The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-07-28
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

The experience of these countries
where civil service is conducted on
different basis from what it Is IN this
country, proves that change IN the IN
fuences that prevail here in securing and
retaining Offices, is desirable. This fact
is generally admitted, but at times there
is found champion Of the spolls system
who objects to any aristocracy OF office
and who boldly advocates an entire
change of clerical force with change OF
administration. When a mans tenure of
office is dependent upon his faithfulness
and fitness. there is very little danger
that his officiousness will become trouble
some, or that he will become so pomp-
ols as to be disagreeable. As at present
managed all the incumbents of the minor
offices receive their positions because of
their service to the dominant party or to
some member of it with sufficient infiu-
ence to reward servitors at the expense
of government. When in, they must
pay royalty to the party dispensing the
offices, in the shape of assessments for
campaign purposes. They are no longer
free moral agents in political matters but
feudatories of the organization through
which they hold their places. A govern
ment clerk is slave, and in that sense
which is most distasteful, inability to
act in conformity with his convictions.
He must harmonic himself with opinions
which are his by forced adoption. He
must act in conformity with opinions
which are not his. He must aid in cor
rupting elections and inpreventing a free
expression of opinion on the part of the
people. The government clerk has a
vote as the negro slave in the south had,
to be cast by his master. He has a salary
out of which committees help themselves
literally during the prosecution of a
/ campaign.
Any system which thus robs man Of
his independence is q faulty one. When
it turns the attention Of congressman,
senators and the executive from their
! legitimate duties to the scramble for the
distribution, it presents another reason
! for its notification When it secures
Indifferent talent, when through 1t fit
ness and honesty receive no consldera-
ton, and intrigue and shrewd manipula-
ton are the highest qualifications, it
commends itself to the reprobation of
all good citizens. When a man who IS,
theoretically at least, so pronounced q
| civil service reformer as President Gar
field, asks for the resignation of so blame,
less an officer as Commissioner Bentley,
that one who did good campaign work
may be rewarded, when a fight which
almost disrupted the party, was precipi-
tated in New York, that q man may re-
ceive a lucrative Office because through
him the nomination of Garfield was made
possible, it is time to ask whether posi-
tive enactments rather than professions
| and reputation be not necessary TO Drlng
about reform.
The shooting of the president comes
from the wretched system of bestowins
offices for political services. Washing
ton is full of crazy fools. made desperate
hvr ACKNOWLEDGMENT ond rnnnooitu H'n'
are the victims of the spoils system. II
is useless to have faith in the platforms
of parties on this subject. Garfeld''
administration thus far shows how futile
are hopes built upon the professions o.
even the inclinations of a candidate
Blaine is now said to be civil service
reformer. Conkling was such during thl
fight pending the confirmation of Rob
ertson. All civil service reformers il
theory but not one in practice,