New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-18
PROSPECTS OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

PROSPECTS OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
RAPID CHANGE OF OPINION IN CONGRESS- ATTITUDE
OF THE DEMOCRAIs-THE TWO LEADING BILLS.
IFgoM THE REGULAR CORGBst oNDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-One must rub ones
eyes these days in Washington to make
sure like the old lady in the rhyme, if
this be surely ~ Congress has lived ten
years on the subject of Civil Service Reform in
the past four months. he change is even moro
remarkable than appears on the surface. In July
there was not enough interest IN Civil Service Re-
form to get up a debate, and it needs only very
languid interest indeed in the Senate at least, to
start an argunent. When Mr. PendetOn got
his hobby, as it was generally considered and
tered through the Senate one paid more than the
ordinary ttention. which is no attention at all.
Such n thing as action not dreamed Of, though
earnestly desired by n numher of Senator'S. Decem-
her has come and the once -derlded subject stands
in the front rank of those before COnGess-almOst
even with the great questions OF taxation and tarlu
revision Bill after bill is presented on the subject,
the committees of both houses hard at work per-
fectiug measures and debates occupy the attention
of one body or the other day after day.
Nor is this all. The men who have been
foremost in opBO ition to all such movements
and ideas arc conspicuous in helping this one along.
and they dong it in good faith. Senator Logan.
example, Il not man VINO nt5 Dcen suspected
of much sympathy with Civil Service Reformers.
But be is standing up squarely for the Pendleton
bill, and is acting in perfect harmony with his Re-
publican a,sociates he says he not sure the bill
will do COOL but he feels that the experiment
ought {, be tried and Is determined that 1t shall be
tried in the best possible shape. As proof th It he
"a acting on this line can be said that his amend
menr, adopted yesterday, that Civil Service exam-
nations shall be practical" was not regarded in
the senate attempt to clip ana narrow the bill
which the general impression OF Senator Logans
past attitude in these matters has led some OF the
naoers to suppose but was iOOked upon as q proper
provsion il view of the fact that examina ions for
places requiring physical and mechanical skill and
expertness must have at least practical side. The
amendment is understood 10 have had the approval
of Mr. DOrman b. Eaton, who spends much ot MS
time on the Senate sofas these days and who has
shown a good deal of pleasure, az we'll as interest,"
in the blunt. direct. characteristic way in which
the Illinois Senator has taken hold OF this question.
One of the interesting incidents of the day yeser-
dav WAS the introduction of Senator Logan TO Mr..
Eaton by Senator Hoar-abOut which il might have
beep asked when these three" ha met before for
a common purpose.
Senator Cameron too, proposes TO support
tb, bill. and has told his friends that
be is convinced there must be - change"
He also is on the best of terms pei sonally with
Mr. Eaton which is n fact OF interest only because
Mr. Eaton has used the Senator so often III his pub
lie utterances to point Reform moral In iact
tbe has been no better visible sign OF tho change
in Congressional sentiment than the presence OF
MIR + ,ton I'm the Senate Chamber as the unofficial
and mod st oracls of Civil Service Reform Any
t,me these ten years he has been looked upon, by
large uropor ion of the in Congress at Least as
an enthusiast, not to say visionary. Now senators
are glad to get his views upon propositions, and he
i in ems ant consult ltion with the chief friends Of
fine bill Perhaps 1t need not be said that he does
this without any personal interest, out 1t is tne fact
that the passage of the Pendleton bill viii wipe out
tb, commission of which Mr.. eaton Is chairman,
and which has still nominal existence.
Nobody nee S to be told that tho zeal which Con-
gross is showing is not the ZEAL many cases, OF its
nember4 but the momentum that comes from the
opt,ide. There is some derislon of Reform behind
,he scenes. and apparently some honest doubt to
the need of it, bnt on the whole very encouraging
willingness on the Republican side at least, to cept
new IDEAS on the subject. aud something like that
general concord there which is seen i'll the face Of
some public nergency, and which gives to the dis
cussion now and then almost tinge OF patriotism.
Sometimes Senator il heard saying, as one did the
other day that he had seen IN his state these
evils that were described. Il suppose they must
exist in the large Cities" said he, but never saw
them in our state wAere all the Federal oiice are
small. I've been familiar with our Internal Rev
enue Office since the formation of the system, and l
have never known a change 10 be made in tho col