New-York tribune., 1875-05-15


tue high enough to support such reform were in
sympathy with tho Republican party
yor Of the reform Congress- and among the political
Conventions 3H Of both parties and Especially the poosoS
Before considering the excuses for the abandonment
let for what the rules provided that What ideas IDEAS
of official duty thus approved b the people, nave oecn
abandoned by those they elected
WHAT HAS BEEN ABANDONED.
" M Political assessments, which have alwnys peeh
imposed aid Of the mercenary interests OF the most
partisan elements in politics, and which are ihcom'
patibe with integrity and the requisite independency on
the part the public officers were forbidden but ieav
Ing every citizen alike free to contribute 80 much as ne
should wish to promote his political opinions ms ,o
OF those OF the higher grade, which might fairly be
claimed represent the policy Of those In power and the
principles Of the dominant party within M tne ranGc Ot
must s conceived be soar exercised IN reference
to %s % aS 1is Sa aax Sa pu
grades below which classified and grouped IN ara OF
by Selections from among few ascertaned by tests Of
character and qualifications which In their nature au
@ These tests were rst the best atnabo Of good
reputation and honesty and next far puDnc c4pot
tainnents and capacity paTcgaTs which VI 3 are
essential to proper discharge OF the duties OF ne re-
1r exeyndc both
ing admission to the service ana 10 tnoSe secAns p
a. Selections to fill vacancies and for promotions wore
made BY the SGsT ST ha1s the os STANDING
highest on the lists as the result of competition The a
pOntment was first to be made only for the pr0Daonary
period OF six months final appointment being contingent
upon good behavior aud capacity demons'laco "i'un
Isl To insure the necessary veor and authority IN the
Executive and to avoid any suspicion OF an % 10
left 1ndsturbed and there further restriction
placed upon the authority of removal than the pledge in
esed d'' '"' @ VIII any person removed for the
Of making place for any other con-
Quoted that all desiring to compete should have con-
ss5dssBs sn nnmsr and ID that 1sFG S
capacity upon the lists from whom appointments and pro-
The examinations were to be made by competent
Boards Of Examiners in the several departments subject
mission whose duty take that the questions
well selected that the processes were ar ana t
EMPLOYEES were not subject to examination, and there
class of clerks such as counters; ana mostly
females, TO which they had only restricted apPca
III To give scope for honorable ambition and reward
to unobyisive merit as well TO cultivate the spirit OF
Just subordinaon original admissions to that art Oh
the S wys wah @ ho T o the eG lowest and
to be from grade to grad IN ng Ts o Of ar as
Isl Records were to be- We're kept Of every exam
tons so that at any time however distant it will he pos
sblc to review the justice of the marking ana ans OF
every person examined in each subject To when the eA
animation may relate. a. ..s,
9 TO check the abuse Of Federal oseTs nm l
officer should hold any state office at the same Time 'n'
GOj Just above those grades to which such compe,
tton was applied land which included the great body OF
lust below that small number of higher political officers
as to which Executive discretion was not conditioned
there was number of officers slch IA collectors, sur
vevOrs certain pOsmasteTs. &c, &c, not wholly exempt
from the rules. but yet to which competition was not ex
tended The nomination of most of these officers was
subject to the confirmation of the Senate and TO such 1t
viii be found very dcnlt to agpy stret compson rf w.
to such appointments without either ne heaty coVpa
aldcoe hat
Old system 10y which such aplolntmentS "a arc nac
Here was the difficult subject TO dca with, and II
just here that the rules were te least & am
tic spirit hostile criticism and obstruction FOUND theT
I IN he hna apncaono 51 the provisions which have
criticised that unfortunate difficulties arose1how
fr from any siorcong3 Of the President do not feel
it would be useful inquirethat caused the first Char
With msefaness % ana sf whc he had so greatly
scrycd and honOred critical period. lost lis leader
and an its enemies r,6iced and took couIage at %ha
they ag " the W%nt of fssa and courage in It's
authors is due TO NJ Curtis 10 say that ne never az
OF te caue of reform; and Is due to the PRESIDENT 10
add that he declares tat III Ms ac. Whca ,
the resi- sirnaion he Intended 10 be faithful to his dty
do not care to attempt to state how much the re-
weakened by that most CONSCIENTIOUS fcsisha-
II was the common conviction of the rocrganzed Com
mson Of which h Mg Sncs9Tir ger, M hoInyrr Kew gTt The
danger that the party which had me reform
TIu ut @ down he interest of the future required that
lis methods its influence and its defects not less than
IoS S nereenarv parsans OF politics take judg
nent by default 10 the effect that the rules cfishh OF
the inherent inpraccability Of their principles, or by
reason OF their essential rcpignancc to republican insii
tuticns would have been tefod greater calamity than
evidence of their heiDg suppressed ~ congressman co
niyancc orly partisan intrigue. ,,., ,y
which were susceptible Of remedy.
~ hat yirw The anizei C5mniss recommended
rcs 10 the following eject which were promulgated Dy
l. TaIe requiring written cyidancc Of fitness & in REF
erpnce to every appointment before 1t should be made
and the preservation OF such evidence III the proper de-
THE rule already cited rs the tenure Of Office, and
prohibiting removals ior the mere purpose oi making
= new rule providing for examinations in each Of
five separate districts into which the country was Ill
yided with such ARRANGEMENTS for examinations it sey
oral convenient places in each district and Tor allowing
aI"ointnens 20 be made from the competitive sis OF
ha he officers could be iaTy t % occ %,er
ton lat the rules tended to centIazaon az ana enoGur
aged ocescekers At Washington 50 long as all eAaii'i
Anpropriaa rules for taking the whole Lighthouse
fr tntiH by impartial methods those faithful quaes
and special capacities so essential III tha' Dianch o 'ne
service upon which the safety OF lie ana properly 80
such we're the rules which the President had caused to
he reparcd aud enforced under law OF Congress- ana
uch their practical effects which, in April, 87l the
President brought to the attention OF that body y special
message with request for further appropriation for
carrying them into eject.
FATE OF TIE EXPERIMENT.
V We have now reached crisis in the fate of this ex
pertinent The most hopeful could not BE- blind to the
porionte of peril from anything intrinsic to the re-
form itself, bu from the waningmorality and patriotism
of the parry upon whose support it relied In the three
wears since 1871 that party, at least its managers had
suffered an eclipse of faith in the higher sentiments Con
ndent and arrogant from the long possession Of power
it had more and fallen under the control of leaders
and officers given TO partisan aud nercenary amb
tun Sad evidence OF this was on every hand me I'M
worthy officers and the scandalOus abuses winch dis
discraced the Administration in several OF the recon-
st,ci d States; the mercenary greed and arbitrary
rc,-anun nfic.ls. Mhich llrmcn AND ncn