New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-09

mission and its rules Mr.. Eaton says: ut never
cost 500 900 per year-not half rs much as would
be expended in intrigues and bribery about the Sc
lection of single collector not half as much as the
neglect and incompetency of any one OF many par
tisan or mercenary officers annually cost the Uo'-
eminent
or course Mr.. Eaton means that the $4,000 e1-
pended in intrigues and bribery about the selection
of a single collector was expended by the Govern
ment. The $4,000 spent on the Civil Service Com
mission and its rules was spent by Government. We
are not talking about economy for citizens, but
economy for the Government. There would be no
point or purpose in saying that 500 0O0s not an ex
travagant sum for the Government to pay for re-
FORM because knot of men are buying and selling
chances on their own account outside. But DIT.
Eatons general remark that $4,000 would readily
be spent in selecting single collector is not OF the
smallest value as evidence. Let him name tve col
ectors in the whole country whose selection cost
the Government $4,000 apiece in intrigues ana
bribery. HI adds, in the succinct and concll-
sive style, that it is not half as much
as the neglect and ineOmpetency OF one OF
many partisan OF mcrcenary officers anhualIy
cost the Government That Is, there are many OIL
GERS who by reason of being chosen on partisan
grounds rather than by competitive examination
cost the Government $4,000 apiece every year,
is an airy nothing, unless Mr.. Eaton will give it
local habitation and name. OF the many partisan
or mercenary officers whose costly incompetency he
aflirms ask Mr.. Eaton to name ten, just ten. ask
him to give the names of ten Federal officers, chosen
on partisan grounds, whose neglect and incompe-
tency--not dishonesty-c0st the Government SiO,-
600 apiece year after year. ask him, also to give
the names of the party leaders upon whose recon-
mendation they appointed to Office. Unless he
does this bis statement does not rise above the lever
of SANDER. His sweeping general assertion Is not
OF the slightest use except to hoIrlly those
who know nothing about it. In any court
of Justice Mr.. Eaton would be ordered OIL
the witness stand i'll five minutes, if he had nothing
better than this to offer. If the mere pleasure OF
seeing himself in print contents him, he is Saie'
since there is no refuting general statement; put
if he wants to be man among men, let him give
specifications and something in the nature OF evil
dence, something that looks toward proof.
And what does Mr.. Eaton mean by merccn@Iy
officers 2" He is lavish of epithets. His article is
peppered all over with hirelings and mcrcenaricS.
What does he mean by hreingl If a Federal
officer works for the United States Government, and
receives salary therefor does that constitute him
birelngl Must he keep books and inspect samples
and examine candidates for love of country alone
and without wages, in order not to be a merccnary
and o hireliug' When Mr.. Dorman b. Eaton was
Amounted Civil Service Reform Commissioner. did
he 90 on to Washington work without salary and
board himsef7 If lac did not. he was just as much
hirelng as the Secretary Of State, VINO receives
Sc. 600 a year from Government for the time which
was earning him $50. 600 a year outside of Govern
tneut. Does Mr. Eaton write his article in The it
lanfc MonthiA and do the other authors write their
articles in The atlantic Monthly from pure love Of
literature, declining all payf Unless they do this,
they are inst as much hIrelings the collectors and
clerks In the army the hrelIngs and mcrconarlcs
are not the soldiers who receive pay all soldiers
receive paw They are the soldiers who fight Tor pas
alOne--Who fight not for their own country but for
any country whatever that will give them Tl3
month They have their counterpart III politics,
moi among the Federal officers who are the cham
MONS of party whoarc Republicans or Democrats hy
conviction with zeal and warmth and love, who be-
licyc that their party embodes the principlt' which
are for the safety and welfare OF the people.
and who may be. at least, presumed 10
recognize tie responsibility they are under to bear
fhe,r standard high. The counterpart of tie Hes
SLAMS is rather TO be found in tho men WHO have no
party convictions. 10 party attachments. but are
Wiling TO take Office under any party, SO they can
get office who want only the enoiuinentS OF Office,
but have no crecdS to enforce with enthusiasm and
practice with fidelity. mercenary may be Il brave
soldier but soldier is not less likely to he brave,
because he is fighting for hi hearhStone as well as
for his paw An Oifice-hodcr without political opin
ions or preferences principles may be honest, but
he is not less likely 20 Ic honest because lac believes
thoroughly in the party which placed him III Office.
desires eagerly its advancement and feels respon-
sible for its purity and power. GAIL HAMILTON.