Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-12-05

President Hayes is sincere Trend "i
Civil Service reform, but of how much real
assistance he is to that worthy cause Is a
question. Certainly neither his practice nor
his arguments are unassailable. Ills views
as elaborated in his message, are largely i'm
practicable The Albany Ecening Jourh%
thus comments on this portion of the mes
sage:
His logic Oh this theme is faulty and his
conclusions falacious. lie would allow VT
Evarts or Mr.. Sherman to appear on the
stump, but would deny the right to General
Woodford or Mr.. Townsend. The ground
of this discrimination is that the former are
cabinet officers, responsible to the people anu
having the right TO explain to the people the
public policy entrusted to their charge, whiie
the latter are subordinates, responsible
only to their supcriors. But this reasoning
will not bear scrutiny. In the first place, the
cabinet officers are themselves subordinate TO
the President, and if the exclusion OF sub
ordinates were the right rule, 1t would RUE
them out and reduce the stumplng 10 the
| President. In the second place, the cabinet
officers have their reports 10 congress
as the appropriate and lawful way OF en-
planning their policy. In the third place.
the cabinet officers do not appear IN cam
paign as representatives OF the whole people,
but US partisan advocates, ike every othei
stumper. We hold TO the absolute right OF
Mr.. Evar,s or Mr.. Sherman to take the
stump. not because they are cabinet ministers
but because they are citizens, ami that is Inc
citizens right. And we hold to the same
absolute right on the part OF Gen. Woodioru
and Mr.. Townsend, because, by becoming
officials, they do not cease to be citizens OF
lose the rights of citizens. The distinction
which the President makes is unfounded IN
reason and it tends TO confuse right think
ing and confound right effort on the subject
When the President advances to the broad
er aspects and principles OF the civil service,
he still misses the true and the practica
ground. II we correctly interpret what lit
saws he advocates permanent civil service
under which officers shall hold during goot
behavior without regard to the revo
luton of administrations or parties
he would preclude them from al
political activity and made them Independent
Of all political changes. This may be iht
right theory; it is essentially the Englisl
system; but whether right or wrong, oul
country is not ready for it. II IS mpfac
ticablc, and to press it when it cannot be &C
| cOmDllsllcu Is 10 WcdheH INC tii'i' ~
what is practicable. There are palpabl'
evils in the Civil Service which every right
minded citizen should wish corrected-sucl
evils rs uncertain tenure constant and un
seemly scramble for place, the prostitu
ton Of the service TO the idea OF polltlca
spoils, slavish dependence on the appointlni
influence, and the conversion of the servlc
into political machine. These thing
ought to be remedied. We believe tina
the most practical step in this direction
is not an extreme and utopian measure
but to establish the principle of fixed ten
ure and no removal during the term excep
for valid causes. When so much shall b
accomplished perhaps the people can be edd
Gated beyond it. As to competitive eXamln
ations they may be of value in some depart
ments But the trouble with them is thu
while they tost requirements they do Nc
test either integrity or the practical knack G
doing things. The candidate who passes til
best examination may be the least successir
in the real work. Taking the whole matter
the Presidents aim is good, but we questio
his means, and his suggestions would hay
more weight if the conduct OF the admins
: tration had been more consistent.