New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-23
LEY rELnGkArm TO TIE TRIRuYE.I

ofEICf-hpLD RS I'D BIZ INSTRUCTED 10 KEEP OUT
or POLITICS OR To REsiGN-IHE PRt siDENT TO
ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEI
WASHINGTON june 22.-Thc President has deter
mined before leaving for the East next week to is
sue an Executive order prohibiting all Federal Office
holders from acting members of partisan cam-
paign committees and from taking active part in the
work of organizing and directing political cam
paigns. In what form this will be put cannot now
he positively stated; but 1t will be in substance an
extens on of the Presidents New-York Custom-house
order, as to IKE 1t apply t. all persons holding
Government Offices. IL will inform such persons
thaC if they desire to retain their positions they
must no longer engage IN the labors and nrilmes of
partisan politics. Ii is understood that tins matter
considered in the Cabinet TODAY, and that the
President has the unanimous approval of his c0nst-
tutional advisers
The step he has resolved upon is the most impor-
tant new departure in modern politics. In every
part of the country the Federal olce-hoders of all
grades, from village pOstnasers up marsbals and
customs collectors, are, rule, the most active
politicians i'll their respective ncighbOrho0dS. In
most cases they have received their positions
wards Tor their skill and diligence III the primary
meetings AMI co iventlOns and for their success IN
organizing their party aud getting ont its vote. To
force tnem to fall back into the ranks of ordinary
citizens and to yield their places political leaders
to other men under penalty Of being deprived of
their offices, IN applying remedy of the most heroic
description to the diseases that aiict the civil
vice. I he President Is evidently very much ia
nest in this movement. He to hink that 10
effective beginning can be made in the york of civil
service reform long Government officials regard
ii their especial prerogatvc to manipulate state
and local politics. lie believes that these officials
should give their whole time the business of their
offices, and allow other men not IN the pay of the
United States to attend to the business OF organizing
and managing party canvasses.
The order Will affect number of officials
who are charinen or members of National, S ate,
county committees In many States it has been the
custom TO select Federal oice-hoders for the work
ing positions on campaign committees, not because
of their lnIlu nee alone but because they were
drawing good salaries from the Government and
could afford to give Their time to the cause" with
out taking any compensation from the campaign
funds. All such persons must resign their
Offices or throw ~ their committee positions There
cannot be much doubt as 10 the course the Will
take. They will of course keep the Offices witch
have been the objects of their partisan ac-
tivIty. To get them in the first place aud
To keep them afterwaTd Is what has stimulated
their efforts politicians They will not Willingly
drop out of party management, however, and no
doubt, while yielding nominal obedience to the
Presidents ORDER many If them will manage to re-
tain the sembauce of their power as- politicians.
gentleman who holds Il Federal appointment out
West and il chairman OF Che state Committee, aud
Is known as the boss of Republican politics IN his
State, was ASKED to-day what he was going to do
about the order, aud w,ich position he would re-
sign He said that he should not resign either, and
minated that ii the President should want to re-
move him Tor doing his best to win victories for the
party that supported the President, lac could do 50 as
soon as he pleased. He will probably change his
mind after he has Thought the matter over for day
two.