The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-15
THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The recent descent on Illicit distillerles
in At. Louis, Chicago, and Milwaukee has
disclosed fearful decentralization In the
civil service, and demonstrated the impera-
tive necessity of real and thorough civil
service reform. One can hardly contcmp-
late, with anything approaching compla-
cency, great department of the govern
ment compelled to submit to being defraud-
ed and swindled with impunity and to see
the laws set at defiance or, as the only al
tentative. the heads of the department un'
earthing the frauds in secret, compelled to
keep their own counsel, not daring to let
the proper officers know of their investiga-
tions, and keeping, even, the commissioner
of internal revenue and his trusted sub
ordinates in the dark relative TO movements
having for their obj 'ct the collection of
revenue property under his supervision.
Yet such was the case. The frauds were
unearthed without the knowledge or assist
ance of the commissioner. He was pur-
posely kept ignorant of the movements.
Officers were appointed without consulta-
ton with him. The regular officers Of the
department were bought and sold like sheep
in the shambles. Every man seemed to
have his price. So venal had become the
collectors aud other officers, that they
were openly approached by the leading
spirits of the whisky ring, and price Of
tered for their honor and official integrity
rs cody as il il was a simple trade fo:
dogs.
Ostensbly officers of the government,
they were, in reality, officers Of the distill-
ers, always providing the whisky men were
both able and willing 10 pay the price.
Some of these supervisors actually received
from these defrauders Of the government
larger annual salary than they received
from the United States. But woe to the
distller who refused to ''come down" The
dishonesty was not confined to officers out
side of Washington, but the clerks in the
Office of the commits :oner had their price
and rendered service commensurate there
with At the las, moment, just rs the OIL
GERS were leaving for their grand rounds,
1t became necessary to consult the commits
sioner, and what was the result? Light
ming could not strike quicker THAI was
transmitted the following dispatch, from
Washington to st. Louis Lightning will
strike Monday. Be prepared for it. This
dispatch was sent from an officer in the i'll
ternal revenue department in Washington
to supervisor of internal revenue in st.
Louis The lightning did strike, but the
whisky ring were only partially prepared.
They were prepared, in part, because trust
ed officers of the government gave them
warning of approaching danger. DO these
facts need any comment When the frauds
in the postotfice department were discovered
we thought that the bottom of corruption
had been touched, but these more recent
disclosures show that we were only On the
rim.
The fault..- van me administrator
at least to no greater an extent than it
would be under any and all administra-
tions of either political party. The post
master-general dealt with dishonest clerks
with a will, and made sad havoc with
''sloshing" postmasters--an the end is not
yet. Secretary Bristow and Solicitor Will
son have worked with courage and energy,
selected their subordinates without regard
to politics or position, and have covered
themselves with impershable glory. The
president, whatever may have been his sins
of omission or commission in other re-
spects, has seconded every effort of Messrs
Jewell and Bristow, and much of the sue
cess of their raids against fraud and dis
honesty is due to his active sympathy, his
earnest cooperation. His action in these
cases will cover multitude of sins. The
fault of the civil service, the cause Of its
Generalization, the possibility OF these stu
pendous frauds, rests entirely, or almost
So, with our system of appointments to Of
fee. The civil service will be corrupt SO
long as appointments are made as rewards
for party zeal. When the time comes, as
come 1t must, that public officers are &C.
lected solely for their honesty and capacity
that sinecures are abolished, and salaries
are fixed upon business basis, then, and
not till then, need We look for an honest
and efficient civil service. That appoint
ments are not so made is the fault of poll
ticans and of the people back of them, moi
of the president. He has honestly laboret
for real civil service reform, but he hat
no support from party leaders or from con
grees. We accord him due praise for hi
earnest warfare against fraud, and trus
that the exposure will eventually result. il
greater honesty and efficiency in the clvi
oavvicn