The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-31
Two Voice. ON IN. civn Service.

| merely ministerial OmcerS SnOulu DC PeiHiu-
nent; that they should be promoted for
merit and efficiency; that appointments
should be made only after examination, and
that political considerations should have no
weight in making them. But there is an
other and perhaps even more numerous
class who dissent from oil this. They fear
that permanence IN Office would create a
beaurocratic spirit and lead to state
of things in which the government
would exist mainly for the benefit
of set of obstructives who draw sal
aries. They hold that the minor and nom
political officers have but light and easy
duties to perform, which need no special skill
or training that in the exceptional cases,
| even under our loose system, capable Off
GERS are retained that civil service exami-
nations are foolishness; that on the whole
it is better to simplify the administration
than to form permanent civil service.
We believe we have stated fairly the two
extremes of opinion on this subject. The
one side would entirely abolish patronage,
and carry on the government service strictly
as mercantile establishment is conducted.
The other sees dangers in this system, and
J prefers to let things take their old course.
/, Meantime the friends of civil service re-
form point out not only the improvements
growing out of examinations and systematic
promotions for merit in such branches of
the service as the Patent Office and the rail-
way mail service, but they hold up to pub
lie view the various abuses which have
become conspicuous during General Grants
administration. Look they say, at Cabl-
net officer STOPPING to carry on partisan
canvass; look Mt United States marshals and
collectors spending their time and misusing
their influence for partisan ends; look at
consular service composed largely OF favor
ties, invalids and incapables, and Of no use
to commerce; at custom houses misused to
obstruct commerce and rob merchants at
the public offices stuffed with favorites at
the party in power compelling the clerks to
pay political assessments and spend their
time in the service Of the party. See, they
add, how in the last Presidential campaign
the whole force Of the government was di-
verted to the illegitimate use of maintain
ing the party in power in defiance of the
will of the people see conventions manned
and controlled, and nominations made
almost exclusively by office-holders on
the one side ind by ofice-seekers on
the other, to the exclusion of the
people, who yet are supposed to govern,
but who are powerless in the hands
of political machines formed to grab and
plumber the taxes. If this system is per-
mitted to 60 on it will be impossible to get
party out which once has gained power,
without a revolution after the Mexican
fashion.
But, reply the others, we do not defend
these abuses we maintain only that the
remedies you propose are impossible; that
the use of patronage to secure political OBJ
jects may be legitimate, and that if it is
abused the people can and will punish the
authors Of the abuses; and they point
to the fact that in spite of the mon
strous wrongs and decentralization Of the
last eight years the people cast vote last
November which, but for the unconstitu-
tional and revolutionary military interior
ence of the administration, would have
elected the party which had countenanced
these abuses.
Let US now try to see what are the fncts
about the civil service. The federal gov
eminent is in the main vast business
establishment. 1t has comparatively few
purely political duties, and these are very
simple. 1t has m insignificant army and
navy, u judiciary which touches only few
interests, foreign service of trifling i'm
portance The Cabinet, the federal courts,
the army and navy and the minis
tiers and consuls abroad are the whole
political staff, and they form numer-
ically but a very small part Of the
service. All the rest are political;
they are clerks, no matter by what more
dignifed names they are called, and they are
hired to perform clerical duties more orless
complicated and important but which have
no proper political relations or functions.
They are members Of q vast business estab-
lishment, whose duty it is to collect taxes,
keep accounts, pay out interest on the debt
and salaries, and buy necessary supplies
A collector of customs is simply clerk Of
the Treasury Department.; a marshal is
clerk of the Attorney Generals office;
postmaster is clerk of the General Post
Office Department, and SO on.
| Looked at in this way there seems to be
no reason why these persons should make
themselves conspicuous in partisan strife,
and there is an eminent improperly in
their doing 50; for when collector or a
marshal engages himself as q party leader
he is spending the time and using the in
fuence Of the government Of the whole
people that is to say--to benefit himself
and that part Of the people with whom he
agrees in politics. 1t is source of great
mischief and decentralization. But when,
| ~, ba othar hand IL io r1ryad that hal m