The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-06-02

pOIl HiSt vi all, lnc iSSiuSub uiiS''Su
the appointment of commission to
examine into the business
conduct of it and make such recon-
as its actual business con-
dition required. 1t was the first deci-
sive step of the Administration in the
direction of practical civil service re-
form. The commission has made par
tial report, advising a reduction Of
one-ffth the official force now employed
there, and expressing the opinion "that
" there can be no adequate protection to
"the customs service for the honor Of
" the Government, the rights of import
" ers, and interests of the nation, until
" the service is freed from the control of
party and organized on strictly bust
" ness basis, with the same guarantees
" for efficiency and fidelity in the selec-
" ton of the chief subordinate officers
" that would be required by prudent
" merchant" As the recommendations
embraced in this report involved "ques-
" tions of general policy, which effect
" other departments of the Govern
ment, the Secretary of the Treasury re-
ferred it to the President for instruc-
tions as the rules to be adopted on this
subject, and, in reply to which, the
President has enunciated not only the
principles underlying an efficient reform
of the customs service but clearly in
Dictated the methods to be pursued in
its attainment. After concurring in the
of the commission, he
declares it to be his wish, chat the
" collector Of the revenues should be
" free from partisan control That party
" leaders should have no more influence
d" in appointments than other equally
" respectable citizens. No assessments
=" for political purposes on officers or
" subordinates should he allowed. No
" useless officer or employee should be
" retained. No officer should be re-
quired or permitted to take part in
1" the management of political organiza-
" tions, caucuses and conventions or
" election campaigns. Their right to
" vote and to express their views of
" any public question, either orally or
" through the press, is not denied, pro-
L" vided it does not interfere with the
" discharge of their official duties"
This final declaration of the Presi-
dent may then be justly accepted as
the earnest of such practical reforms
of the customs service as have hereto
fore been indicated by him in his letter
of acceptance and inaugural address.
To secure this, the Secretary of the
Treasury in turn issues his letter of in
struction to the Collector of the port of
New York, indicating the methods by
which the reform shall be accomplished.
1t will be observed that the "glittering
generalities" heretofore INDUCED in have
been ignored by the President. The
character of the reforms contemplated
is clearly defined, the methods of its
accomplishment explicitly stated. We
regard as captious and hypercritical the
comments of certain leading journals,
noticeably those Of the New York Times
upon the Presidents letter, taking en-
ception at his failure "to order" such
as the commission recommends, and
abandoning" to the discretion of the
Collector Of that port such reforms as
he desires or only general indicates,
of explicitly directing what they
were. On the contrary, we maintain
that the popular commentator Of the
whole proceeding, relative to the New
York Custom House, is based upon the
direct, pointed, and explicit treatment
Of the subject by the President and his
Secretary. The principal idea underly-
ing it is first distinctly asserted, to wit:
Efficiency and fidelity in the public SER
vice. Then the methods to secure it,
viz: The ignoring of "party power
partisan participation, in the manage
ment of political organizations, eau
cuses and conventions, and exemption
from "party assessments. These meth
DDS are suggested by which necessary
can be made not involving
questions Of personal injustice. The
and necessity of local COM
Of trusted officers is recon-
through which the "peculiar
qualities and merits of each employee"
may be ascertained. 1t is true that
examinations are not spc
officially ordered to be instituted. But
the intelligence, ability, and qualifca-
lion of officers Or applicants for office
ire to be tested either by personal
knowledge of the Collector himself. by
written questions, or oral examination.
Instead, then, Of being a general out
inc Of desirable system Of reform, we
maintain that the instructions given the |
Collector at New York are as full, |
lefnite, and explicit, us is consistent
With the fact that the appointing power
'esides in the hands of the Collector.
some discretion must be vested in
llm as the exponent Of the principles
N which the reform is based, and we
IRE not prepared to recognize the obiec- |