Litchfield enquirer., 1879-01-02
Civil Service Reform.


 politics of today. That Mir. Hayes has no ] forgotten it, we are very glad to believe. A Washington correspondent of the Springfield Republican writes as follows:
 That there has been already great improve ment in the tone of the service throughout the country since Grant went out of office, every body admits, and the president claims witt some pride, that no election has beenheld ir l this country for many years in which there was so little interference or participation by l federal office holders as during the last He 1 feels, however, that the vital question in any l thorough system of reform is still unsettled whether the appointing power really rests with l the executive as the constitution requires and 1 the theory of our government contemplates, or belongs to the senators and representatives in | Congress, to be used in fostering their own in- terests and entrenching themselves more firmly in positions of political influence and dictator ship. In the New York appointments this is- sue is peculiarly involved, and the president very sharply antagonizes Congress and the old system. Evidently he proposes to make this test case, and is fully determined not to re- instate the old officials, now that they have been removed during the recess of Congress, even if Conkling succeeds in carrying the Sen ate against the confirmation of the last appoint ments.
 We do not believe that Mir. Conkling, com ing back from Albany reelected, will be like ly to yield anything or that the Senate will fail to assert its own control of patronage The president in fact is merely suggesting civ Il service reform, not enforcing it. He asserts his views, indeed, in the single instance of New York, but even there, the matter assumes before the public more the appearance of a personal quarrel between Conkling and the administration than that of true issue of principle and vindication of the constitution al power of the executive.
 In fact the present administration is weak because it is divided I. is half politician, half reformer. It has the good wishes of the reformer but it arouses no enthusiasm in him. It is too much of politicians cabinet for that. It is detested by the politician for the reforming principles it always professes, and occasionally puts in practice. If it would ap- peal from the politicians to the people, and oust their tools who fill the great offices not only in New York but throughout the Union, it would soon attract strong popular support. There is hesitation and half heartedness about its present course that can never lead to success under popular forms. Still it is,a great thing to have an honest man and one that is more of the patriot than of the partisan in the presidential chair Reform has gained something in Hayes
 What part IS Reform to take in 1880? With Conkling just entering on six years term, from New York; Cameron, receiving a simi- lar endorsement from the second state of the Union with Logan probably elected in Illi- nois; and perhaps Chandler returning to the Senate from Michigan, the reformer may we'll shudder at the outlook. Add to this the pos sible candidacy of Grant for third terni, and the prospect of civil service reform through Republieanisn1 wuutd De anything but promis- ing. What can we hope from the Democra- cy? It will be all that party can do to heal the breach made in its ranks by the Greenback secession. If they do not give us a down. right soft money candidate we may be thank full
 Discouraging as the present prospect cer- tainly is for the reformer, we must not aban- don all hope. Behind all this cloud of selfish politicians is people that is learning more and more to hate politics and politicians. Their wishes may yet have weight in the contest of 1880.
 The editor of the Winsted Press announces himself candidate for the presidency. There is fitness as we'll as a frankness and modes. ty in the proposal that we greatly admire. Moreover, if elected, he will have one great and unusual advantage of the office seeker who claims to have first suggested bis name &c., &c. To such he can most truthfully re- mark, My dear sir, you may be Amerigo Yes puccic, or John Cabot my name is Christo pher Columbus. I discovered Pinney' my self" And then he hands the man copy o1 the Winsted Press of Dec. 26, 1878, and while he reads, tells his private secretary to bring In the next victim.
 The Springfield Republican, commenting or the prospect of compromise between the Man haitian bank and it's robbers, denounces the i New York plan as mere compromising of fel ony. Contrasting the bitter prosecution of the Northampton bank robbers it says: Massachusetts conscience spurned prohta ble compromise by which justice should bt cheated and brought into contempt, and crowd l ed her bank robbers into the state-prison, bu New York lawyers openly dicker over tn, terms by which the stolen money eau be secur | ed and crime cond0ned.
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