New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-27

appointments enough w HI tho Pi''NN'
considerable part of the officers whose commissions
were daily expiring would be fatal to all ideas OF
civil service REFORM at least far as those appoint
ments were concerned. At one of the early Caoihct
meetings it was determined to adopt new ana
holder policy. 1t was found that in most cases the
laws provide that Government officer whose COM
mission expires shall continue perform the duties
of his office and remain responsible for public prop
erty in his possession until This successor is qualified
Court Offices, to which these provisions do not apply
and which become vacant, may be temporarily iiiieu
by the court itself; and these two classes covered
nearly all the cases that had arisen or were key 10
arise 1t was therefore decided not to attempt 10
fill all these places at once, but to allow the senate
to adjourn. Some attention was to be given 10 'ne
Southern question, which was pressing Tor an iihie-
date solution and the vacancies were 10 pe hiieu az
leisure as full information in regard 10 each anu "
the applicants for 1t could be obtained.
This is reform that is not temporary in its char
oeter. II not only enables President Hayes and ms
Cabinet to act intelligently in making appoint
ments. but it will relieve the next President OF
mucb of the importunty of oiice-seekers during the
first days of his term. -Four years from now there
Will not be six hundred commissions to expire our
ing the first week after the 4th of March; nor VIII
there be several thousands of vacancies before the
LIST of April This fact of itself will be suicieht
excuse to President Hayes's successor LOT making
haste slowly in efiecting official changes.
the present Administration should 90 nothihg
else to reform the civil service the effect OF THIS one
act will probably not to bel felt for many years.
One Other fundamental principle the President mas
already established not only to govern hlmseH IN
making civil appointments, but also in determining
whether persons already holding office sialremaihor
not. Keeping always in view the Je'fersonan test vi
honesty capability, and faithfulness he has added
onotber-lovalty TO the Constitution of the United
States as it is Public officers will be required not
only TO profess an acceptance of the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments, but to use their ihhu-
ence to make them respected by Others and to pre-
vent the violation either of their letter or their
spirit failure to do this will of itself be sufficient
cause for the removal of the best officer in the
country An acceptance Of the results of the war
and assistance of the Administration in preserving
and defending them will be substituted for the
PARTISAN service heretofore required of Office
holders No very close scrutiny will be made into
the past political affiliations OF candidates, es-
pecially IN the South if they are found to have the
qualifications here enumerated, including always as
a c0Editi0 sine qua non the last.
One other matter connected with civil service re-
form has also been considered by the President ana
his Cabinet-to what extent good officers whose
terms have expired shall be reappOntcd. Post
masters and customs and revenue officers who have
served faithfully for four years, and whose admis-
tra.ion is satisfactory to the Government and the
people with whom they come in contact are to be
considered as having prima face claim to be reap
pointed. This conclusion was reached without much
discussion. The cases of officers who have served
eight years have been thought to involve an add-
tional principle; that is, whether in majority OF
cases it will not be for the interest of the public scr
vice to have change once III eight years. Abuses
will grow up even under good officers which new
men will be more likely to root out; occasional
changes will prevent the creation of an otlice-hold-
ing class antagonistc to the spirit of our insttu-
tons. There are some other reasons which VIII
readily suggest themselves why perpetual tenure
of office may not be desirable. All these thlngshaVe
been carefully considered, and it is believed thecon-
cusion arrived ut is that person holding office Tor
eight wears has much less claim for reappointment
than one whose commission has never been renewed.
This decision will not prevent tie reappointment OF
a postmaster, for instance who is manlfestly the
best man for the place. if he has already served
eight years. 1t does not apply at all to cerkshps in
the departments in Washington or elsewhere, or to
Offices which require special training or long expert
ence to fill with success.
Ihave not referred in this letter to the reforms
that are contemplated in the details of the civil SER
vice here in Washington, or to the abuses which
most need correcting. Those may form the subject
of another letter at an early day. z. L. W.
pIuES IN PREPARATION