Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-11

There has been so much said and so little &C.
C0mplished In this country In the direction of
civil service reform that the phrase has become
a subject Of ridieule. Party platforms have
year after year contained stereotyped pledges
OF reform OF the civil service and aspiring
politicians have played upon reform with ali
its variations In appealing TO the people for
support. In the first place the honest refOr ner
finds all the politicians arrayed against him
from the very first step he takes to put his
theory into practice. Civil service reform
plainly defined. means capacity and honesty as
requisites TO public position, and a tenure OF
cffice as long as these qualifications continue.
This system Is destructive of the politicians
power and influence, and hence his op-
position TO It. His interests call for
the appointment to Office OF persons recon-
menoed by him, and their retention so long as
they remain faithful and useful to him; that r.
In the changing course OF politics, he finds
man who can render him more efficient service
than one whom he had appointed to office, the
latter must be removed and the more useful
man put In his place. The English system of
civil service Is the only one that offers anything
worthy Of imitation, and such real efforts at
reform as have been made In this country have
been based upon that system. In England en-
trance 10 the civil service IS through compet1-
tive examination, and promotion Is also based
upon examination Of the officials Of the lower
grades for their fitness to the higher grade. IL
is maintained that the Introduction OF this or,
If 1t can devised. some Other system of prac-
teal REFORM depends upon Congress; that Con-
gress represents the people, and makes the
laws. AS long as Congress fails to take
action upon this subject 1t must be In
feTred that the prevailing sentiment IS in
favor OF the system now In operation, estab-
lished In the Jacksonian era, that ito the victor
belongs the spoIls.' Practical and thorough
civil service reform would open the way to
government office to men OF all politics: the
man who In the examination of a class for ap-
pointment to an office, proved himself best
fitted for It, would get the place, provided his
character was good, regardless of his politics.
Ii has been demonstrated that neither OF the
great parties of this country wishes to estab-
lish practical reform based upon law. During
the past ten years both republicans and dem
ocrats have controlled Congress, and though
the subject OF reform has been freely dis
cussed and the usual pledges of party
platforms have been made regularly In
these years. neither party has put its
promises into the binding form of
law. The democrats while In possession OF
the legislative department OF the government
naturally looked forward with hope TO the time
when they would control the executive depart.
ment also, and they were unwilling to bar the
way TO the green pastures OF patronage with
an act OF Congress. The republicans when
controlling Congress had also the Executive,
and civil service law would have cut OF their
power and privileges. During the admlnlstra-
ton OF President Hayes he several times called
the attention Of Congress to the Importance or
lifting the civil service above the level of poll
tics, and Indicated his entire willing aess to ap-
prove law to accomplish this, but ne was not
afforded the opportunity. marked improve
ment Ia the civil service has. however, been
made In several Of the departments notably
the Interior, and men OF all parties speak In
praise Of the New York city post Office as con-
Quoted upon business, or reform, principles
under the present Postm aster General. 1t is
likely that civil service reform may make some
progress In this way In the different depart
ments Of government but the prospect Of the
establishment by Congress of general civil
service system Is not very hopeful.