Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-05-12
PERILOUS REACTION.
From tho Now York Times.

.
Hayes, one department, and one only,
Mt Washington was conducted in ac-
cordance with the principles laid
down by the President with reference
To the civil service. In the interior
department the public business was
transacted" 80 far as the selection of
employees was concerned ain business
manner" A reform" thorough, radi-
cal and complete, such as Mr.. Hayes
6eclared to be necessary in the entire
service was there undertaken and fair.
ly carried out. Competitive examina-
tions, of an intelligent and practical
kind, were employed to test the prima
tacie fitness of the applicants for ap-
pointment The appointees thus Sc
cured were subject TO further and
more searching test of probation, and
where satisfactory results were obtain
ed, were finally installed in their re-
spective positions. Promotions were
made by like process. In all grades
of the service Il principle was applied
perfectly familiar TO every business
man. The best persons for any given
work were chosen from those available,
by methods the most practicable and
effective that could be devised The
consequence was precisely y what it is in
private life. Fitness being the best
claim to appointment, the applicants
were of constantly higher grade of
fitness. Fidelity, honesty and compe-
tence being the chief requisites TO sue
cess in the service, employees devoted
their energies to excellence in these
qualities. Discipline and order were
easily enforced intrigue was lessencd,
if not banished outside interference
was substantially abolished, and the
work of the various offices was per-
formed steadily, carefully, systematic
ally and with efficiency
1t is noteworthy that this result was
due to the zeal and good sense of the
then secretary Of the interior, and
though it was welcomed and approved
and supported by the President, it was
not required or obtained by him In
other departments very different
state of things was found. The treas
ury department was largely managed,
to all intents and purposes, corruptly,
to further the political ambition Of the
secretary. The postofice department,
where the old evils of political in
flucnce, the interference Of Congress
men and Senators, the debasing traffic
in votes and expenditures, had full
swing, developed the amazing and
humiliating star route scandals which
are now being exposed. The chief
executive, in whose hands the constitu.
ton places the great body of appoint.
ments, and who could at any moment
have dismissed a cabinet officer who
refused or neglected TO carry out his
views, in effect abdicated his office for
the benefit Of men, who, whether sell
tishly and in violation of public inter.
est or not, shaped appointments with
little reference to the principles that
had been distinctly announced by their
superior. There was sound admins.
tration in one department only because
the head of that department was more
loyal to the Presidents professions
than the President himself.
Mr.. Garfield, entering on his work
with proiessedly less elevated stand
ard, bids fair to fall even further be-
low that standard that Mr.. Hayes
did below his. The one department
which under Mr.. Hayes was distin.
guished for its thorough application of
the principles Of sound administration
has been turned over to the politicians.
The new secretary of the interior seems
to have re-established the most vicious,
wasteful, and demoralizing methods of
the old system. He has abandoned
the competitive examinations, and the
examinations which he has so ostensi.
bly, substituted for them are in fact
farcical. New and incompetent men
are put in over the heads of men of
tried and proved capacity, often at
higher salaries. The handspring of
of discipline and efficiency-namely,
the certainty that merit and merit
only would secure advancement is
broken. The best men among the
subordinates are naturally disgusted
and discouraged. Gradually, If this
state of things be continued, we shall
see the old evils creeping in. The
backing of Congressman and Senators
will take the place of good and honest
work as claim to consideration.
Public business will be neglected for
the cultivation Of political influence.
Favoritism in fact and the confidence
in favoritism rather than in fidelity.
will be the rule. Extensive and deli.
cate affairs, requiring training, integri.
ty, and impartiality, will fall into the
hands Of more or less ignorant men
whose reliance is on the intriguers.
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