The New York herald., 1877-07-09
Are the Civil Service Refcrmers
Quackst

|
It is little amusing to find among the op-
ponents Of the Presidents movements toward
a reform of the civil service good many
professional civil service reformers. These
philosophers want the service reformed, but
each has his own particular and peculiar
idea of how it ought to be done, and OF
course each considers himself the real
original DR.. Jacob Townsend and all the
others spurious imitators. One complains
in the papers that the President does not 60
far enough. another groans publicly because
the President has gone too far; third
thinks the President entirely of the track,
and the fourth, fifth and sixth cry out in
savage chorus "Ha do you call that civil
service reform?" and turn up their noses
with indignant contempt. Meantime. the
| rag-tag and bobtail Of the noble army of re-
| formers are furious because their man was
not appointed and proceed to demonstrate
that he was good man. an unexceptionable
man, respectable man, an honest man,
and moreover recommended by them-and
yet the President did not give him the
place. "Do you call that civil service re-
form?"
They say, in some of the departments in
Washington, that among the most vigorous
members of the noble bread and butter
brigade are some of these professional civil
service reformers and that this kind seem
to think that their recommendation ought
to have peculiar force in procuring Office for
their favorites. We do not wonder at this;
most men are mortal, and by the time any
great and necessary reform has been fought
to the point of success it has usually at
taned tail of camp followers who step for
ward for reward and are furious If they do
not get it. We trust the President will 60
ON his way without minding the opposition
to reform, no matter from what quarter it
comes. But as there is so much grumbling
it is useful to glance at what has been ac-
tually done.
The President proposed in his letter OF
acceptance and promised in his inaugural
address to make this reform Thorough, rad
ical and complete" He proceeded next to
place in his Cabinet two of the most pro-
nounced and conspicuous leaders OF the civil
service reform movement, William M. Evarts
and Carl Schurz, and he made Mr.. Schurz
chief of that department which controls the
greatest number of bureaus and the largest
variety Of appointments Next the Presi-
dent sent home the great army of offce-seek-
ers which crowded Washington, and peremp-
torily refused to make removals or new ap-
pointments until he had had time to look
about him. This first step, one of the most
difficult, because contrary to long-estab-
lished usage, raised against him furious
outcry, but as he was frm the disappointed
went home sullenly to plot against him in
conventions.
employed in the departments and reduc-
ton wherever it was possible He ordered
promotions for meritorious service, and in
sisted that new appointments to fill vacan-
cies should be made only in the lower
grades. He appointed commissioners to
examine the New York, Philadelphia and
Boston custom houses. On receiving the
New York report he issued an instruction
that party managers, members of partisan
committees, could not properly be put or
kept in federal Offices, and followed this
with notice to prominent ofice-holders,
who were also officers of partisan
organizations, that the duties of the
two were incompatible with the public
good and, in the public interest, he required
them to resign one Of the two positions.
Through the Postmaster General he has
forbidden ofice-holders to take any part in
partisan work, and has required them to
confine themselves to their official labors
and duties. Meantime, he has appointed
none of the old ''war horses" and machine
managers to Office; he has in several cases,
as in Baltimore, displaced notorious poll
ticians, and he has continued, slowly and
with great care, but without intermission,
to weed incompetent and improper per-
| sons out of the public service. He
has refused to make removals for
merely political reasons; he has
made new appointments in disregard
Of political considerations. where these
seemed to him to come in conflict with the
| public interest. He has caused competent
and faithful officers to feel that they are ap-
preciated, and he has incurred the hatred
and opposition of incompetent and un-
worthy officers by doing his duty fearlessly
| toward them. He has breathed new spirit
into the public service; and yet while he
has won the respect and has the support of
all true friends of civil service reform, the
quack reformers howl at him as though he
were only second edition of the last ad-
ministration. ''He has not done enough"
they cry; che moves too slowly" 'He ap-
pointed rebel woman in Louisville;" "He
has not removed Collector Simmons" and
SO forth.
Now we do not doubt that the President
will sometimes make mistakes. 1t is impos-
| aihle TINT he should not having To sn,,or;.,