Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-08
The ~Gushr Over the Civil Service.

The "Gush" Over the Civil Service.
A great deal of rhetoric has been ex-
pended within the past few days in criti-
cism and denunciation Of the civil ser
vice. Journals, which arrogate to them
selves the task of leading public opinion,
assail the "spoils" system without gloves,
and ascribe the striking down OF the
President to its low tone. On every
hand one hears demands for the applica-
ton of competitive examinations as the
test for appointment under the govern
ment This is the great prescription
which it is claimed will elevate the tone
of the service and free it from the para
sites of incapacity that cling to it.
That the tone of the civil service is
low has long been known to every one,
who cared to reflect ON the conduct of
politics in this country for the past two
decades. 1t is gratifying to SET the prac-
teal uDanimity with which the RepublI-
can organs concede the truth of the
charges, which they so long and so
stoutly denied. Mr.. Curtis and his
coterie of doctrinaires, who cajoled the
late Mr. Hayes into respect for their
rosy schemes for the improvement of
the various departments, were literally
laughed down, and his famous Order
No. was the greatest farce of his term.
It would be amusing were it not for the
sad event that has brought about the
conversion of the organs to compare
their present with their past utterances
on this subject.
The defects of the civil service are
manifest. There is a vast army Of
placemen, far in excess of the require
ments of the work to be performed.
They, as srule, do less work and are paid
larger salaries than the average business
emplOye. Every one knows how they
obtain their places, and in this cOnnec-
ton the astounding developments of the
past few weeks have revealed a depth of
infamy that was hardly suspected. But
the blacker and the fouler the organs
paint the picture the stronger appears
the necessity for the partys condemna-
ton. For it is to the party, after all,
that the Odium clings.
The President and his advisers come
into Office totally unacquaiuted with
niue-tenths of the incumbents of the
positions in the service. Likewise with
the applicants for their places. Mr..
Blaine is quoted as saying that over
1000, 600 applications for place are fled
in the departments. In filling the posi-
tions it is to the Congressman, the Sena-
tors and the higher officials and influen-
tial party men that the Executive and
his advisers come for advice, and it is
upon their suggestion that they act
Here is the root of the evil, or, if not
here, it is in the blunted judgment and
blind prejudice of the people, who, year
in and year out, follow the lead of men
who elevate their strikers" and
workers" and procure them easy
berths under the government.
What is styled the "spoils" system,
when it came. came to stay The name
has become odious, but the principle at
the bottom of it is correct. For as there
must ever be parties there must ever be
those who labor for party. In the olden
times, in bestowing the honors as well
as the rewards of party, due regard was
had to the selection of the fittest. 1t re-
NAMED for the Republican party, as it
trampled on law, to corrupt the service
by applying the system in its widest
range. They cannot contract it and no
party can relinquish it. The remedy is
to hold the party responsible for the
measure and character of its application
Minus his last exploit, Guiteau is prob
ably no worse than hundreds in the en-
plOy of the government But had the
practice of competitive examinations
been applied in the disposal of consul
lates it is likely that he would have Sc
cured one, as ne is possessed of large fund
of eruditiOn. 1t is just here that the
folly of the arrangement comes
in There are hundreds of men who can
air their knowledge of all the modern
sciences and the famous personages of
history, that, in positions where execu.
tive or clerical ability are required, are
| of no more use than schoOlbOys. In Eng
land, where the army, the navy, and the
church are made refugees for younger
sons, the civil service is an added
boon to helpless aristocracy. Here
we all stand on the same level
and want no class marked out by life
tenures of Office. Changes in the heads
of the government are frequently found
desirable, and there is no reason why the
desks in the various departments should
be assigned for life to gentlemen whose
chief recommendation is that they are
posted on spectrum analysis or the GU
neiform inscriptions. An army of we'll
fed ''strikers" is bad enough, but le
gion of snobs would be worse.
The people have their remedy. The
Republican party has debauched the
civil service and has invited its con
demnation. Until the control of affairs
is taken from it, talk of purifying the
service is meaningless gush.