New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-26

James under whatever AulnlilStIahoh o"'N
come into power. And he was doubtless per-
fectly honest in the statement. But even MI.
Hewitt has been long enough in politics, and
has seen enough of the greed OF politicians,
TO know that all his urgency w;:nd
be Intellectual to retain Repu' AR
postmaster under a Democratic Ada -
tration, Thorough, sweeping change = inc
Offices, complete overturn in all branches Oh
the public service this is the unwritten Law
of parties inexorably enforced with the advent
of a new party to power. No excellence OF
character nor any merit of administration can
stand in the way of it. Had Mr.. Tiden been
elected President, Postmaster James would
have had no more chance of being retained In
Office than would any member OF PRESIDENT
Grants Cabinet Not because Mr.. 1llden or
any of his party would have any doubts OF
his ability, integrity, and fitness, nor because
there would be the slightest hope Of getting q
better or 80 good an officer IN his place,
but simply because somebody-a great
many sOmebodies, indeed-who supported
Mr.. Tilden wanted the place. The President
pays somebody for his vote and influence out
of the public treasury: that is the long ana
short of it, And the poor Public has to stand
by and see faithful officer dismissed for no
cause whatever and its business placed IN the
hands of some politician without knowledge
or experience, and perhaps without honesty or
intelligence, simply because that is the way
we whip the devil of bribery round the stump
and carry on the miserable traffic IN oiilces.
Call it by what name you please that Is the
real meaning of it. 1t is system or once
barter, swapping" of great lot OF smaller
offices for one large one.
And then the changes having been made,
there is no inducement to the new appointees
to devote themselves to the interests OF their
EMPLOYERS, the public, to make themselves
familiar with their duties, or to exert them
selves to have the work of the Government
done faithfully or economically. 1t ia but Tor
four years, each one thinks and in that time
he will have as much rs he can do to provide
himself competence so that he Will not, when
his turn comes to he oustcd, be thrown upon
the cold charities of the world. He must take
care of himself, and he proceeds to do 1t
at the public expense. Postmaster james
is one of very few men VINO,
upon receiving q Government appointment
set himself at work at once to conduct the
business intrusted To him with as much in
dustry and energy and sense of personal re-
sponsibilty MS though he were engaged i'll his
own individual affairs The result is the pub
lie has been well served and the office adj
mirably conducted, and by common consent
he Is to-day the most competent man in the
city for the position he holds. And all this
goes for nothing so soon as change In the
party in power, or perhaps only in the Ad-
ministratiOn, takes place. Could anything be
more absurd, more vicious and demoraliz-
ing than this system of ours whereby
we apporton Offices, instead of employing
competent men to attend to public business
The Public is n patient ass, but perhaps 1t
will some time wake up to the Importance of
having ITS work done on something like bust
ness principles. And then we shall have a
longer tenure of appointments in the civil ser
vice, greater inducements offered to men in
Government employ to do good work and
earn promotion, and something little differ
ent from the uncertainty in Official life which
now leaves the country at the mercy OF lazi-
ness, incompetency, and dishonesty.