Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-08-20
Saabaes gesistee
SUNDAY. ArGUSr 20, 1854.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

party out Of power to make this reform
party measure, rs the case now stands.
Therefore, We shall in this article
argue the question from a PARTISAN
Democratic standpoint. So tar
as we recOllect, every Demo-
cratic State Convention that has Oc-
CURED this year has inserted in its plat
form Of principles q plank demanding
the reform of the Civil Service of the
United States. Three Democratic state
Conventions recently, speaking the
views of important commonwealth in
quick succession and almost in the
same terms, demanded civil service re-
form. These three State Conventions
were led by the Democracy of Ohio, and
the Ohio platform in this respect, as IN
other important respects, was immedi-
ately followed by the Democratic plat
forms of Missouri and Indiana in al
most identical terms. The essential
doctrine at all events was the same,
though more deliberately expressed IN
these three Democratic plot FIRMS than
in the Democrats State platforms that
had preceded them. Thisuniformity Of
Democratic sentiment, these demands
coming from widely separated States,
indicates the general harmony of the
Democratic party throughout the Union
upon this subject. The demand is the
peoples demand. Ii is not the work of
politicians, of the office holders or Of
the office seekers; it is the demand
of the voters, the taxpayers, the peo-
pie. Though the subject has been
widely discussed, there is stil much
miScOnception as to the nature and the
purpose of what is called civil service re-
form.
The bill which has been argued upon
by the friends of the measure, and
which is pending in both branches, in
troduced and urged by Democrats in
both branches, represents the matured
sentiment of the friends of civil service
reform. Occasionally paragraphs ap-
pear in newspapers, and utterances
from public men appear, indicating a
total misunderstanding of the objects
aimed at by their civil service reform
measure. IL is important that the peO-
pie should know both what 1t is not,
and what it is; and inasmuch "a it has
become Democratic measure, il is i'm
portant, especially, that Democrats
should know these things.
In the first place it is not measure
TO keep Democrats out Of office; it l.,
rather,a measure to put the fittest DEM
Ocrats in office. by the same token, it
is not a measure to keep Republicans
in office; it is, rather, proposition to
put unfit Republicans out of office. 1t
is merit system, and who has the aSsur-
ance to oppose it by demerit system:
What Democrat desires to see unfit
Democrats in office? 1t is not meas
IRE to deprive the appointing powers of
the authority of removal from office.
Its provisions do not apply to officers
elected by the people, or To the officers
appointed by the President and con-
irmed by the Senate, or to the officers
of the army or nAvV. nr or the j''f''r,'-----
or 90 officers IN the postothces OF Gus
tom houses, where the number Of clerks
10 not exceed fifty, or to labOrers. They
DO not apply to those who may exer-
cise political power, who may dictate
policies, whose efficient cooperation
NAV be essential in carrying into effect
the theories or policies of parties. All
present incumbents are left undisturbed
until their terms of office shall expire,
OF they shall be removed. The meas
ure does not touch the questions of ten
ure of Office or removal from office, ex-
rept that removals shall not be made
for refusing to pay political assessments
OF to perform partisan service. The Dill
mentioned does not command the Pres
ident even to appoint to office, after
competitive examination, the man hay
ing the highest marks upon the eXami-
nation. 1t gives the appointing power
several men at the head Of the
list from among whom to select his
appointees; for the bill recognizes the
fact that other elements than those en-
bodied in highest examination marks
are to be regarded as indicating the
practical efficiency and qualifications of
applicants for and holders of positions
in the business conduct of the Govern
ment.
This measure is not unpatriOtic; its
aim is to promote the honesty, the
economy, the efficiency of the public
service; only its opponents are unpa-
triotic. This measure is not undemO-
cratic; the founder of the Democratic
party preached the early gospel Of civil
service reform when he asked the appli-
cant for place, sis he honest, is he
capable, is he faithful to the Constitu-
tiOn?" Only the opponents Of this
measure are undemOcratic. Is the
Democratic party opposed to the APP
pointment to the subordinate places in
the gift of the Government the men
fittest to fill them? Is the Democratic
party willing to say that Democrats are
unfit to hold office under the govern
ment? Is the Democratic party in
favor of the least meritOrious as against
the most meritorious of applicants for
public place? Can the Democratic
party afford to hoist the spoils system at
a time when it is condemned by the
country a. its chief shibbOleth, and
proclaim with FLANAGAN, of Texas,
that they "are after nothing but the
Offices" Are these prOclamatiOns such
as to win the confidence Of the eoun-
Try? The Democratic voters of the
United States pay about One-half of the
Federal salaries, consequently about