Of the government is carried ON 80 we'll
50 promptly, and year after year with 70 little
loss, end 50 much credit and clearness.