The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-12-07
"0UICKENED { ONsCIENCEs. +"

Among the noticeable features IN the re-
port OF the first days proceedings OF the
present session Of congress was the intro
duction by KAssoN, of Iowa, of a bill for the
better management and regulation of the
civil service. In a few moments afterwards
the same gentleman offered a resolution
granting the committee on civil service leave
to report at any time, thereby providing for
the speedy consideration of his bill. One
or two other republican legislators have
come out in the same direction and the
president has devoted very considerable
portion of his message to recommen-
dations US to the improvement of the
civil service. The question now
cause of the quickening OF the consciencies
of the republicans in this regard, 1t is not
a question, however, that is very difficult of
solution in view OF the recent elections. 1t
is possible that the party has seen some
mistakes. The shameless manner in which
the postal department was turned over to
MALONE, the assessor ents of officials under
threats of discharge in the event of failure
to put up, and the reckless and unjust ex.
ercise of the power Of the executive and
heads of departments in throwing out
minor officials, all were noted by
the country and exerted tremen-
dous power in determining the result
of the November elections. The defeated
party know full well the causes of the de-
feat, and its managers recognize the fact
that something must be done, and done
quickly, in the way of reform, good
record to plant itself upon in 1884, or its
grasp upon the nation will be shaken off
permanently. Hence the president recon-.
mendations and the celebrity with which
kAssoN and others IRE coming to the front
with propositions, bills, for better regu-
lating the civil service. However, let the
motives be what they may, the fact is
gratifying, and the country is to be con.
graduated upon the result of
its recent emphatic announcement
to those in power that it
wanted to see some greatly needed REFORMS
inaugurated We do most sadly need an
improvement with reference to the means
and stability of tenure to the minor Offices
OF the government. They should be APP
pointed differently and should have fixed
term of office, independent of any power
except the legal authority to punish mis-
conduct in office In other words the ire
mendous power and patronage OF the adj
should be taken away and the
mans fitness and his tenure should rest
upon himself in at least 10000 cases
of the 100000 officers who fill the
civil service, Bills in congress have
always been plentiful, and any of
them would surpass the present system, but
they have never got beyond the commit
tees report. Now that democrats, republic
cans and the greenbackers in congress are
all awakening to the great demands for re-
form, we nationally anticipate some unusual
work and activity in the halls of legis.
lation. lfthe forty seventh congress will
give the country some good system of civil
service appointments and removals and &C
complish these many needed and impor-
tant reforms, the citizens of the Union will
forgive it for ITS other indscretions and
glazing omissions.