, 1874-11-11
CIYIL.RERYIGE REFORM.

Tho Forty-tourth Congress will have an OK
collont chance to prove the sincerity Of Demo-
cratic professions Of reform. Tho party which
viii control minority Of tho House for Two
yoara from the 4th Of next March has pro-
claimed in many platforms its belief in q non-
partisan, eeacient Civil Service Will 1t do any,
thing now to put It's theory in practice7 We aro
aware that tho diftlculties In tho WY aro many
aud serious to reform the old Democratic doc
triue Of "to the victor belongs tho spols,"
The comparative failure Of the many earnest
attempts hitherto mado to reform the Civil
Service show TINT the task ia great one.
The chief trouble has been, howeyor, lack
Of syslen. An occasional examination merely
introduces ole more element Of uncertainty.
We submit to tho consideration Of the country
plan of syatomate reform. It may not bs the
best, but it is good enough to chailengo the
production OF better.
The Civil Service is often compared to an
army. Nuke 1t one. Lot all the Qoverna1ent
employees DO divided into different ranks, az the
officers Of m army arc. dozen grades would
furnish sufficient classification. In fact, less
number might do 80. They would bo numbered
i, 2, 8, etc. Tho lowest subordinateB would
form grade No. Il tho highest, such rs
tho Chief clorks Of Departments, No. IL.
officers OF tue samo title do, according to the
tlato OF their appointment. Tho tenure OF Office
would dopond entirely upon competence and
good behavior. It might 10 well to introduce q
sort OF modified ooult-martial into tho Civil
Service, and have an offender tried by
detail of hia fellow clarks. This would
tend to maintain healthy esprit lie corps.
The findings Of these courts would bo
subject to tho approval OF tho Secretary. Whom
ever clerk died, roaigned, or was expelled. tho
racauoy created would DO filled by advancing
oyory person below him in rank one stop for
ward. 1n this, tho analogy Of tho army would
be strictly followed. Al stated intervals. exam-
iuations would be hold. Tho candidates would
receive certificates in tho order Of their merit.
They would be appointed to the vacancies in tho
lowest grade in the samo order. This system
would provide tho. machinery needed to make
the appointment and promotion Of Government
employees depend upon personal, instead Of
political, mort. At the first glance. 1t may neem
open to the objection that 1t would involve .
constant shifting OF Positions and dutica. This
is not 30. When Clerk No. $500 Of grade No. 3
becamo No. 2,301 Of tho same grade, his dutios
would not olange He would continue to do the
san.o things In the same place, aa nn army Col
| oncl does when tho death Of another brings him
only men wlloso duties would change would be
tho heads of grades below tho one In which
tho vacancy occurred. Thus. il mombor
OF No. 10 resigned, tho chiof OF
grade No. ii would becomo the last
man in No. 10, and tho chief Of
No. 19 tho last in No. II. Each Of them would
be fitted for his now dutiea by the long courso
Of training he had had In passing through oil the
ranks below 1t, just az Colonel learns how to
| discharge the dutlcs Of his rank by serving an
and Lieutenant Colonel.
A little vigorous diHcnnaion OF dodn1to plapa
for Oiyil-6eryioe Reform will bo Of great good
Just now. It is for tlis reason that ne submit
those 6uggestions, which, II acted upon. rould
perllaps fully satisfy tho requisites Of perfect
Civil seryico.- appointment for personal, not po-
ltloal, merit retention in office during compo-
tonco and good behavior; and assursd promo
tiou o. tho result OF long service. II tho Forty.
third Congress ia unable to tlnd tlme during tue
burriol hOura of itg cloa3np aeaa}nn tn m at,,ra