New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-19
THE CIVIL SERVICE DOCTRINE.

EMPHATIC LETTERS FROM GEN. KEY And PUBLIC
PRINTER DtFEErs-POLTiCs WEIGHED AGAINST
EFFICIENCY AND USEFULNESS.
WASHINGTON, June 1S.-A few days ago n number
of clerks who had been discharged by the recently
appointed postmaster from the post-ofce OF one of
the larger cities of the West, visited Washington to
Law their grievances before Postmaster-CieBera Key
and to give some advice as to the conduct of the
Administration. They represented that the new
postmaster had discharged faithful and ell
cicnt clerks (themseivesl and appointed mex
pcrcnccd and Inefficient clerks IN their stead, and,
moreover that tie present postmaster was not loyal
TO the Administration; that by appointments ana
other acts rs well by words spoken, lac mad man
Tested hostility to the Southern policy Of the Adj
ministraon, for which oiIcnses they asked his re-
moval and the appointment of some one who would
APPRECIATE their political and official devotion. The
Postmastcr-Gcnerll informed them that he would
take their papers and lay the case before the Pres
dent. The following copy of an autograph letter
written by Judge Key shows his decision:
PosrOfFrE DEPARTMENT,
WAsHiSGTuS, d. c., June 10. 1871
DEAR sIRs: have seen TIE President ana presenter
10 him the papers Won fled In this department I'D refer
tnce the DOS -ui 'c at - ana we nave cttciWl COR
sidcrcd same. Ycur records seem 10 BE- good ana
your testimony is strong. 10 appear, nom ia
tue department. tiat TIE Office - wen conducted 40 pres
cut and that SPECIAL agent has made lavo"nc report
a. To its present Or.anizitl u ana inahiScmoui,
50 that the public is not suffering for me "auI
Of good service. The Office Is wen mailaSeu
now 50 that the complaints made are more
in the nature oil private tnan public gfltFauce. ~
ma, beind do not undertake 20 say now thht s-lhat
you ere properly treated lbs thc present pos mas
tr bat vet lie has force wnch Is dlschiigi 'nel',
tie duties OF the Office To remove le Po'lnsol 'n,'
de rive these persons Of their POSITIONS; ~ tue ssn
lion the predecessor of tue incumbent drFrn y"a -.
yUufs. tnat III wrong ts octul'u, !. Ho,t ~, ~,
dressed by such procedure, but might Dc ehaf-eu anu
Inc postollce ia not political institution. If 1t be
true state that the mean cent OPPOSES inc p95
OF tne Administration, that hc mas i Ilihl 10 no. G
no cause oil removal Unless III nis a. ""1 n 1n
siuk tine postmaster III the politician. II any ono
whether he support or oppose the Administration rs
lecs his duty by being busy politician, OF uthc' nm
sell obnoxious 10y reason OF lncun,lu idtc nu iv'lo"
zeal, ne ought To De removed p'V u i'0 IN ,c1iate
iuy to his duties and makes goou ana ~ pa ~
posfmaster should not he removed JhouSu ne Sc ~
To oppose The Administration Tue fIeHluei,9 mus ~
sufficient cause Tor a change IN the post-OIce. very
fruIy ID. NJ KEY, POstmlsler-Gcneral.
This letter is especially significant from the fact
that it was submitted to the President and had his
approyal The letter is addressed TO the deputaton
OF discharged clerks from the Pittsburgh POs-Ohce
who came here recently To get renstated II possible
and tn move for the removal of the postmaster re-
Gently appointed at that place. Neither TINS letter
nor the one recently sent to a special agent in the
South which also contained some good ciVll service
aoetrine. was written with wow to publication.
In addition 70 these expressions concerning the civil
service. the following has appeared to-day 1t being
= circular issued by Public Printer Delrees III
response to applications for place:
OFFICE or The PUBLIC PRINTER,
WASHINGTON, b. G., June Il, 1871.
II "a now more than sixteen years since tie ~,
mont of the Government Printing Once. SlhCo ultL
time coniposltors pressen anu bOohbEdeis nave coc
here every part OF the country loI t and
Many Of them obtained II, ana nave Dy hdlu won a
ccov secured homes for their families whlch III many
,nstanres have been entirely pald lor' Olhcls VIM
d, not own houses rent them or board ana ns"r} an,
have families to support out oil ther , ualS
-nrnings There now more soocI' ihuue
rims and capable wOrkmcn OF lhls ch'rdv-
Ter here than at auy time DO enPiV .y
II ,onld ne unjust and cruel To discharge any OF lse
worlunen nicely put Others nom di7ahoe III tSl'
unccg and il viii not be done As ltttes nave pev ~
meuf il is deemed best b. adopt ms methou OF lniOln
ing a concerned that IL cannot Dc hau 50 wa. .c Ia
80, ot canning re may BE- avoided III must also NC
inIerstood that tins establishment cal'Iot pe inauo
either religious, POLITICAL or chailanlo 4sy ~
rtt V,rk-uou the most extensive PUBLISHING Ho"aS III
fic world and must managed with the stlo
s.nnnV s IL observed by the managers Oh sihihI pll
800, sin,'s or else Al were better Ior the Govern
nj Ia aim