The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-26
Reform in The Public Service.

Z
Hon. B. II. Hill, Of Georgia, has written !
letter to the Augusta Constitution, giving
his views of the duty Of Senator in the ap
pointment of persons to office. After defli-
ing the character of our government, in III
legislative, judicial and executive depart
ments-each intended to be check ant
balance to the other-and stating that TIKI
appointing power is a part OF the eXecu
tive function, and the interference of
Senator to control the Executive in this duty
is as wrong in principle as for the Executive
to interfere in the legislative branch OF gov
ernment, he says:
There are men-noisy men, too-in boil
the Senate and House at Washington, Whose
only idea Of the science OF government is de
fined by the art of controlling the public
patronage as means of holding power
They form rings, make combinations, or
ganize cliques, and, in some Instances, abso
lutely control large States. They get tllei
tools in nearly all the departments of thu
Government at Washington, and in thu
States, and each tool regards it as his sacred
duty to keep the public supplied with puff
of the noble deeds and great eloquence of hi
benefactor.
These conclusions are too true: and the
people are to blame as much IS the member.
of Congress. The result OF a caucus nomi
nation for Congress is generally controlled
by those seeking Office. The sharper the
ring manager arranges his plans-tlie more
INSCRIPTIONS the agencies he employs &c
nominate his mar-tha higher re stands in
the estimation of the tricGster he Las bene-
fitted, and the greater his fitness for official
position, so far as the member Of Congress
OF Senator, thus benefited, can exert an in.
liuence. The public good is the last thing
that is thought OF, either with the caucus
managers, or the representatives. 1t is how
much influence can be made effective in the
nomination of the candidate, and how much
influence he can exert in returning the favor
in procuring Office. 1t is spoils all the way
through. With this rule to govern, is it to
be wondered that the public service has de-
generated into mere scramble for office aud
plumber OF power?
MIR. Hill continues his reflections by lay
ing down the following wise and patriotic
rule for his own guidance, which is worthy
Of universal approval and adoption
The proper rule is for applicants to for.
ward their applications for office directly to
the appointing power. Every applicant from
Georgia has the right in his application to
refer to me, or any other Senator or Repre-
tof inc Ii
for the office sought. | will cheerfully and
to the President, if asked, before the romi-
nation, and to the Senate in passing on the
nomination. Before the President and the
Senate, every man shall have from me an
equal chance on his merits. Designating
the abuse and misrepresentation of those
whom | cannot accommodate with viola
ton Of my sense of duty--the least worthy
being always the most exacting and spiteful
i shall rely only for support on an intelli-
gent people who have no interest but in good
government.
And concludes with the paragraph belo v,
which we commend especially to the trading
politicians who have heretofore run the Con.
sentative party of Virginia.
We are entering upon new era. New
and great questions will soon press us for
solution. Ii we would avoid a continuance
of the evils that have cursed us in tile past,
we must abandon the causes that produced
them. If we would elevate our politics, we
must improve the ways of our politicians.
If we would relieve the burdens OF the peo-
pie, we must sustain honestly the govern
ment. We must have no Office that is not
| needed, and no officer that is not competent.
If the people of Virginia will take into
consideration these conclusions, and reduce
them to practice, the Commonwealth will be
the gamer. There is no State>in the Union
which has been so thoroughly ridden with
the professional politician as Virginia. It's
effects are seen in the protligate legislation
that has afflicted us--the lavish squandcrine
Of the hard earnings of labor, without any
equivalent in return-the corruption in pub
lie office-the creation of unnecessary offices
for the sole purpose OF providing for poiti-
cal favorites, and the chronic recIllessness
which has distinguished the administration
of State affairs in the past decade. The peo-
pie are the sufferers for all this wrong doing,
and it is with them to say whether they will
continue to allow the caucus managers to
persist in their desolating rule.