Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-10-22

public cannot really know whether the
clerks in the St Louis post-ofice were or
were not appointed as the president directs
in the rules but it does know distinctly
that the ST. Louis postmaster deliberately did
what the rules expr. ssly forbade him to do,
and that he retains his Office. The country
cannot know how the clerks in the New
ORLEANS custom house are app tinted /; but it
dues know that the cole ct,r OF New Orleans
MS guilty Of q grant fense, aud was SUBJ
sequentiy re-nominated for the position.
ln the presence OF such facts, not isolated,
but constantly occurring, it Ia IN Vain that
examinations are announced for certain MI
nor positions. Ru les and examinations are,
, indeed, indispensable for the proper regula-
tIon of a civil service 30 extensive as ours.
But the spirit is more than the letter, aud
every man who is truly interested in this
most Vital question, will look even more
closely at the discretionary action OF the
president, than at the ope, alton of the rules.
And thus for the reason that the presidents
| Will Is the spring OF the who movement.
and his r. al disposition upon the subject,
can be seen more plainly in his Discretionary
action. We shall all believe that the rules
are honestly observed in the minor cases.
although We cannot watch their operation,
| IA W. oCC euaS tuC piCoiOCdts III hio uO UNA
tons of the chIet collectors, surveyors, post
masters and other Cfi ers who are not sub
United to technical! tx animation, regards the
essential spirit of reform. If, for instance,
he promotes a su bordinate who is thoroughly
cou Eetent and suitable tor the superior po-
sltlon, the country has conclusive evidence
of his sincerity and resolution. But if he
disregards the fitness of the subordinate,
and appoints over his head an active politi-
ella n, however good man and officer he may
he, the country justly concludes that other
onsiderations than those of Efficient ofh ;iai
servlco have affected the decision. Que such
case properly outweighs in the pubic mind
d thousand examinations. One such Case,
indeed, throws suspicion upon every exam
nation. One sucn case, il it be conspicu-
Gus, not only destroys public faith In the
reality of the reform, but demoraiizes the
service itself, by showing the officers that
promotion, which is one OF the three cardi-
nal puints of the reformed system. will be
conhned to the most unImportant grades. 80
| that its vital Value as an incentive is falrly
lost.
1t is very true that the great and iong-ac-
cumulating abuses of The old system ut TIE
civil service are not to be retor ned at once.
But it Is equally true that nothing is easier
than to shDw at once the spirit and DISPOSE
ton OF ref run. Ii, for Instance, the presl-
dent had promptly accepted the resignation
Ut the collector of New Orleans; IT the
postmaster at St. Louis had been removed
tor the violation of one of the In Dst pc emp
tory OF the presidents rules, aud ne had
been informed that plea OF ignorance only
increased the offeuse; IT, when II was inti
mated TO the president that his NOMINATION
Tor surveyor OF the port ot New VOTE
would not be confirmed, he had said that
having made Il Nomination In strict conform
ity with the spirit and purpose OF his rules
he should throw upon tue Senat' the re-
sFonsIbiity OF RI ,ctng 1t; IT 1t had no
been evident that Gne cniet Vfhces 10 New
York had been filled upon tie principle
" hIch the splrit of tue rules repudiate; aut
II the public iii ers everywhere were busy
with their public duties, aud not with part,
management aud tr,gue-there would ID
d profound and univ, Tsai eunvlcLIJn tha
gr at Results had been already ach eyed, an(
that a thorough reform was intended.
s hat the things We mentOn, aud count
l,ss others OF the same KIDD, nave not beer
done, and are not doing, Is the reason tha
this reform is the open g'be OF the oPpo
slton and the secret doub. OF it's trends Il
] he republican party. Aud until thes
I thugs are done, constantly and cpnslStent
, done, the work VI the commI sslun, ialtutu
able and devoted as We know 1T To be, WI
; be III VAIN, aud the republican party vii
[ nave no right To clam THAT 1t has really It
iurmed tue civil service.