Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-14
From the Boston Advertiser.
Reform Imminent.

At last we are going TO have reform
Not stingy, meagre, commonplace re
form after the manner of republicans, bu
Reform with big r, conceived and exc
cuted by democratic methods. 1t is moi
to be a general sweeping reform because
the opportunities OF the democratic party
are limited. The executive department
and the Senate are controlled by republic
cans. The democrats, at present. can on
ly carry out their ideas of reform IN the
House of Representatives. But The CON
troll of that body enables them To show
the country what they are capable OF do
ing If they had wider field OF opera
tons. Hence they are going to give us not
only a specimen of their handiwork. but
it is to be of such perfection of finish, so
complete if not actually bulging in IFS
proportions, that it is expected 10 excite
an unwonted degree OF popular enlhusi-
asm.
The news of this proposed action OF the
democrats of the House reaches Us by the
father roundabout way of Savannah, and
is contained in the Washington correspon-
dence of the News of that city Ii relates
TO the doorkeeper OF the house. There
has been something wrong" il appears,
in the doot keepers department ever since
the democrats have controlled that body.
Their first doorkeeper admitted that he
was "a bigger man than Old Grant, but
brought reproach upon his lellow-demo-
Gratis by his irregularities and eccentricit-
les, and had to " dismissed Their pres
ent door-keeper, being OF warm and
enthusiastic nature. promised, when can
didate, subordinate offices to an unlimited
extent, and, in the effort to keep his en-
gagements, has been doubling up the men
on his payroll. appointing large num-
Der more than the law permits. making
some contribute from their salaries TO 9th
ers, and giving some work without pay
and others pay without work. Thus,
while the law authorized twenty-eight
pages be appointed fihy-six. part of whom
be allowed only .half pay, while the 9th
ers drew pay during the recess. when
there was nothing to do. These things.
coming to light, cause scandal. They are
talked about on the floor OF the house
and the correspondent OF the News says
1--WE have had regular public wash-days
.'for dirty linen, soiled by these minor
"officials, until the matter has become too
"mOnotonous to be endured longer"
The necessity of reform being admitted.
"a prominent Southern senator" has been
bringing his great mind to bear on the
subject, and with momentous results. He
revealed his conclusions to the cores
pondent. They show III 1t reform with
him means something This state of al
fairs" said the prominent senator, "indl-
Gates great want "of sagacitv on the
part of the democrats OF the house.
"These public scourings should be stopped,
"and the discussion of such matters in
"open session voted down instanter.
when such examination into the conduct
''of an official is necessary, it can be done
within the party lines. II the result JUS
''tifes 1t, the incumbent should be made
ITO step down and out at once. As these
''matters are at present treated. the only
''resut is TO make capital for our pulilical
Opponents Such was The language OF
this great statesman. How unlike repub-
lican methods is his plan. The most i'm.
portant thing, in his view, when demo
cratic official is found to be acting inprop-
erly and corruptly. is to avoid publicity.
He would spare the people the shock OF
learning that democratic official has been
guilty OF doing wrong. The washing OF
the dirty linen is to be done in a remote
corner of the back yard, and SO quietly
that the people at large are to be persuad-
ed that the party has no dirty linen. A
goodly outside is to be maintained al all
hazards, and the opposition is to he pre-
vented from making capital. If broad
craftsmanship and radical ideas. on the
subject of civi-service reform are de-
manded, need the country despair which
has still a democratic party with sages in
it capable of solving difficult problems
with the fuency aud ease shown in this
instance by the prominent Southern SEN
ators p