Helena weekly herald., 1877-05-10
MODEL REFORNER.

The chiId-like simplicity and naturalness,
to say nothing of the originality and novelty
of the suggestion with which the editor of
the Independent urges for Civil Service Re-
form that our Delegate in Congress should be
consulted, and he alone, about the appoint
ments to be made by the Administration in
our Territory, is altogether worthy OF one
who declaims furiously against monopoly
while exercising one of the most obnoxious
and oppressive kind. Why! bless your poor
innocent heart this sort of reform that you
recommend is exactly the same that General
Butler is the champion of. Who knows the
wants and wishes of his constituency so well
as their representative in Congress? This is
the fundamental principle upon which our
Congress has been turned into great bro
ker's shop for the disposal of patronage to
the neglect of their proper duties, and to the
general disgust of good citizens as well as to
the degradation of our Civil Service. OF
course, says the Independent man, it is not
expected that a Republican Administration
will appoint Democrats to office, but then the
Democratic representative is the only proper
one to designate good men for Office among
his adversaries. This is funny philosophy,
butbefore its advocate can expect to see others
converted by such reasoning, it would look
better to see him try it for himself in hon.
eopathic installments.
Now we have no objections to the Presi-
dents consulting Congressman about appoint
ments, not even though thy belong to the
opposite party. In very many cases we would
think this source of information should be
resorted to as the best to be had, but when
any one seriously advocates that the Con-
gresham or Delegate should be first, always
and only consulted on such matters, you have
paved the way for the most corrupt and de-
graded system of Civil Service ever practiced
or conceived of. In the first place it de-
bauches the elections, when it is understood
that the Congressman has control of the Ex-
ecutive Audience Chamber. The Congress
sional aspirant begins his canvass by appor-
tioning public positions in exchange for sup
port It is truck and dicker from first to last.
1t leads to the packing of cauQusses and
conventions, and results in dictation to the
public who shall be candidates even.
In thenext and principalplace, itinterteres
with, and almost entirely monopolizes the at
tention of Congressman to the neglect of the
most essential duties OF their position. They
are deluged with applications for office, in
volved in every contest among rival aspi-
rants, driven to practice deception, or resort
to disgraceful subterfuges to keep peace in
the party and secure reelection till they
have no time to study the measures before
Congress for intelligent action and voting.
There is no way to have Congressman of
any use in maturing legislation until they are
relieved of all care, distraction, and respon-
sibility in the matter of appointments. On
the soundest principles that human expert
ence has disclosed for our guidance, we would
have it made an offense punishable with Sc
we're penalties to importune a Congressman
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exercise his influence for such purposes.
What sense is there in providing in the
constitution that Congressman shall be ex-
empt from arrest for everything except the
highest crimes, during their attendance at the
sessions of their houses and in going and re-
turning, if they are to be exposed and arrested
at every street corner at any hour of the day
or night by a hungry horde of ofice-seekers,
drawn away from duty, threatened, bribed,
and distracted, left without time or patience
to attend to their legitimate duties. 1t looks
like neglecting the weightier matters of the
law for the tithes of mint.
Lastly, this system interferes with the pro-
per discharge of the appointing power by the
chief responsible officer. When Congress-
man recommends for Office, it is tacitly re-
cognized that his support of administration
measures is contingent upon the attention
paid to his recommendations. 1t results in
dictation on the one side and blind subservi-
ence on the other, else it is war and Interrupt
ton of business. We desire to see every de-
partment of government left free as possible,
to feel to the utmost the sense of RESPONSE
bility for the discharge of its own proper du-
ties. There is no such thing as civil serv-
ice reform possible while appointments are
dictated by Congressman. When this evil,
together with lobbying, are stamped and pun
ished as crimes, civil service reform will be
well advanced towards maturity.
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