The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-20
The Necessity Of Civil Service Reform
President Tilden,s First Dpty,

The Necessity Of Civil Service Reform
President Tilden's First Duty.
The first duty Of Mr. Tr1DEN after he be-
comes President of the United states will
be to effect thorough reform Of the civil
service.
In reference to the heads OF departments
under his immediate predecessor, he will
take into consideration that one was i'm
peached that another deserved impeach-
mcnt that another was the representa-
tive of the Spanish interests in the Gov
eminent OF the United States that fourth
was guilty OF petty larceny in his office ;
and that a fifth resigned under a cloud
OF suspicion, with crave unanswered
charges resting against him; and in short,
that not man in the Cabinet could be re-
tanned without losing very much of the
confidence OF the country. The first step
of civil service reform, therefore, will
be the appointment Of new heads Of de-
partments.
The unexampled frauds in the customs
and the general bribery at every large
port of entry under Gen. GRANT, must adj
monish MIR. TuDEN OF the necessity of q
general change In officers OF the customs
As to the internal revenue, il is mat
ter proved in judicial proceedings that
frauds have prevailed to such an extent
in the regions of the great distilleries at
the West, that even men who entered the
revenue service honest were soon drawn
INTO the great maelstrom of corruption.
The Internal Revenue Bureau will require
10 he thoroughly overhauled.
Efficient District Attorneys will be want
ed, especially TO prosecute the bonds OF de-
faulters under the preceding Admins
tIation. A general change Of these
officers will be in order. The Presi-
dent will undoubtedly recognize the
immeasurable superiority of the pres
ent District Attorney for the Southern
District of New York, Col. GEORGE BLISS
over his predecessor, NOAH DAVIS; but ii
Is hardly likely he will wish 10 wound
Mr.. BLISS tender sensiblities by bringing
him into so close contact with political OPP
ponents rs his retention in Office would &C.
casion; so that, even in this district, we
shall have change. Out of the twenty
FIVE hundred probable applicants for the
situation, the new President can expert
ence little difficulty in making good Sc
lection; although the nppointee will
not enjoy the same advantage as Col. BLISS
in having the detestable NOAH DAVIS as an
immediate predecessor TO be con trasted
with.
AS TO the Post Office Department, Mr.
JEWELL has just been turned out OF office, in
great measure because he made struggle
against the immense frauds of straw bid
ding, and the fact that his effort was half
hearted, feeble, and Intellectual, could not
save him; while TO come down to local
affairs, is a fact within our own personal
knowledge that in the very important
Post ONCE of the great city OF New York,
in q position of responsibility and trust
one of the most worthless and degraded
wretches in the whole city is employed
III these facts may be taken rs indicating
the general condition of the department.
II could hardly be changed for the worse.
Who could be found to stand up for the
foreign Ministers of whom Gen. SCHENCK
was "A specimen, and BANCROFT DAVIS. the
bribe-taker one of the least suspected!
To undertake the moral regeneration OF
the unfit men in Office would be universally
regarded as n ridiculous project. The ouly
civil service reform practicable is TO turn
them out aud put lit men in their places
This President Tu.DEN Will do. His
first great, official duty rs President will
be, in this way, to reform the civil service
of the country.