Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-04-25
The Ciyil-Service.

A great cry is just now being made
about President Grants abandonment Of
Civil-Service reform. Let us analyZe the
matter little. 1t is reported that Mr..
Curtis resigned from the Advisory Board
because the President differed with him
upon the propriety of transferring officers
of one class to different grade in special
cases. In other words the President did
not look upon the rules as arbitrary and
Interchangeable, but subject to modification
and improvement We do not question
the honesty or ability of Mr.. Curtis. He
has discharged the thankless duties of his
position with fidelity, and has given to
the veXed question of the Civil-Seryice
deep research and unremitting attention;
but we cannot help believing that he has
insisted too strenuously on harsh inter
probation of the rules of the Board, which
Interpretation will, in numerous cases,
| work violence to reason and sound judg-
ment
| In the message of the President to Con
gress, transmitting the report of the Com
| missioners, he said: "Under the law re-
| ferred to, as interpret it, the authority is
already invested in the Executive to en-
force these regulations, with full power to
| abridge, alter or amend them at his op-
| ton when changes may be deemed advisa-
ble." Congress did not see proper to re-
strict the President, because it recognized
the fact that, in these experimental at
tempts to reform the Civil-Service; the
rules would require changes and modif-
cations, and it would be unwise to insist
upon strict conformity with regulations
designed to be purely tentative and cXper-
imental in their operation. These rules,
like all others, should be subject to eXcep-
tions; and indeed the Board so declared in
making their report, The only difficulty
seems to be that they-or Mr.. Curtis
claimed to decide when special regula-
tons should be adopted, while the Prcsi-
dent, evidently with the determination to
| have some influence with the Admins
tration himself, claimed the right to direct
and control its management.
One of the rules adopted declares that
''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
mcnts to certain positions" Now, sup
pose the Examining Board, which is made
up of Il number of subordinate officers
employed in the departments at Washing
ton, neglect to suggest notifications that,
in the Presidents opinion, are desirable in
certain cases? Are they to be the con-
dent is responsible for the organization of
such Board, and therefore responsible
for its success or failure. In accepting
this responsibility he also asserted his
right to alter or modify the rules, and
in pursuance of this expressed right
he has, in exceptional cases, done so,
In promulgating the rules of the Board
| the President excepted from their opera
| ton the heads of departments and their
assistants, together with judges of
United States courts and their attorneys,
| governors and ambassadors, and his ac-
ton was not questioned. Why should 1t
be when he sees proper to make further
exceptions? The rules require that n va
cancy occurring in any grade of group
of offices above the lowest shall be filled
from the other grades of that group,
Thus; vacancy in the office Of col
lector appraiser, surveyor, or other officer
of customs, must be filled from lower Off
GERS in the customs service, Now, sup
pose an important Office is vacated in
this service, and the President thinks it
can be filled to better advantage by a
selection from the Department Of Internal
Revenue AS the sole person responsible
for their appointments, shall he be pre-
vented from exercising his judgment, and
admitting TO the examination competent
and energetic officers outside of the par
| ticular group in which the vacancy oc-
cursg The President thinks not. lie has
made an exception, and because he has
done so he is accused of abandoning
Civil-Service Reform,
In his late letter to Mayor Medill, the
| President assures the former that the spirit
of the Civil-Service rules will be main
tained. This is what is required, The
question of Civil Service reform is one of
the most vexatious and difficult problems
! that we have to solve. We cannot expect