The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-08-28

their conventions, ca.tuses. aud organ
izations, and IL has always been n mat
ter of complaint even in our counties
and cities whenever rings OF Office
holders are formed, who are Extensively
ofiicious in controlling popular conven-
tions, and as a rule such things have
not been tolerated. But in great cities
the office-holders are selected, not only
to be active nj the election or TO infiu-
ence the election, but TO run the ma
chinery by which nominations are
made, and caucuses held. They select
delegates TO conventions, pay their ex-
penses, control their votes, appear as
president, secretary, or guiding genius
OF the convention, aud thus the whole
machinery OF politics is an oflice-hold-
ing monopoly, offensive TO the mass OF
tho people, aud tending TO prevent the
just control OF political movements by
free, unbiased popular opinion.
1T WAS THIS ABUSE,
the greatest of all, that the President
struck directly at. The President has
not, and never did. object to the most
active men being appointed.to, and as
piring for, Office. He would naturally
select from among the most active men
in pri Vate life, those who are 10 hold
public offices. and, other things being
equal, would select one Of his own
! party, rather than one OF the adverse
party. At all'events that is my own
view. IL il would be a shade dishon-
orable for a man TO seek an Office from
the party whose success aud principles
he opposes, though he may accept an
office rendered 10 him. IL is natural
that, in selecting men for Office from
the great political organizations COM
! posed of large masses OF peoples,
/ friends rather than adveIsaries should
be selected. But there are occasions
where
THE PARTY LINE
should not be drawn, and, in all cases.
where parties put mp bad men it is the
| first bounden duty OF every good citi-
zen to refuse TO vote for them, aud
/ thus compel the selection Of the best
men for Office. But where anyone has
attained Office, either by appointment
or election, he ought not to consider
that he is therefore TO be the ruling,
| guiding manager Of conventions and
caucuses with view 10 put up the Re
publican and put down another, or TO
! pull down this Democrat D put mp AN
other iHe ought TO hold lis Office with
seemly modesty, leaving 10 the peo-
pie TO run the machinery Of their own
political organizations.
There never was, aud never will be,
danger IN our system that the neces
sary movements Of the people need the
guidance of paid otiice-holders. OF
late the influence Of Office holding IN
politics has grown worse and worse.
When, Is years ago, / heard a promi-
neut member OF the House of Repre-
sentatiyes declare that il cost him Sl5,-
900 TO be elected, l was happy 20 re-
spond for you that II had spent $500
IN securing my election / would have
been defeated, and can say in your
presence, for YOU know il, that the Gus
tom then prevailing prevented any
large expenditure Of money, and that,
though four times elected to Congress
in this district. did not aud could not
without danger TO myself, spend any
considerable sums on my election. But
of late the expensas of popular cleo
tions have so increased that we are in
danger of the very evils that for 100
years disgraced the election Of the
members Of the House % Commons
aud led 10 laws Of the greatest severity
against bribery and corruption.
believe that in the order Of the
President, and hope he will stand 10y it
and il be adds 81 the good work Of his
administration the breaking down of
this oflice-holding ofliciousness in the
management Of campaigns, this run
ming OF
CAUCUsEs AND CONVENTIONS
by Office holders, and forced assess
ment from unwilling ofiice-holders,
for political purposes, and will secure
TO the people free, unbiased control
OF their primary movements in the
election Of officers, he will have accom-
plished work second only in import
ance 20 the pacifcation Of the South.
The order OF the President does not
interfere with the right of any officer
TO vote or to express his views on pub
lie questions. either orally or through
the press, and l. at your invitation,
talk 90 You to-day, but You would re-
gard it as offensive II should under
take TO multipulate your conventions
to secure the nomination Of personal
Friends, or Interfere in any way with
your free choice in popular move
ments. And this is all that the order
of President Hayes undertakes To pre-
vent.
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM.
come now 10 speak of some admin
istrative reforms that are usually the
usually the subject OF demagOgical
promises, but ore always an imperative
duty, aud which | can fairly claim has
been faithfully performed by this adj
ministration.
The expenses Of the Government in
many branches were unnecessarily
large, aud have been reduced with
much advantage To yOu, but &c was
painful 10 execute IL, from the necessi-
~ Of dischsrging a large number Of
emplyes. This has been done in all
the departments, but mainly in the
Treasury Department. which from the
magnitude OF Its operations, employs,
throughout the United States, about
Il. 900 persons. Ia one bureau alone,
that OF Engravius and Printing, the
force was reduced sos persons, making
an annual saving OF S}6O,OJ
la the New York CustOn-huuse the
number of employees has been reduced
] 30. Uhhillk II NhNlHk VI T-DbsN-Nt Nuu
this process has not yet ended at that
port At Baltimore the number Of en-
ployes reduced was %, and the amount
saved was Sl7, ,297.
la the New Orleans Custom-house
the number OF employees las been re-
duced S6, making saving Oi S9J, i55.
/ In San Francisco the reduction, not vet
I completed, is estimated 90 amount 90
/ S73, 40, In Philadelphia 10 Sj6, 1J0, aud
/ in Boston 10 Sl22, 40 Ia other ports
/ Of the United States the number Ot
employees reduced is lS, making saw
ing Of A.. .lji, and eight appraisers in
ports where their services were no
! longer needed, have teen dispensed
with. at saving OF So, 800 Making
/ a reduction ia the customs service : nee
the lth Of March, 1877, Of sZ2l. $50 a
year. This process will be extended
/ 20 all tho internal revenue officers of
the United States with very large
saving Of expense.
Contracts for cutting the stone for
several Of the large public buildings
were founded upon the principle of
the Government paying 20 the contrac.
tors the cost Of the labor and material
employed in the cutting, aud 10 per
cent. added thereto. The contract for
the erection Of the building for the
use Of the State, War aud Navy De
/ partments, was 90 changed as 90 reduce