The daily gazette., 1881-12-15
TaURsDAY. DECEnsEa rs. 1854.

MR.. PRNDLEToN's speech 10 the
Senate, in favor of his bill, on Monday,
Is forcible argument in tho advocacy
Of Civil Service Reform. But the
bill will not be adopted by the present
Congress. In fact 1t is doubtful
whether Congress of either party
will pass such bill for many years to
come. II is all very well to talk of
the merit system but the failure OF
such q system while it is not applied to
congressman themselves at the nomi-
nations, is certain. The system is a
doubtful one at most. Who is to be
the judge OF the qualifications =? That
it would never be consc ntiously en-.
forced and applied the history Of the
Republican party aud the actions OF
the leaders Of that party is sufficient
to convince any man who has watched
the course Of politics for the past De.
cade. A man who has served the
party and understands how 10 secure
the votes requisite to the carry ing Of
Congressional Distric. will not be
turned adrift aid his bipartisan
competitor appoiated. simply because
certain persons say he is not 50 well
qualified for the position-that lie
does not write as good hand and is
not a professional bookkeeper. The
services of the active and unscIupu-
lous politician has invariably been put
into Office by the Radical Republican
party. On this subject stalk is cheap
But the experience under the Hayes
administration is sufficiently convinc-
log. Mr.. Hayes started out declaring
that Civil Service Reform was to be
the great feature of his administra-
ton. But what did the sequal show /?
Only that Civil Service Reform had
been kicked out of the White House,
If 1t ever had existed there at all ex-
cept by peticoat authority and that
the most corrupt class of people were
appointed to Office without regard to
fitness and merit and appointed too
at the dictation of Senators and mem
bers Of the House of Representatives
az well as by men high in authority
in the party in all parts of the coun-
Try. From New Olleans to Bangor,
every cunning knave that had shown
himself a consummate rascal in poll.
tics was put into office, whether quail
fed or not, under the cover Of the
song of Civil Servi, Reform. In
fact members high in the Radical
political church accused Mr.. Hayes
with using the official patronage OF
the government To hide, as with a gar
ment ol SIN, the hideous eviderces Of
the crime Of tue theft of the Presi~
dency. Blu. stretched to Its utmost
tension the garment was still too
snort to cover up the traffic in official
appointments, and the denial to
continue in high Office men whom
his Cabinet accused of couu1-
tion and embezzlement resulted final ?
Ia rending the party until its longer
existence at times seemed doubtful.
We are in favor of Civil Service Re.
form, and SO are nearly all honest
voters who feel the heavy taxes tia,
are yearly laid upon them to support
Thousands Of corrupt and wicked meu
who now live upon the goyernmen,
and render a mere show of service,
and that of character by no means
deserving at all times of the appeIla.
tion of "civil.' Too frequently they
are roughs of the wotst type, and
only need to be exposed to become
disgusting to honest people. The
omcial patronage Of the government
was increased fu ly oue-third during
orant's two terms OF office, aud has
Deen still further Increased since.
Ihe best thing that could be done
would he to reduce the pay of all
oihceis above certain amount. say
@'ooo, ten or twenty per cent and
reduce the mum Der about 20 per cent,
and then require them TO work tel
hours a day as all business men have
toac. The service would then seuI
Dc nd OF the worst element who onl,
nang on to office because they desi.
to be drones 10 auy hive that they
can enter.
NIeK's FLORAL GUIDE is one Of tL