The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-09
obonestv. efficiency and fidelity the essen.

that honesty, capacity ana nuellty constr
tute the only valid claim to public employ
ment' Both declarations were right in
principle, and should be carried into prac-
tice. The difficulty was, and ls, that the
leaders and politicians did not believe in
the declaration. 1t was all well enough as
sop to throw to voters. 1t was well
enough to delude the people with the idea.
but when 1t came to the practice, that was
altogether another thing. Both parties,
whenever and wherever they have had the
power, have done their utmost to render
this declaration entirely nugatory as to its
practical operation. This case of Crane
amply illustrates this. Crane himself
swears that he, at the time of his appoint
ment, had never had any experience in that
or in any similar kind of business, and that,
even after some three years experience IN
the office, he did not know how much
money he was entitled to, or whether his
accounts were correct or not. And the
court, in passing sentence, say I'm view
'of all the facts, the court is of the opin-
sion that when Mr.. Crane entered upon
'the duties of his Office he was not adapted
to discharge them either by his knowl-
ledge or experience. He entrusted the du-
''ties to another. He apparently regarded
'the office, as too many were accustomed
''to in those days, as sinecure, the labors
"of which could be given to his clerks, the
"mere machines in the office" Gong
upon the supposition that there was an en-
tire want of ''moral obliquity' on the part
of Crane, and as to this we have word to
say presently, could there be more striking
commentary on the manner in which the
endeavor is made how not to practice civil
service reform Was Crane efficient
"faithful," "capable"? Was his appoint
ment anything more than 'reward for
mere party ZEAL" 'matter of arbitrary
favoritism and patronage" ? He was a
man Of ordinary ability, he had local
reputation as politician, he was always
jealous in the service of the party, and
ever ready to work for party success. He
received his reward in an Office. The gov
eminent and people know how "fatally
demoralizing' that appointment was.
Confessedly he was neither efficient,
faithful or capable, was he honest? Per
haps SO, at the first appointment. But can
any claim to honesty be made for him at
the time of his second appointment and of
the enlargement of his sphere of duty?
He makes the claim for himself. He
says-the deficiency occurred not through
''any criminal or wilful appropriation of
tie fund" ON his part, "but through mis-
take of fact OF how much he was entitled
to Az Mr.. Evarts would say, we have
Cranes statement for it. But does he act
like an innocent man? Do innocent men
make or direct false entries for the purpose
OF covering up and conceaing a defalca-
ton? do innocent men center and apply"
moneys collected in one place to the ac-
count of moneys collected at another time
and at another place, but which chad not
| been entered upon the books at all ?" Do
| innocent men do this Yet this is precise
| ly what Crane says he did To be sure,
he says, that he did not so act 'for the
purpose of covering up or concealing an
embezzlement,' but for the reason that she
hoped and expected to replace it out OF
| my (his) own funds" and save the govern
ment from loss, and he wanted time for
this purpose. Was there ever case of de-
falcation or embeZzlement, accompanied
by false entries, where this plea was not
made Don't they always make the ''false
entries" trusting, if we take their word for
it, to make it up at some time ? AS Judge
Shipman said, in pronouncing sentence
I" In the matter of false entries, the re-
spondent has doubtless said to himself
81 will conceal the deficiency in the hope
that time will tide over the matter, and
{" he continued a practice which was 6
wrong both to the public and the govern
ment. Therefore he should be pun
"ished." And he was punished by being
sentenced to pay a fine of two thous
and dollars and to be confined in Jail fol
two years. How the judge looks upor
the ''moral obliQuity" of his acts may b'
inferred from the remark of the judg'
that he did not order his confinement il
the Chittenden county Jail, because HI
" desired the punishment should be NOR
severe than it would be to confine hin
where he could enjoy the society OF hi
" friends during his imprisonment. Judge
do not talk in this way to innocent men
Such sentences are not imposed on limo
cent men. Such language and such ser
fences are for guilty men, not for innocen
men who are, at the most, guilty OF only
triGing and technical violation OF the law
through no fault of their own, and onl
! embarrassed by too much confidence in tn
"honesty, efficiency and fidelity of thel
, subordlnates. When he was appointed til
second time and placed over an enlarge
: district, was it not known, at Washington
that Arson j. Crane was neither homes
efficient or faithful Why then was b
e recommended and appointed What sha
: we say Of those who.recommendedlhi fo
q and appointed HI. to, Office 4? How sha
c we characterize that act which invited col
t fidencc in Crane, and bv sanctioning h
n official acts, enabled HIM to lure on inn'
C cent, honorable men to become his bond
/ men at pecuniary risk and an inevitab
!, pecuniary loss +? Fit and apt language
u wanting but, fortunately, words are nj
u needed-the act speaks louder than word
l. And this is civil service reform, and Graz
is reformer.
II Personal.
l. Hon. Walter G. Stevens of Highgate die
!, on Wednesday last.
u Horace b. Ramsdell of Northfeld, die