National Republican., 1877-11-05
New Phase in Civil Service.

Mr. r. b. n. KElM, the very cntcrpris-
ing efficient, and courtly correspondent of
the Philadelphia Press, who has the special |
cnirec of the White House and Departments,
and hence has rare advantages for inIorma-
ton, furnishes the following to the Press as
among the latest phases of civil service:
Ex-senator HENDERSON, of Missouri. had
an interview with the President to-day. in
which the conversation turned upon the civil
service Mr.. lIESDERsON remarked TO the
President that ho thought that his Southern
policy was right, hut in some features of his |
civil service policy he was acting upon false
premises that at present n large share of the
Office holders were not his friends and were
covcrtly, at least, acting i'll the interest OF
those wished to make his efforts in behalf of
reform failure; that II he wished to carry
out his policy he must have the instruments;
that possibly he might in measure feel
fcttercd by his letter of acceptance, hut
that he did not think that this should
interfere with the ruriRCatiun of the
service; that the Interpretation Of u ma
jorty of the people would be to get the hest
men in the service and then let them remain
there The President said that this was now
a subject of consideration that II was in the
line of the Judgment Of some members of the
Cabinet and that the idea was not at all in con
tCt with his own views. The ex-senator here
interposcd. at is your idea, Mr.. President to
keep out the machine politicians; be careful
not 10 appoint the machine: are yOu surU that
| the machine Is not ~ At this moment the
| Cabinet began to assemble. The President
| urged the Senator to return after the adjourn
| mcnt Of the Cabinet to continue the cOnyCrsa-
| tion further; but he was compelled to decline,
US he was about to leave the city. 1t can be
said, however, that the policy OF the Govern
ment will be a gradual change OF those now in
la. ntt. lad rtI
and experiences. Secretary SCHuRz to-day cX-
pressed himself favorable to n change of policy
| in this direction. lie feels that the service
could bo bcttered. and the administration. in
stead of thus being weakened, would be
strengthened.
1t is quite probable-yea, it is almost
certain-that ex-senator HENDERSON did
support Mr.. HAYES in the late pres
idential election; but does this justify
such wealth of advice relating to the
the development Of his policy Of admins
trution? He recommends virtually that
those in Office should be put ont, for the
reason that "a large share Of them are not
his (the Prcsidcnt'sD friends" The prcsi-
dent is represented as saying, in reply
to this proposition, "thnt was now a sub
iect of consideration" This is new
phase in the civil service reform that is GO
ing on, and naturally leads to thought and
investigation. We venture the opinion that
there is not to-day in Federal Office n man
who was not q firm friend and ardent sup
porter of President HAYES when he was
voted for, unless he has been placed there
by the President himself or some Of his
Secretaries since he entered upon his duties
as executive
If the service is corrupt, weed out the
+ corruption, and in that way make the
reform elective. No ono desires that cor.
, rupt, incompetent, or inefficient men
should be retained in Office. To cs'
tablish either of these against un in
cumbent should be regarded rs sufficient
cause for displacement. That is genuine
reform, such as the country desires and has
, a right to expect But during the las
eight months, while many changes have
} occurred, the public have not been adviseC
, that any have been for cause. We have yc
to hear of case at the national capita
} where material change has taken place
after charges have been made and sustainct
against the official removed, while we d.
D know of instances where removals haN
been made because some one else wantc'
D the place, and, so far as tho public servic
2 is concerned, somewhat to its detrimcnt.