New-York tribune., 1874-03-11
A PR4CTICAL STEP TOWARDS REFORM

n
We are very glad to commend the Hon.
Stewart L. Woodford of this State for the
position he has lately taken with reference to
the distribution of Government patronage I'D
his district. 1t is courageous and manly. Inc
Commander of Post of the Grand Army OF
the Republic having made application f0r as
sstance in securing employment at the
Brooklyn Navy-Yard for comrade, MI.
Woodford makes answer, giving at length
his reasons for declining to interfere to secure
tho employment Of any special persons In the
Yard as mechanics or labOrers, and inclosng
CODY OF letter he had previously written to
the Secretary Of the Navy upon tho same
subject In his letter to the Secretary ne
makes the suggestion simply that all other
things being equal, preference should be given
70 discharged soldiers and sailors in the en-
ployment of mechanics and abOrers, and there
he stops
His reasons as given in the answer to the
application are, in brief, that If the appoint
ments are political they belong to the County
and Ward Committees, who are charged with
the responsibility of party management; II
they are not political, the officers and foremen
of the Yard should have the selection, under
and within the general requirements
of the old executive and depart
mental orders, which direct that the
preference in all cases should be given to
discharged soldiers and sailors who are COM
petent for the required duties. He says very
frankly that he does not believe i'm the custom
which has made the Congressman dispenser
of this kind Of patronage, for the reason that
it gives him the power to appoint his own
personal adherents, and if occasion arises,
to control the primaries and pack the conven-
ton for his denomination.
Mr. W0OdfOrd does not say that he disap-
proves Of the custom of permitting Congress
men to dispense patronage i'll any other cases
than thosA specified; but the reasoning is just
as good for the general subject as for this
specific case, and we hope he takes the same
view of the dspensation of patronage in other
cases as in this of the NavyYard. The
those who are not interested in its perpetua-
ton but the active politician can rarely be
brought to see-Or, rather, to cOnfess-the
fact. The member of Congress who resists the
temptation to use for his own advantage
the patronage which perniciOus custom
has placed at his disposal deserves high
praise. The experience of several years past,
and notably of the last two, has taught the
people that, however earnestly the Administra-
ton party may talk in newspapers, speeches,
and platforms about Civil Service Reform,
there is no sincerity in their utterances that
but very small proportion of the representa-
tive men of the party are willing to give up the
patronage which is reckoned among the most
valuable perquisites of official position. At a
time when Mr. Butler has stepped 80 con-
spicuously to the front of the opposition to
Reform and brings such proofs that he
has the Administration with him, Mr..
Woodford's manly letter has peculiar
significance. Events seem to be point
ing to calling off in the Republican party
upon this very question, when those who are
sincere and honest in their support of Reform
will have an opportunity to array themselves
openly and squarely against those who are
bold enough now to throw off all disguise and
make the issue.
Mr. Woodford's letter is very timely. as well
as dignifed, manly, and courageous.