The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-28
rs IT REFORMED d,

which he had q perfect right to do. Ar
rangements were accordingly made by his
personal and political friends, and per-
haps, by others, to give him fitting recep-
ton, all of which was due to his exalted
office, his services to his country, and in
strict accordance with propriety and an APP
proved custom. Now receptions of this
KIND, when carried out with proper re-
gard to the surroundings, require the ex-
penditure of more or less money; indeed,
money is the prime necessity, because
without 1t, there could be no pomp, parade
or PROFESSIONS no dinings with all the ct
cctcras. When Tweed and Connolly used
to run New York, money was raised for
all such occasions with perfect case. Whe-
Their ii was reception or funeral, or the
expenses of an election that were to he
| provided tor, the city treasury was con-
venient and for receptions and funerals
bills paid, without demur, out of the pub
| lie treasury. When all election was to be
carried, the city treasury was equally con-
venicnt and the money was drawn there
from to buy voters and pay repeatcrs, the
only difference being that the appropria-
ton was made under some other name. In
an honest respectable community, these pc
cuniary matters, attendant upon such oc-
casions, are managed differently. The
money is always forthcoming, but it is vol
UNFAIRLY furnished. For example in the
present New York state elcction-wc shall
refer TO another phase of the same election
prescntly-a constitutional amendment is
to be voted on, providing for the appoint
ment, instead of election, of judges. The
members of the bar, as well as all good
citizens, are interested in the purity and
ability of the Judges, and therefore, the
''bar association" and the Union League
Club have appropriated, by voluntary
subscription from their own funds, some
forty-tive hundred dollars to procure the
necessary printing and distribution Of bal
lots. This is proper, necessary and legiti-
mate. But neither of these modes was
followed at st. Louis. There may have
been subscription, but if so, there was a
balance OF liabilities over assets, so the plan
OF assessing government clerks was resort
ed to in order to make up the deficiency. A
storm was raised about the matter, and
Mr.. Postmaster Fillcy was ordered to re-
1uhd to the pundcred clerks This at first,
looked like business but as it was not fol-
lowed up by any removals, and no one
ever heard of clerk who dared apply for
a return or his money, it was left with
scaly look, to say the least. Here was the
shadow of civil service reform without its
substance and, moreover, it was rather
delicate matter for the President to keep
still about. He must, tor appearance sake,
order the return of the money, if he did no
more, because it would have bad look to
allow government clerks to be assessed to
pay the expenses of receiving the head of
the government.
The next open and notorious case of as
sessment of clerks, this time for political
purposes, was in connection with the re-
cent election in Baltimore. The secretary
of the treasury, it is said, interfered so far
as his subordinate departments were con-
cerned, and compelled resembling of the
order, while the member of the cabinet,
whose home was in Maryland, and who is
understood to entertain other political as
perations, was conveniently silent in refer
ence thereto. While one department of the
government followed the seeming course
pursued in st. LOUIS, the other entirely ig-
nored the whole subject and permitted the
collection of assessments from the clerks.
Did the action of the secretary of the treas
ury, however, evince a determination to
| carry out much needed reform in the
civil service, or was il simply a sham and
pretense! Baltimore was, and is, hope
lessly democratic, and all money, legiti-
mately or illegitilnately, expended there
could not change the result, and for this
reason, was it not seized upon as good
place in which to make a show of virtue
1t is said that g blood will tell, ;" and in this
case facts will indicate, since the issue of
that resembling order by the secretary, the
political sky has changed. What looked
before like smooth sailing. now presents
some dangerous breakers ahead Contrary
to expectations, Ohio has gone back upon
her record, and elected democratic gov
ernor and legislature Before this, the re-
publicans of New York were expecting to
walk off the course, but now new life has
been breathcd into the opposition and that
which is won must be fought for. Now
the sincerity of the secretary of the treas
ury is shown now fresh exhibition of
civil service reform is presented to the
country. Election day draweth near, and
money is wanted. Some two weeks ago.
the - usual circular requesting ac-
tually demanding assessment of from
one to two per cent on their salaries, for
the use of the republican central commit
tee, was sent to the several clerks in the
New York custom house. Relying upon
the St. Louis case and upon the secretary's
acton in Baltimore, the clerks made up
Their minds to resist the imposition, and
with what result ? FRIDAY, the collector
ana naval officer took the matter ia hand,
ana as dispatch tersely describes the sit
ualioh' In the morning thcy-the clerks
were defiant and in the afternoon paid
thclr assessment So much for this one
branch OF reform, Money is actually
forced from the pockets of clerks and la.
boring men, to be used for political pur-
poses' under threat of taking away from
them their means of support. Civil SER
vice reform is well enough for politicians
to resolve about, and convenient to forget
after power is once obtained. Tweed's
way of raising funds was as honorable as
this. He filched his money from the pub
lie as whole, while these government ofn.