Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-11-18
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

As there is no Presidential election
fr three years it is to be hoped when
Congress meets its entire attention will
hc given to the material interests Of the
country and not distracted thcref-om by
political huckstcring or stump speaking
There are m1uy things in respect to
which - business Of the, Government
needs sg2ntion and wise and patp"tie
legislation.
The question Of Civil Service Reform
Is one in which the people feel deep
and abiding interest, an it will be
source of much disappointment to all
good citizens, if some action is not taken,
n the end that the present disgraccful
and disgusting method may be chang
ed, ii not abolished for the common
good Of all, except the professional poll
ticians, perhaps Ii the present system
is to continue, is to be considered as
permanently fastened upo1 the body
politis; if partisan services are to be re-
warded from the public treasury; if So
called rotation and prescription in the
minor and subordinate Offices is to be
practiced as heretofore; if the army of
office-holdcrs, one hundred thousand
strong, are to be require as now to
contribute their pay to promote party
ends, or to marshal partisan forces on
the eve Of election, at the risk of their
tion of olice-seekers and one need not
3 ke prephst 10 f,resoe Tat when this is
brought about tho days of the republic
will be numbered
President Arthur my be sincerely in
favor of Civil Service Reform, but we
have grave doubts on the subject. His
political education and surroundings do
not encourage the belief, and even it he
were at heart in favor of such reform
che influences. which placed him in the
line Of succession will still control him
10 very great extent, if not entirely,
and all these influences are antagonistic
10 such measures, and have faith alone in
machine politics.
The death of President Garfield has
certainly impressed upon the people,
with startling ality, the evils Of the
present system: and if President Arthur
BE possessed of half the breadth of char.
acter which his friends claim for him,
notwithstanding hi, former surroundings
and Questionable associations. he must
be aware of the danger to the nation
which it is nurturing and promoting and
believe chat some modification of il is
icccsSary. Conce ling he is 80 Impress
81. ssnl - vsss,-s s,s.rs,..ss ..ss..r.
s.s~ .eea~a refss~ss. Svtsaaue ,t~ ..ta os :
No"gress auss Sougvssss;sss hs. would t,e
"aaoie to carry through to success 20
lmror'asst a measure, Just as all the ler-
i'latlon Congress might enact on the
subject would be a waste os tiln.. with
cut the cordial cooperation Of the Pres
ilcnt.
The constitutions whilst giving to the
President, in general way, the APP
p1intmeut of all OH of the United
States, expressly provides that Con
gress may by law vest tie appointment
Of such inferior officers, as they think
proper in the Courts Of law. or
in the Heals % Departments. Here
is an express power given to Congress
by which it may. through tn. Heads Of
Departments, establish a saystcm Of CIV
il Service Reform which would meet tIrs
public expectations But iuasmurh as
the President has :he appointment Of
Heads of Departments any system adopt
ed by Congress winch was MT heartily
sustained b. the executive would bc
likely to cone to grief, Tlere mus. be /
Elgcd som where. either with the exc
eutivo o. the II ads of Dep ,rtpents, the
sight of rssu..v.,l or suspension f.sg tsal-
seArA~se. ustsssae~s>n~~ or tn1osnpetcucy, I
and thou ,h this power. 10 the hands of
am unfriemlly administration, any law
which ClagceSS might enact be practi.
usLy nsy'IiGe,&, just as MO have seen the
provisions Of the present tenure of Office
Act repeats ily 81 at defiance in behalf
q f'vsi'es Of the executive power.
There has been much talk on this
ssijccl, bu; the time has come now for
s-tr'n, and We sincerely hope to see the
b'nocraSi' party taking the initiative in
Tr.'ssins this needed reform during the
'mine session Of Congress By so do
ilg they will not ouly serve their party,
lut, what is of far more importance.
they wall serve their country.