New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-29
g NOT HATING Grabbed, LETS DIVIDEn

NOT HAVING GR4BBED LET'S DIVIDE."
We do not expect any results from the aglta-
ton Of the subject of Civil Service Reform
10y the present Congress. When the Hotel
Brunswick reformers OF this city and the Con-
eressonal retormers talk about the urgent need
OF a reform that shall put an end to the levylng
of assessments upon Office holders, and Senator
Pend eton brings in his bill of pains and pen
allies, everybody understands that they are
simply indulging 1T that atter'defeat madness
winch goes beating the air for any cause for The
disaster except the true one. There Is some
thing pitiable in the detection OF these defeated
parIisans, and one may smile at the skim -milk
craftsmanship they bring 10 plnchbeck issue
without doubling their pericc; sincerity. They
went into the late campaign intending to
captuIe all the offices. That was their sole OBJ
iect. Failing in it, they apply all the statesman
shin at their commandto the consideration of
the only emergency they can comprehend
their defeat-and they say: Now. having lost
" the whole, let us legisate a reform which will
" give us half.r The cool assurance of the pro-
position is So characteristic OF the party that
sensible people look on it with simple amuse-
ment without expecting anything to come of it.
makes hobby of Civil Service Reform, without
KIN wing what is to be reformed or how, that
takes a serious view of the subject and discusses
the proposition to divide the Offices and take
them out OF politics and make new start, as
though it was really sensible and practicable
and not the sheerest flag end of folly. 1t is
absurd, say these vOtaries OF the creed that
"whatever is is wrong" to make the entire
Civil Service OF Il Government of 50,000,00O
people conform to the party in power when the
two parties are so equally balanced. Conse-
ouently they consider the proposition to divide,
by a party that failed to grab, as very desir-
able reform. They see no absuIdlty Ill the cool
proposal of the grabbers, who meant to have the
whole to take only half, now that they have
been defeated; but it is very absurd, they
think. for the party which defeated the
orabbers not to turn over to them half the
official plumber they strove for
Nothing could better illustrate the wild and
unavoidable notions of some Of these hobby
ISIS. They profess a desire to have the Civil
Service made independent OF parties. How are
thew going to do itY Why, by dividing the
patronage bet geen the two parties. What
does that Ieform7 The Civil Servicef Not in
the least. If the Government Is now honestly
and faithfully served-and there is no conf
plant of the contrary from any but partisan
sources for selfish ends-a reform that would
disturb the whole system and upset One-half
the officials simply to give defeated party an
even chance at the Offices would be anything
but salutary anything but reform. 1T is sus-
ceptible OF proof that the Government was
never SO honestly ard faithfully served in all
the subordinate departments as 1t has been dur
ing the Republican Administration now draw
ing to a close This is the state OF affairs which
IL is said should be reformed by turning out
one-half the holders OF offices and putting in
their places untried men whose only clam for
such consideration is their membership OF a party
that the people Of the country have over and over
again in the past twenty years voted to be I'M
worthy their confidence. We may admire the
| audacious impotence of the partisans who offer
reform by divIdinR whar thsv failed tn grab ;