The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-12-24

lddV Herald

To the Editor Of The Sunday Herald.
SIR. You will remember in last May pub.
fishing lettor from me on the subject OF Depart
mental Reform. II contained q suggestion for bill
to bring about needed reform, the central idea OF
which was to prohibit, under penalty, members Of
Congress aud judges from soliciting patronage at the
Departments. observe that the new bill reported TO
the House the 9th instant contains In It's sixteenth
and seventeenth sections the same provision.
''Thus far have advanced into the bowels OF the
land"
As regard this provision OF vital Importance to the
success o any bill on this subject as reform measure
beg the privilege OF little space In your columns to
discuss the new bill which is the only Of the nu
mcrous ones offered that contains this prohibition.
H. II. $3.50 provides substantially as follows;
First-For pro rata distribution ot patronage to tho
various States aud districts
sccoud-For examinations as condition precedent
to appointment.
Thrd-For competitive examlna lions as condition
precedent to promotion,
Fourh-For probationary appointments.
Fitth-For tenure Of ONCE for limited terms.
sixth-lt prohibits removals except for stated
causes OF q non-potlcal character, and provides
commission to examine and report upon charges.
scycnth-Forbids political assessments.
Eightl-And makes soliciting patronage by scna-
tors MEMBERS aud United States Judges penal offense
true and effective Ciyil Service Reform must
tain security of tenure rs Its pivotal idea. civil
Service Reform to-day rescueof the service from
tho Spoils system, diyorcng II from politics, estab
lishng It uron . secure and lasting tenure, apart
from Congressional Interference This Will he Sc.
cured In large measure 10y the adoption Of the last two
sections Of this bin hut to guard the public SER
want from the petty tyranny which Is apt
TO SpIng up under the system Of bureau.
cracy which the bill creates is quite pecessaty
also. And such protection Is provided by the ninth
aud tenth sections OF the hill The main features OF
reform being thus secured every genuine advocate uf
reform can afford to yield up his prejudice against
minor provisions of the bin For instance, 1t
seems to me tand I believe I am Joined in this by
many that pro rata distribution and term tcnute
are unnecessary " not hurtful to true reform. The
former provision, N enacted, win declare to the ap
pointing power that he Is not to provide for
ing the best service for the Government 50 much as
against sighting localities aud sections In making
his appointments 1t contains the old idea OF division
spols and 1t suggests the theory that true reform
consists In fair distribution OF the patronage rather
thsn In securing the best character OF labor. More
over, It is probably provision that can
never bo practically carried out according
t. Its true intent Local examining boards
viii he found too cumbrcus. And II ex-
,minations are to be all held in Washington of
course the applicant from Marylaudiwill have bet
ter chance than he Of Iowa.
bWl u kIealcI NlUNNNN VIII Ne luuUu w lISlnE W
divide up ten ccrkships In State containing twenty
one districts The appointing onicer scarcely
adopt solomon's device and give half civil servant
to each district. But, even If he could do So there
would still he one district left over, which would
not get any of Daniel
However, the best interests OF reform having
been subserved 10y rcScuing the servant from the
onslaught of the politician on the one hand and tho
tyranny Of the bureaucrat the other the friend OF
rpT rnn IN In mo nj
securing equal distribution.
worse objection TO the commuters bill Is found
In Its eighth sccon which limits the term ofappoint-
meut 10 four years. This objection would he Indeed
iusuperable It not for the suggestion, contained
in the same sectlon that appointments may be re-
newed. 1t is quite probable that so long as clerk
honest, faithful and capable his term of Office
would ordinarily be renewed indefinitely, and his
gradual promotion would follow. These the chie
euds to he sriven for In this direction. heprncipa
fault be found with this provision Is that 1t offers
chance at the end of the four year term to make a
removal for political reasons 1t Is feared that this
will offer too great temptation to tamper with til,
smooth working OF the Service If the prohibition
against Congressional Interference is incorporated in
the act.
1t is certain that IL the eighth section is passed,
and the sixteenth and seventeenth sections stricken
out, the BILL as OF reform, Will be praCti-
cally emaSculated. Removal for political reasons
would then 90 much before, and the empoyt
would then, nOw be taught to depend for tenure,
the excellence of his services but the extent
of his political influence.
The following is suggested In lieu of section eight
OF the bill:
| SEC. s. The term of ofcc of each employe, after
he shall have received his regular appointment as
provided in this act shall be during good behavior
and he shall not be removed except as provided Ii
sections nine and ten OF tins act.
! II,
amended by striking out all after the word zap
pointment in line six. Section seven could bt
dispensed with 1t Is submitted that with this single
I alteration the cOmmlttees bill, unlike s6yes's con-
! stitutiOns, will be able to march.
/ A better because a simpler, measure would be one
placing all responsibility and all power In the matter
/ of departmental appointments In the head of eacl
] department. This Is what the Constitution aud th'
statute law both contemplate. But this cannot b'
accomplished practically without enacting the pena
prohibition referred to. Until that prohibition
embodied in the law the appointing power must
from the necessity of the case he trammeled b,
Congressional interference.
/ By coupling such an Inhibition with the provision
! fixing permanent tenure upon the terms and cond
ton prescribed In sections nine and ten of this bill
all will have been accomplished for Civil Service Re
form, far as the Dep artments are concerned tina
is of any vital Importance. Everything else can b.
left the regulations that may lie prescribed by eacl
chief for his own department.
For nothing isso certain as that having once lai
the entire responsibility upon the head Of depart
men, every device that Ingenuity can Invent for Sc
curing honesty, capability, and good character II
the personnel of his department Will be resorted +
y him. For only Will he be able to avoid the eal
ous criticism OF Congress longer Interested Il
the question of division Of patronage, and perhaps
therefore, the determined to secure unexcepton
able service and servants. +. IL. II.