The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-06
MECHANICS COURSE.


The lecture before the Mechanics Association
last evening was delivered by Hon. Geo. Il.
Talbot,-his subject, Civil Service Reform. "A
larger audience than usual listened throughout
with marked attention. This course Is growing
in favor as the public becomes acquainted Win
its worth
The speaker referred to the declarations of
the four national conventions, and to the mes
sages of presidents as being indications OF the
feeling with regard to the present abuses in
Office, He then traced the course of politics
from the beginning of the government to show
how the present state of things, which calls SO
loudly for reform, was reached. Under the
early Presidents men who had proved them
selves patriotic and able were appointed to the
offices. With Gen. jackson, and the bitter
personal contest in which he was victor, came
the motto, ''To the victors belong the spoils."
Practically this has remained the motto of the
dominant party. The practice of Furnishing
men for being political opponents by turning
them out of of office was continued through
Jackson's and Van Buren's administrations.
When the Wings came into power, in retalla-
ton they practiced more wholesale political
decapitation.
When the question of slavery came to rescue
American politics from the shameful personal
contests which had previously characterized it,
and to supply an issue of true Importance, then
the contest became too real to allow time to
reform abuses. Distrust of all Southern SYM
pathizers (for the Democrats of the North still
chung to their old associates in the South led
the Republican party to adopt the motto OF
Jackson's time, though patriotism gave to the
words higher meaning than the oIignators
intended.
During Mr.. Lincoln's administration it was
necessary to the safety of the government that
only true Republicans should hold office. Since
the war the party in power has not been so
kindly inclined towards those whose endeavor
was to wreck the country on the rock OF
slavery that it could give to them the places OF
profit and honor in its bestowal. From these
various causes party allegiance has grown to be
a necessary qualification for Office.
To the "speils' system of Jackson's time
(Which continued through Buchanan's admins
tration) other and more demoralizing elements
have been added. Then the President chiefly
exercised the appointing power his coustitu-
tional right, but now, when the offices have in
creased from 2000-the number in Washngtons
tme-to $4,000, the personal supervision OF the
President and his Secretaries is impossible; and
here the Congressman naturally steps In 10
tighten their labor by testifying to the quail iii
cations of the applicant from his district;
Members of Congress soon become accustomed
to seeing their advice followed, and become
dictators instead of advisers, thus entirely re-
leving the President from labor and RESPONSE
biity in the matter The Congressman is now
beseged by the numerous friends he made
during the campaign in which he was elected
friends made by promises of help, which were
given to ensure his own election. These prom
ises he must Keep, even though the candidate
is not the fttest man for the place. So it is no
longer party adherence, but serviceableness to
congressman that determines what men shall
fill the offices. Members of Congress have
assisted each other till now; it is agreed that
each shall control the offices in his district, and
his share of the offices in Washington and in
foreign countries.
This is the patronage systematic system
which is characterized as ''demoralizing,' IAN
instrument of partisan tyranny and AMBITION"
and "a reproach upon free institutions, the
system which President, Postmaster General
and Secretary of the Treasury are trying to
reform.
The evils of the system are felt by all, from
the President to the people. The President, by
own assistants, loses all responsibility of the
manner in which they perform their work, and
thus one of the strongest incentives to con-
scientious performance Of his duties.
Bad as this is, the effect on the legislative
gard to appointments, results in toe surrender
by each of some part of his rightful power. Ii
the Executive can usurp legislative power the
object OF the separation Of the two Departments,
the protection of the people is defeated. Fur
ther, the ability of the Congressman to do his
duty as legislator is much impaired by the ad-
dition of executive duties. Being occupied in
looking after Office for his constituents, he has
neither time nor energy to give to thorough
understanding of the bills on which he is call
ed to vote. Hence the passage of so many bills
which are disgrace to the government
The effect Of this system on office holders is
anything but good Since efficiency in serving
Congressman, not efficiency in doing the work
of the office, is the qualification for the office,
men will strive for the former and neglect the
latter. The chairman of an investigating COM
mttee in 1867 declared, 'the number of officers
may be diminished one-third and the efficiency
of the whole force of the civil service be ip-
creased one half by selecting competent per-
sons and compelling them TO do their work.
If the popular demand for retrenchment sue
ceeds in causing some useless office to be abol-
ished the member of Congress is Immediately
called upon by the ousted office holder, and not
to lose the support of his friend, which he can
ill afford to do, the Congressman has the office
re -establshed. The Surveyor of the Customs
in the district of Passamaquoddy, the Inspec-
tor of the Kittery navy yard, and the keeper
of the Crypt in which Washington's bones
were never laid, were citel as examples of use
less offices.
The lecturer proposed the following remedies
for these abuses: First the people must make
1T known that they believe the talk about the
necessity of reform is not mere clap-trap, but
earnest talk. Theyunust expose the articles
which members of Congress employ to defeat
reform while they are making speeches in its
favor. Second, they must elect for next Presi-
dent man pledged to civil service reform, and
such man as will keep his pledge. Third, the
tenure of office during the term for which off,
GERS are appointed, while they are efficient and
faithful, should be guarded by law, but if Off
GERS are not reelected they should not be re-
garded as objects for public sympathy. On the
whole, that system of Office holding seems the
best which allows faithful officer fair term
and just compensation, and which, at the end
of the term again throws the Office open to gen.
eral competition. Fourth, the surest way to
secure reform is to pass Judge Trumbull' S bill,
making it penal offence for member of Con-
gress to interfere in appointments to the civil
service. Many members would be glad of this
protection from unfortunate Office seekers. The
people and the press must force the other Con-
gressmen to join with those already in its favor
to bring about the reform so much needed, and
so satisfactory where it has been tried.