The Holt County sentinel., 1873-05-02
The Civil Service.

A great cry is just now being made
about President Grants abandonment of
elVll service reform. Let us analyze the
matter little. 1t is reported that Mr.
curtis resigned from the advisory hoard
because the President differed with him
upon the propriety of transferring Off
GERS OF one class to a different grade in
special cases. In other words, the Presj-
dent did not look upon the rules as arhi.
trary and unchangeable, but subject to
noolneation and Improvement. We do
Curtis. He has discharged The tSankia
duties of his position with fidelity. and
mas given to the vexed question of the
ciVll service deep research and unremit-
ung attention but we cannot helm believ-
lhg that he has insisted too strenuouslv on
narsh interpretation of the rules of' tha
BOARD, which Interpretation will. In mn.
Ilerous cases, work violence to reason and
SOUND Judgment. ''''N
In the message of the President To Con.
@ress, transmitting the report of the Com
tFnlssioners, ne SAID: Under the law re-
ierred 10, as l interpret IL, the authoritv
IS already invested In the Executive TO en-
force these regulations, with full power to
aDrdge, alter, or amend them at his on.
uoh When changes may be deemed adyis-
able" Congress did not see proper 10 re-
strlct the President, because il recognized
the TACT that, in these experimental at
tempts to reform the civil service. the
rules would require changes and modi6-
cations, and 1t would be unwise to insist
upon strict conformity with regulations
designed TO be purely tentative and ex-
Perlmental In their operation. These
rules, ike all others, should be subject 10
exceptions; and indeed the Board so de-
elared In making their report. The onlv
dliiieulty seems to be that they-or Mr.
Curtls-claimed to decide when special
regulations should be adapted, while the
PRESIDENT, evidently with the determina-
uoh 10 naye some influence with the adj
mlnistration himself, claimed the right
10 direct and control its management.
:, one OF the rules adopted declares that
1.-THE examining board shall report TO the
advisory board such notifications In the
rules and regulations as, In the judgment
OF such board, are required for appoint
ments to certain positions" Now, sun
pose the examining board, which is made
up OF number of subordinate officers en-
ployed In the departments at Washington,
neglect TO suggest notifications that, in
tne PRESIDENTS opinion, are desirable In
certain casesY Are they to be the conclu-
veludges In every caseP The President
Is responsible for the Organization of such
a board, and therefore responsible for It's
success OF failure. In accepting this re-
sPonslpillty he also asserted his right to
auer OF modify the rules, and in pursu- |
sa.t; aacs Of TINS expressed right he has, In ex-
tSp ttSSptlUhai sln cases, done so. In promulgating
the rules OF the Board the Presldent ex.
eepted from their operation the heads Of
departments and their assistants, together
with Judges of United States conrts and
lhelr attorneys, Governors and embsssal
dors, and his action was not questioned
tmhy should i be when he sees proper
rules require that vacancy occurring IN IN
any grade Of a group of offices above the
lowest shall be filled from the other
grades OF That group. Thus vacancy
In the office of collector, appraiser.
surveyor. or other officer, Of Gus,
toms, must be filled from lower officers in
The customs service. Now, suppose an
important office is vacated in thls service,
md the President thinks II can be filled TO
better advantage by a selection from the
department Of Internal Revenue. AS the