The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-23
1. This Civn service Reform.

We hear SO much and see so little of the
Presidents civil service reform that we
sometimes wonder with the rest of very
imagines that fine words really butter civil
service parsnips? Every few days the Wash
ington correspondents are inspired with
flood of what is miscalled Intelligence"
about forthcoming message to Congress on
this great question, and they are all pretty
unanimous in declaring that the President
will never, no never, consent to allow Con-
gressmen to dictate to him whom he shall
nominate to Office, and that he will not con-
suit them about such matters, but will wave
them away from the White House with
fdpper contrived by FASTING the constitution
and the Cincinnati platform on to his letter
of acceptance.
And behold while we are oil beguiled
with these fine promises what goes on IN
der the Presidential nose in the Post Office
Department. We have before MS a circular
addressed by Mr.. James N. Tyner, First
Assistant Postmaster General, to a member
of Congress, respectfully requesting the
ment' of a postmaster in his district. We
happen to know that hundreds Of such cir
culars are sent out to members Of Congress
by Mr.. Tyner. Here is copy of this civil
service document
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
APPOINTMENT OPFiCs
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. -, 1873.
SIR ~, the postmaster at -, county OF =,
State OF -, Is dismissed. Salary -. Before sub
request the of any Information you may possess
be able TO obtain respecting IT, ana that you will
recommend sucn action as you may deem proper in
the have the honor to be- very respectfully,
For the First Assistant Postmaster General.
This paper contains on it's back the fol-
lowing:-
l recommend the appoin tment OF - as post
master ut - - In place of ---
Now, Mr.. Tyner may sincerely believe this
is the best way to select his postmasters ;
and we do not mean to dispute with him
about it. What we think of as we read this
circular is the folly of pretending to the
country that the President is engaged in o
high and holy crusade for the independence
of the Executive against Congressional die
tation and interference, while at the very
same time Mr.. Hayes allows such circulars
requesting and urging Congressman to
"name their man" to be sent out from the
Post Office Department. If the President
means reform why does he not act it? If
he does not mean it what is the use of talk
ing about it? The country believes in
genuine reform Of the civil service. But it
does not believe in shams, in empty pretences,
in pretentious promises and threats. The
very men in Congress who are most opposed
to what is called ''civil service reform" are
patient with Secretary Schurz, because, they
say, he at least is carrying out his ideas
consistently; he does not talk one way and
act another. The President would get all
the credit Of this Secretarys consistency if
he we're himself consistent, and he would
have the respect of his opponents, and
would easily secure q following in both
houses if his acts agreed with his prom
Uses. But what can q member of Con-
gress think-being human like the rest Of
us-when he hears tremendous hullabaloo
from the White House against Congressional
interference and the next minute receives
q private circular asking him to recommend
postmaster2 He thinks, being q mere
mortal man, that the President is hum
bug, and we respectfully warn the Presi-
dent that the country will presently be of
the Same opinion.