Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-12-29
OLYMPIA, ,~HI>GrO> TER.
OIL Nfll. FRIDAY ElElIN. DEG. -. i>I9.
Will Civil Service be Adopted !

Will Civil Service be Adopted!
Circu. stances alter cast :, and Il e
world has acrIu moved. The lessons
of the late elections have been tiken
to heart by the bosses and fuglemtn
of the dominant party, and move
has been made to reform the civil
service. 4 few months ago the
subject of reform was far from being
popular IN the House of Representa-
tives at Washington. Some years
ago, committee wa, appointed 10y
the House, Of which George William
Curtis, editor of Uar1~'>' II"kIy,
and Joseph MediIl, editor of the
Chicago Tribune, were members, but
that committee was evidently intend
cd for ornament aud not use. A ma
jointly of it's members were avowed
enemies Of such reform. jaw Hub.
bell was member of the committee
and fair type of the kind of states
man composing the majority. They
reported wishy-washy, good Lord
good devil sort of q civil service re-
form, which they knew would not
subserve the end demanded, and
and which was soon forgotten by the
President and heads of the several
Departments of the Government.
Congress has been in session near
ly month. The remnant o. the
old Republican Renaissance have
apparently been considering some
thing very carefully. They are dis
mayed by the terrible earthquake of
November, and having concluded
that there was screw loose some
where, have concluded that some
thing must be done or the party will
60 to the demnition bow-wows,"
and have reported bill designed to
secure real reform in the civil SER
vice. The bill is defective in many
particulars, but it contains some
very radical sections, one of which
makes it penal offense for Sena-
tor, Representative, or other Gov.
eminent officer, or any member of a
political committee. to solicit, de-
mand or receive money for political
purposes. from any Government en-
ployee Whatsoever. Another section
forbids Senators. Representatives or
Judges Of the United States Courts
from recommending appointments to
Office, except upon the written re-
quest OF the appointing power.
If adopted. the FIRST query which
rises is. What will become of Bosses
Cameron, Conkling, Malone and
many others, who have hitherto
mouthsd nearly all the appointments
to Office? They would indeed be
Simpsons shorne of their locks.
But the measure is backed by q
popular demand that will brook no
delay. Something must I've done of
80 radical . nature as to restore q
confidence % often abused.
The House bill as reported, with
some few amendments, should Le
adopted. 1t is, however, doubtful
if tho proposed method of examina-
ton is the right one. These bell.
wsathsrs, having gone so far on the
way to civil service reform that they
are willing to give up political as
sessments and Congressional recon-
msndations to Office, may just as we'll
60 little further and heal tho en-
tire fostering political carcass, and
make the reform thorough and COM
plete. Taxes should be reduced and
many Of the over-paid collectors dis
missed, pension frauds should be
stopped, Star-route thieves punished
though the head of the gang be Sec
rotary Of the National Republican
Committee and was the confidential
friend and advisor of the late Presi.
dent, and the tariff lowered enough
to equalize its benefits to rich and
poor.
Nothing short of this will save the
party of shams. But is it at all pro-
bable that the humiliation has been
sufficient to humble its pride to that
attitude necessary to begin at the
very groundwork of its being? We
think not. Tie signs of the times
indicate its approaching doom. A
Democratic President will be elected
and take his seat in the White
House in 1884. in spite of the mod
crate doses of reform pbysic now ad-
ministsred by the boss doctors of
the Republican party. Its death.
knell was sounded in November,
1882, and the November battle of
1883 will result in grand victory
for the party which has remained
true to its cherished principles
through SO protracted q reign of
misrule and corruption.
TIE capital stock of the o. R. and
n Co has haen ;porooea1 f~or,