The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-09-19
Par 1He hGis d: Mtcit;gcRceJ'.
Rotation in Office.

In all the ordinary occupations of life Grlsli,nce
is regarded ;ls the best teacher And he who has
acquired experience in any department of bust
ness, is presumed TO possess advantages which can
not be procured in any other way; and is assured
a degrGe of success far greater than that which it
would be possible 10 purchase with money.
For example, Il young man desiring to fit himself
business pursuit enters the field of his choice;
perhaps selects large wholesale esta ishment i'm
the city. AT the beginning of his career, being n
perfect novice in search of information into tho
details Of the business, he is glad Ogin admission
for his board, only. In course of time he shows
industry and capacity, and at the end of his first
year his employer discovers that his services are
now OF more value to him, and he therefore in
crcases his pay. AT the end of the second year he
manicsts very great ability in conducting the
business, and his wages is largely advanced Con-
tinung another year, or longer, his services be-
come almost Misrepresentation employer, and his
income is either proporti0nately increased, or he
is taken in as partner This is the rule that gov
erns every department of p7tgdte business. Now
how is it with luJlic buSHeSSF The business of the
county, for instance? When officers are spoken of
in anticipation of the meeting of nominating
convention, as being the most eligible for attend
ing to the c0untyS business the Individual who,
from the tJrienc6 that he has already acquired in
the Office and who has performed its duties honest
ly, faithfully and to the perfect satisfaction of all
concerned is regarded as Ineligible, for the simple
anything ever so preposterous!
With the view of making the subject perfectly
plain, we will Illustrate by giving the name of a
gentleman, whose name is known to every man,
woman and child in the county of Hartford and
who we trust will pardon us for this unauthorized
use of it. Wcrefcrto Captain Jarrett, the present
Democratic nominee for reelection to the office
of Clerk of the Circuit Court. Capt Jarrett has
held the Office several terms: He has, by close at
tention to business, made himself thoroughly aC-
quainted with every detail of his intricate and re-
sponsible office; with every record from the car
lest to those OF the present day With every point
of importance connected with the duties of his
Office he is perfectly familiar-morc so perhaps
than any other officer, not possessing his natural
fitness, could attain within time. These facts
are accorded by all persons of both political par
ties Having spent the best days of his life in per-
fecting himself for conducting that important
branch of the countys business in the very best
possible manner, and having abandoned all private
business as means of support, that he might give
has been proposed? TO Increase his salary. as is
done under similar circumstances in all private en-
htGirprsf NS c IT was &C astnally proposed to turn
had GGltftence, although marked ability and hon
esty were added to the experience. The only reason
assigned for relieving him of the Office was that
rotation in Office was one of the fundamental
doctrines of the Democratic party. There are
some offices, those which consist chiefly of Honor
and profit like that of the PRESIDENTIAL office of the
United States, which requires, seemingly, at this
time at least, very little capacity and less labor on
the part of the occupant, which ought by legal
enactment, to he limited to single term of six
years but in the Office under considerations where
personal experience, industry and integrity are
essential to its proper fuhllment, it would appear
to be triing with the public business to change
the officer the moment he becomes qualified, by
experience for the performance of its duties. No
man could ever succeed in private business If he
made it a rule to discharge his clerks whenever
they become fitted for his purposes. Itwoud APP
pear to the writer that the rule of experience that
is found so successful, so essential to the proper
conduct of the business interests of private indi-
viduals, applies with equal force to p,,bHc business
or the business of the county. aE4.5 '
with regard 10 this senscless cry of 'rotation in
Office, in offices of the kind named, there should
be some legal enactment If there he any public
office, and there are several, by which the public
interests would he the best SubSCryed by having
occupation limited to single, or more terms,
whether county, State or federal, this limitation
should be fixed by law. This would simplify the
difficulties attending nominations very much
Until the law expressly commands that nm honest,
faithful and efficient servant. like the one named
in our Illustration, shall bedischarged from public
Office, not for thegoo of the county, the State,
but that an inexperienced individual may take his
place, at the behestof the Democratic doctrine"
of rotation in Office, far as tho writer is CON
cerncd, he proposes to continue in contumacy
with that particular doctrine" so-caIle, of the
Democratic faith. E f... w. S'F.