New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-09
"THE BEST ON TIE PLANET"


II was Senator Morton, if we rightly remem-
her. who a few years ago, when the deluslOn
nrevailed that our civil service might be I'M
proved, and measures OF reform were uhucr
discussion, lifted us all out of our skeptlclsm
on this point by the authoritative statement
from his place in the Senate that 1t was as
matter of fact "the best civil service on the
"planet.n and needed no reform. When we
say lifted us all out of skopticism upon the
subject, we are perhaps carrying 1t just
trifc too far, for there were persons who had
allowed themselves to be Influenced by devel-
opmcnts III courts of law and exposures
brought about by Congressional lnyestlgatlon'
who remained unconvinced. and continued 10
say that it was not by any means perfect, ana
that il might be improved. But Senator Nor
TOMS authoritative statement, if it did not
convince fanatics upon the subject, had the
onnorent effect of reassuring majority OF
those who had it in their power to either change
the system or retain all the old practices. Inc
consequence was that the subject ceased to DC
discussed by those who alone could effect re-
form, and the best civil service on the planet
was continued without change in its bench
cent operations. Senators and members OF
Congress continued to turn loose upon the
Government such of their friends as had no
other use in life except to frequent the prl-
mary, manage the caucus, and administer the
small details of small politics. The best civil
service on the planet was full of them. They
perched themselves on high stools In all the
departments, used the quilts of the Govern
ment goose about one hour day over their
ears as pens, and three hours in their mouths
as toothpicks, discussed small politics in a
large way, and signed the pay-rolls with
charming regularity. And Congress pointed to
the fine display with pride as the best CIVIL
service on the planet
And yet it must be confessed the average
citizen continues to doubt. Occasions indeed
sometimes arise which must shake the conil-
dence of the most trustfu Congressman III the
pcrfect working of the system. Here, for in
stance. is the robbery Of $1,000 from the
Treasury by one of the gentlemen contributed
to the service by the Hon. Charles b. Farwcil
of Illinois, Mr.. f. S. WinslOw OF Chicago.
Mr.. Winslow, it seems, had been President of
a bank in Chicago, and after what might be
called an unsuccessful business career, at the
end of which the bank paid so cents on the
dollar of its liabilities and Mr.. WinSlow 10
cents on the dollar of his, the closing transac-
tons of the same being somewhat clOuded, and
probably crooked, he fell back upon the Gov
eminent by way of his member of Congress,
the Hon. Mr.. Farwell. And the Government
what good grandmotherly Government it
is, to be sure-gaye him place. That is, it
did MT give him a place; that is MT the way
in which the best civil service on the planet
is administered lit gave the Hon. Mr.. Farwell
4 place to ill on the Government pay-rOils,
and Mr. Farwell put his unfortunate friend.
Mr. Winsow, in it. The Government good,
trrstful, and cOnfding Government that it is
having all of Senator MortOns faith i'll its own
civil service, set Mr.. WinslOw to counting
money i'm the cashrOOm. Ii was an uncOm-
monty good place for Mr.. Winslow, for it put
him in the way of being able to pay more than
10 cents on the dollar to his creditors upon
his next failure, and it was good thing for
the Government, because If money was missed
the detectives would know at once whom to
suspect Mr.. Winslow, it now appears, embraced
tho opportunity SO generously flung aU him by
the Government by way of the Hon. Mr.. Far
well, and toOk-"' convey the wise it call"-a
package of $11 200, intrusted to him to seal
and direct. His record not being good, he was
suspected, and the result is the return OF the
package minus only some 5000 or $500. We
presume that Mr.. WinsOw will be now trans
ferred to some other department of the public
service, perhaps dismissed altogether. In the
latter case the Hon. Mr.. Farwcll will have an
other appointment mt his disposal. For of
course the proposition would not be entertained
for a moment to deprive the Hon. Mr. Farwcl
of his share of tho patronage merely because
one of his appointecs has been caught stealing.
But isn't it a fine civil service, thought AS
u system of rewards for political service how
admirably it works! Now then. Mr.. Farwell,
there's high stool vacant and a quill for
somebody's ear, and chance TO count cash for
the Government. Its your place to fill. Call
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