The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-04-01
corrspondsnee Baltic .e-s -osnty Uaioa.
Ex-CoLLECToR THOMAS AS A CIVIL.
SERVICE REFoRMER.


The recent Civil Service delivesanee Of ex.Col-
lcctor Thomas before the COMMITTEES Of the U. 8.
Senate must have been highly edifying 10 that
learned body, ~ the result Of the large experience
and extended observation Of 90 accomplished an
expert on that vexsd question. From the brief
but suggestive statement In the Baltimore Saa We
learn that he was bred In the faith that "to the
vietors belong the spoils," aud that praeticing
upon that vicious principle he signalissd his frst
administration Of the customs service BY purging
Il Of tho ANDY johnson" ieaven and substituting
that Of the iilustrious soldier Grant instead bat
that In the lapse Of time, observation and renec-
ton had wrought great change In his opinions
that no had become convert 10 the new faith
and is devout worshipper at the shrine Of Re.
form. We would remark, en- passanf, that mems
opinions often adapt themselves 10 circumstances,
hence while listening TO this confession Of faith
and these professions Of zeal In q good cause, We
can but regret for bis credit well as for the
interest Of the cause he zealously espouses that
he had not fortified himself with q few examples
Of good deeds done In his Official capacity and
thereby shown his faith by bis works, for In tho
light Of the record he has made, as the admins
traitor Of great pubic trust, We fear that this
posturing before the public In the role Of 70.
former will prove as offensive to the intellig ence
Of the public as bis practice was offensive to their
sense % propriety.
wethink thai. a review OF his policy aud methods
will justify this conclusion, and further that this
review will convince the intelligent reader that as
| q reformatory policy Wisdom never was more at
fault In adapting means TO ends. few Of the
salient points Of his policy will give the reader
general idea Of the spirit and practice Of his late
administration. First, the assumption that patron
| age IL personal perquisite whose legitimate use
Is the personal and political aggrandisement Of the
| dispenser and the consequent subordination Of
public TO personal interests. This postulate was
| the seminal principie--the pregnant apothegm.
| from which as from armory he drew the weapons
Ill an1
instrumental In giving practical effect 10 this
dogma-courting the alliance and subsidsing the
mcrcenary with largesses in the form Of federal
patronage. by these means he sought to effect =
reform that would consolidate his power aud per-
petuate his Official regency Hence Il will be seen
that his policy comprised a clean sweep Of the
subordinate positions aud the infusion Of his re.
form leavcn through all the ramiicatioas Of the
service. This part Of the programme, however.
was In measure thwarted BY the vigilence Of the
Secretary of the Treasury. who either from dislike
Of his policy distrust Of his fidelity, laid his re.
straining hand upon him.
| Notwithstanding the serious abridgment of this
privilege from the Sccretarys distastc Of radi
cal policy, an opportunity was afforded for =
practical illustration of his reform methods by the
establishment Of an institution known as the
"Bonded Yard" at Locust Point. This Institution
while under the reform regimen was run on the
high pressure principle and became the foster
parent and asylum OF that useful class Of citizens
known a. ward politicians. Sho periodically issued
from its precincts in battle array run the prima.
| rics and to budoEe conventions. Notwithstand-
ing it, utility as political agency Il proved TO be
a soInewhat expensive appendage TO the customs
service. aud for that reason the Secretary trans
ferred its management from the customs officials
10 the baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
whose practical business methods enables that
company 20 perform the same service for n 1.-THE
Of the cost to the Government that was incurred
under the reform regimen. The failure Of this
enterprise having discredited him as a reiormer
with Treasury officials. his movements that direc-
ton became cautious and furtise Nevertheless he
occasionally got in some good work on Al. Civil
servieepolicy BY eliminating character aud eapAei
~ from the service and introducing the opposite
! qualities instead.
From thi. review Of his official record the reader
may be disposed a, least 90 dissen, from the sound
ness Of his policy a refoFmer IL not to question
his integrity of purpose. We confess ourselves
that his professions Of real in a cause that he has
done % much in practice 60 discrciit. ealeuia
ted 20 begc, suspicions of sinister design TO en-
barrass his successor rather than 10 promote the
Interests Of good government Having lost his
| grip on patronage-his only resource in a contest
for political pfeierment-he no doubt believes that
his neat best card in the game Of chance 10 10 tie
the hands of his successor and retain as many as
possible Of HE spies and emissaries In the camp 81
his adversary. 4 device with which he aniago-
nirsd both Booth and wilkins. scRrrAroR.