The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-19
SUNDAY. AUGUST 10, iN7.


A Real civil Service Reform.
Political parties are formed on issues.
When party survives the issue, it no longer
hvcs on principle. and too easily becomes cor
rupt Then IL holds Office for the sake of Office
and administers for the profits OF admius-
tratiun. Its leaders degenerate into an oil
garchy Of uncchuldcrs. Its rank and file
degenerate into crowd Of Office seekers.
An able man, say IN Orcgon-wc usc that
namc merely Tor illustration secures his
elcction n United States senator. His sue
ecss required rrclimnarly the careful cleo
tion " a state Legislature the majority Of
which favored his ambition. This demand
ed the active labor of many agents to han
die the nominating conventions in the Senate
and Assembly districts. The struggle be-
tween competing candidates before the Leg
elature required the scr\i Of other aids.
An election left the chosen senator loaded
with political debts. After taking his seat
In Washington he proceeds to pay these. He
demands from the Treasury, the Interior,
and the Post Onlce Departments the control
Of at least half the Federal Offices in Oregon
and Washington Territory; half of the mail
contracts. half Of the Indian contracts, half
Of everything out of which money can bc
made. To the extent to which the War, the
Navy. and state Department.. can contribute
appointments or patronage toward the pay
ncnt Of his political debts he also demands
his Senatorial share Of them. To his polite
cal creditors who follow him to Washing
ton, he says, Look into the departments,
and see what you would like to have"
They get what they want. Clcrk-hips are
defcrcntially given to him on demand. lie
Is power in the Government; and it has
long been the custom to let senators aud
Representatives, fill the bureau Offices with
their own appointrcs.
Thus, in the midst Of Il nominal democracy.
this Oregon senator is an oligarch. who ILLS
half the Offices in a great State and Territory
with his personal followers and servants.
They depend on him for their living. They
do his bidding. Practically he owns the Offices
for he can empty them a. we'll a. fill them.
To whom do the incumhcnts of these OF
fees owe allegiance and feel responsibility?
Clearly to the power that appointed
them They are politicians support
ers more than civil servants. The char
actcr of the civil service the Government
gets out Of this anomalous system Is patent.
Fitness has little to do with it. Lachcs Of
btINli' anu tNti iildlNflNNllfIn are Eilltltltl
by the power that appointed II is almost
Impossible to gct rid Of bad official. Com
plants and charges against him cannot
oven be heard ii the senator is determined
to protect him. Under this -candalous sys-
tenn the Offices of the entire republic are
owned 10y the President, the members OF the
two Houses of Congress. ana the chiefs of
departments, and are run 10y them for their
personal advantage; and there j. a common
law of courtesy in this Oligarchy that allows
every owner to run his Offices without
much scrutiny or moleStatun
In every State and Territory Of the Union
this sort of thing prevails. Washington is
corrupt and imbccilc with it from centre To-
circumference. The system separates oil
cials in interest from the people. Ii scpa-
rates the chiefs who appoint from true
representation. 1t divcrts senators and
Representatives from public affairs, and oc-
cupics them in selfish and personal inter-
ests. II compcls them to be- sectional mcr-
cenary, and petty Too often it corrupts
them with secret copartnor~hip- in contracts
and legislation procured for those who aided
their election.
There is nothing in our history moro all
surd than HAYIs's childish order to Fed
eral olliccholdcrs To keep ont Of politics.
Oniccholders have rs much right To- concern
themselves with local and national politics
as the people have to bear arms. But the
right measure Is to pas Il hill in the next
Congrcss t. make all Federal officers elect
I've by the people, save the heads If depart
mcnts and bureaus and department clerks
In Washington, and the collectors and officers
Of customs III the ports Of entry. Every
other Federal officer in the States and Ter
ritories should be elected by the people
There can be no question about the char
Actcr OF the officials the people would choose
We have guarantee for it in the quality of
the county Boards of Supervisors elected all
over the United States. They are invariably
reputable, honest, Judici'n-, able men.
Wrong doing ia Office hy an American Super
visor l. almost unh"ard of. The people oi
Montana would surely elect their best men
Tor their territorial Offices They could So
Iect litter persons than HAYES, SHTHNI\N.
hoRToN, or CAMERON could. To- survey, sell.
and take care Of the public Lands withmthoir
limits. The peoplcof Utica would bc sure to
elect thoroughly competent and trust
worthy man To- be- thrir postmaster. Thi.
remedy for the existing evils Of oar civil
B'sNice would be- thorough speedy ANA la~'-
Ing. II would strengthen the nation. II
would strengthen the pcl pie in the towns
and States 1t would cll,.ck the strides of
Federal u-urpation II wdlld make ccntral-
ization Of power in Wa-hihgton impossible.
II would make the GuVenlmont honest irt,-
gal, and effective.
A Bitter Attack ON Nh. tonklihg.
Mr. II.<rN ~ ,rrt.t- ',- ..ti,., - a..