The Portland daily press., 1881-07-28
Civil Service Reform
The Subject Discussed by Senator Dawes

Senator Dawes Of Massachusetts has written
q long letter on Civil Service reform. The fol-
lowing extracts cover the points of his argu-
ment
Do We not endeavor to cover up too much
Ground in our discussions of this subject, and
in that way diffuse, scatter and differ rather
than concentrate upon one thing, and, accom-
plishing that, move upon the next? Civil Ser
vice reform proposes to reach the best possible
Civil Service by bringing about many changes,
all necessary, but having an order of prece-
dence and different degrees of Importance.
One is In the mode of appointment another in
the qualification of appointees, tenure of office
politics Of officials, &C. The worst phase of the
evil, it seems to me, and the one calling loud
est for change, at the present moment, is the
Congressional participation in appointments to
office. Other features of the reform will come
naturally and easily to view after this shall
have been disposed of, but none of them can
be effected till this one shall be radically
changed. No one can over estimate the ex-
tent OF this participation, or measure the ma
ign influences which flow from it, 1t has
come to be the most exacting of all the labors
OF the average Congressman. 1t permits him
no rest and recognizes no paramount duty. 1t
to his bed at night. When he goes out it lies
in wait for him at the corners of the street,
and when he comes in he finds it patiently
watching for his return. 1t comes to him in
person, by proxy, by mail from every part OF
the district or State which he represents, from
those to whom he owes nothing and from those
TO whom he is deeply indebted. 1t comes to
him in the language of request, of entreaty, of
command, and of threat. 1t is work which,
once entered upon, is never finished. 1t must
N nuo s.x, a..
rightly. 1t brings no reward but disappoint-
ment, bitterness, Jealousy, cursings and hate.
1t weakens the Congressman among the very
men whom he thus serves, making 10 enemies
for every frieud Itdestroys his independence
and makes him slave. 1t subordinates the
duties Of the legislator to the distribution of
favors, the liquidation of debts and making
provision for the thriftess. 1t can be used to
corrupt and to bribe, and is used to warp the
Judgment and blind the eyes of the Represen-
tatives.
How this has come about and how it can be
cured has been much discussed, and men have
quarreled over the responsibility for it, while
the evil has been continually growing. 1t was
never greater than at the moment whom the
shot was fred which has started anew the dis
cussion Indeed, there is at least one Massa-
chuSetts Congressman who was beset by office
seekers from his own State on the very day the
PRESIDENT was shot down, and has been since
importuned to watch for the first moment of
A.
differ about the cause of this state of things
| Some charge Congressional participation in
| appointments to office upon the congressman
themselves, grasping and usurping power for
! selfish purposes. Others charge the Executive
| with encouraging it to relieve himself from re-
| sponsibility and trouble and at the same time
! to build up Congressional influence which
| can be welded for personal ends. The Con-
| gressman in turn charges it upon his constitu-
| eutS, forcing upon him disagreeable work
| which thew will hermit hin, m
No one can altogether escape responsibility
| for the existing state of things. The President
has encouraged it, if not directly certainly by
| recognizing and yielding to it. There have
| been instances where the Congressman has
! been forced into naming appointees by the ex-
| ecutivo departments themselves. Some Con-
| gressei have doubtless caught at and nurSed
| l5 Ill a hope of building up and strengthen
| ing oy their own power. But in my opinion
| 1t has main support in the constituencies
| thens res. So far as Massachusetts is con-
| cerned tothug eau be more clearly demon
| StrateC Ihe files al Washington contain in-
dubila3,s proofs of it, aud the testimony of all
| who have any practical knowledge OF its work.
ings will corroOors to it, II Congressional pat
| ronage shall ever come to an end the 13 men
| in Massachusetts, who will most rejoice will be
| those who will then represent her at Washing
| ION. The true history of the connection OF
| Massachusetts with Congressional participa-
| ton IN appointments to office would vindicate
| her Representatives from much unjust asper-
| sion and would contribute something toward
the location and cure OF this disease.
"Why is it that the rush after office of every
| description at Washington, even from Massa-
| cf lsetts, is so great? The disease is conta-
| gious, and nothing as been done at home to
| check it. On the contrary, it has been stimu-
| lated and encouraged by the best men of both
parties among us. Take an actual case: A
| very bright and highly respectable young man
| who had acquired q profession and with fair
prospects of success had been trusted and
| affairs. He took counsel of an influential
| friend, who encouraged him in tho notion and
| gave him letter to a Massachusetts, Congress
man, who must have some good place at his
| disposal He took this roGnd to another
| friend, who gave him another letter. And
then he went up to Tho State-house and got
| TIE names of the State Government, executive
and legislative, and thea the Board of Trade