New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-17
REFORMS IN THE SERVICE
MR. sCHURZ LEADS THE wAY-FoRTHCoMiNG RULES
NO BRoTHERS-IN-LAw.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUSE.l

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
WASHINGTON, March 16.-The crowds OF people
who throng the White House and the Executive
departments make it almost impossible to transact
INV but the most important business. AS soon as
the Senate adjourns and the President and his Cab-
NET have time to give attention to the details OF
some of the proposed reforms the policy of the Ad-
ministration will be better understood than 1t is
now.
In the mean time certain things have been de-
cjded upon and beginning to be pretty well I'M
derstood by those most interested. For instance
Secretary Schurz has already assured the clerks in
his department that no removals will be made eX-
cent for cause unless reduction of the forces in
some of the bureaus shall be found to be necessary
Tn that case those least competent will be selected
for dismissal. Another feature of the administra-
ton of the Interior Department will be that no pro
motions will he made except for merit. Letters OF
recommendation and political influence are
not to be considered. The officers OF
the department know already what are
tbe records of the clerks and other employees. Ii
they are good it is intended to give their services
recognition as occasion may arise on the score OF
merit alone If they are bad political influence VIII
help them neither TO hold their places nor to get bet
fer ones Letters and recommendations VIII not De
received and no vacancies now exist. a system OF
civil service rules somewhat similar to those estab-
Ished by the Civil Service Commission few years
ago. will soon be prepared and put i'll force In the
Interior Department. The execution OF them VIII
be intrusted to the hands of persons really interested
IN their success and by means of them the Secretary
hopes gradually TO raise the standard OF excellence
of the public service in his department.
The other members of the Cabinet have not, it Is
believed as definite ideas of the reform in the
service which theywll attempt as Secretary Schurz
but it is the Presidents intention that similar
principles shall prevail not only in all of the depart
ments here in Washington, but in the public service
throughout the country. The proposed reforms Will
carried under the personal supervision OF the
heads of the departments to which the branches III
which they are attempted are subordinate. and the
President will relieve himself of much unnecessary
ANNOYANCE by leaving the management of the
patronage almost entirely to his Cabinet instead OF
undertaking to decide upon the claims OF rival
candidates himself OF course all the Presidents
appointments will 90 to the Executive Mansion for
approval and will there be Cancelled If good reason
is shown in any case. An instance OF this KIND oc
CURED YESTERDAY when the Attorney General sent to
the White House the name of candidate for the L.
S. Marshalship in one of the Southern States who
the President had been informed, would not be ac-
ceptabe to the people. 1t did not go to the Senate
Some general suggestions for the Improvement OF
the civil service prepared by Secretaries Evarts and
Schurz at the request of the President, will be sub
mltted at an early meeting of the Cabinet.
The brother-in-law and cousin will have no place
i'm President Hayess Administration. Among the
unsuccessful candidates for the United States Mar
shalship for the Northern District of Illinois was
NJ. Stillwell of Livingston County. lie was adj
mitted to private audience with the President and
presented his papers. The President looked them
all carefully through and then looking Mr. Stilwell
full in the face sad, Your papers are uneXcepton-
abe there is nothing in your record winch does not
seem to show that you are fully qualified for the
position but there is nsuperable objection TO
your appointment to any Federal ofice-that u.s. your
wife is favorite cousin of Mrs. Hayes" Mr.. Still
well left the Presidential Office convinced at last
that the fact winch many thought would insure his
appointment had rendered his defeat inevitable.