New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-27
POLITICAL PETITIONS.

A man OF large ana Varleu experience IL p"o
lie affairs once said to an applicant for ONCE
" | am told that your petition for this place con-
taips the names of about all the leading mem
g hers of orr party in this State. Now you
must not be over sanguine of success because
of that fact. for tell you that in such matters
petitlOns do not amount to TO" OF pms.
Another man who is reckOned sagacious and
who has been prominent in politics Tor a
ouarter of a century or more bears slmllar
testimony. Il have always made 1t tule,'
he once said, /" to sign all petitions for ONCE
| " that are presented to me. But the signature
"amOunts to nothing, for take care that the
"appointing power shall understand that II
really desire to advGnce the political fortunes
I" of any man, | will let my wishes become
known in a more particular if less pubic man
"ner." IRE TRmuNBs Washington correspond
erce of Yesterday contained another tribute
and that unique and striking one, to the
value of political petitions Eighty three citi-
zeDs of a Western town went on petition Tor
the removal of postmaster and for change
in the Location of the office. The Congressman
who received the petition forwarded 1t to
the threatened postmaster, III order TO en-
able him TO put in his ansN er to the charges
which constituted the basis of the demand
fer his head In due time The answer
reached the Congressman in the shape OF a
counter prayer for the pOstmaSteI'S retention
in Office, signed by the same eighty-three citi-
zens that had petltiOned for his removal.
Such facts as these, and others to the same
effect which might be mentioned, indicate that
the average American takes the same view of
signing political petitions that the brawnY black
smith in the good old story took of the frequent
castiSatons to which his little wife treated
him. How comes it, said a curious friend to
the black smith, that you allow that small
woman to whip you whenever she takes it into
her head to do So swell, ITS just here"
explained the phllosOphic and amiable son of
Vulcan /; " it seems to amuse her to lather me
and il doesn't hurt me any
This gross abuse of the right of petition has
generously contributed to the degradation of
the Civil Service, Realizing that it is the
easiest thing in the world to obtain signatures
to petitions, and not realizing the comparative
worthlessness of petitions, many a ne'er-do- well
has been fired with the ambition and fed with
the hope of holding office. Their petitions once
filed at W ashn gton or Albany. or wherever the
appointing power is to be found, they follow
bers of the National OF State Legislature from
their districts.
1t is impossible to convince any Of this order
of Office seekers that it is not the duty of Con-
gressmen or other legislators diligently to fol-
low up all their petitions by way of showing
their practical interest in home industry. Of
course, members can assure their shiftess
ice-seeking constituents that their petitions
are of no account and that they would better go
home But members are reluctant to do this
sort of drastic thing, because even the most
shiftless of constituents have votes, and be-
cause to pronounce a petition worthless is to in
vite the leading question from the petitioner
"Du you mean to tell me that Hon. John Doe,
Hon. Richard Roe, DR.. A. b. C., Judge X. w.,
:" etc, all Of whom are on my petition, are not
men of large influence in the partyP'
Just now the feeling is general and earnest
in favor of Civil Service Reform. The leaders
in both parties have discovered that action on
the subject can no logger be postponed or
eVaded. Public sentiment is a unit in demand
ing that Congress shall pass some well cOnsid-
cred reform bill without unnecessary delay.
This is as it should be. 1t is a token of prog
ress In most important direction and delights
TEN. But why should Congress be expected to
do all the work in bringing about this reform
Why should not the people set an example to
their representatives by forthwith abandoning
the mischevous habit of iDdiscrminate sigma
ture to p0ltical petitions He who makes five
offce-seekers grow where ten grew before is to
be regarded as public beneiactor, since he re-
lieves an enormously Overworked activity. If
the American people would begin the new
year by firmly resolving to abstain in the
future from signing petitions which they do
not positively and heartily desire to see granted,
the gain to the Civil Service would be mmed-
ate and considerable. BY all means let Con
gress do its duty, and by all means, too let the
people do theirs.
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