The Republican journal., 1882-12-28

if, as we are frequently told, the recent Re
publican reverses are due to the desire of the
people for civil service reform. is it not evident
that there must have been a mscacuIaton
somewhere? AS a Republican defeat implies
Democratic victory. it must follow that the
Democratic party is expected to reform the
civil service. 1t would be interesting to know
upon what grounds this expectation was based
Certainly not upon the record, professions or
practices of the party which years ago inscribed
upon its banners, ITO the victors belong the
spols," and which has been more consistent in
its adherence to that doctrine than it has to
some other articles of its creed-hard money!
for instance. The Republican party. on the
other hand, has inaugurated many reforms in
the civil service, and in this direction, as in
others, has kept fully abreast of public senti-
ment. Indeed, it is now in danger of going too
far in response to what seems popular demand
but which will prove to be merely the clamor
of a clique of theorists and professional grum-
blers. That political assessments upon office
holders should be prohibited and prevented all
will agree, and Senator Frye says that if the
Pendleton bill is SO amended as to put a stop to
the practice the Republican delegation in Con-
gresS from Maine will undoubtedly support it,
But measure which looks to the establishing
of life tenure in the civil service, and the per-
petuation of an otfice-holding class. will never
command the approval of the people of this
country. Such legislation would be in violation
of the principles of the Government. unAmer-
can, and unwse. Its adoption would be the be-
ginning of the end SO far as IA republican form
of government is concerned We do not. how
ever. anticipate that either party will allow it.
self to become responsible for a measure of this
sort. A halt will be ordered long before that
point is reached. What Immediately concerns
us is the attitude of the two parties in Congress
to-day on the genesll issue of civil service re-
form. We find the Republicans without eXcep-
ton, pledging themselves to reform. and giving
support to a bill prepared bya Democratic Sen-
ator. which provides for some of the changes
called for in our civil service system. But the
author of the bill stands alone on his own side
Not only that but he has been assaicd and
jeered at by his associates and party organs
The Cincinnati Enquirer says THE Demo-
Gratis of Ohio are afraid of the Pendlcton
bill. They look upon it as worse than Il mis-
take. They regard it as a presumption and Il
fraud" Senator Brown, of Georgia. has raised
his voice in behalf of the doctrine, ito the vic
tors belong the spoils, and has declared that the
Democratic voters cannot be rallied to the polls
in 1894 unless they know that victory will be
followed bv the universal eiectment Of Repub-
llcan otficc-hoderS. senator Williams. of Ken
lucky. is quite as decided in his opposition to
the Pendeton civil service bill. and is not
ashamed to tell his reasons. He remarked in
the Senate the other day. of this measure. that
odd Hickory Jackson would put his foot upon
it in Il minute" and then proceeded to trample
1t underfoot himself. after which he said 1.-THE
only way to reform is to elect an honest Presi-
dent in 1884. turn on the hose, give him big
hickory boom. and tell him to sweep the platter
clean In short. as the New York Herald sue
entity puts it. Mr.. Williams expects his party
to elect the next President. and he wants It to
get all the offices: then he will probably be
ready to heartily agree to bill like that pre-
pared by Mr.. Pendlcton.' But the Sevcres on
>laught upon the bill was made by Senator
Voorhees,. the silver-tongued son OF Indiana"
who has undoubtedly voiced the true sentiments
Of the Democratic party on this question. We
quote from synopsis given by Il Western
Democratic paper:
The best hit made was review of past his
Tory. Voorhees, claimed that the party in pow
TT always held the Offices from Moses to the
present day. Reverting to the Administration
Of Thomas jefferson, he said that when lie as
sumed the Presidency he found that Mex.
Hamilton was not in accord with the spirit Of
free institutions. He was 4 MoEarchist. JEFF
ter>on found the offices filled with such men.
and he turned them out, as he ought to. A. II
Democrat VOORHEES, said he thought he could
afford TO draw inspiration from Thomas Ietler-
son.
Continuing, he said: "A proposition to ad-
! minister the Government with unfriendlv men
is Il chimera of the brain, unfit for the sound
coun>elS of men. To quote Henry Clay. We
can not consent to allow your friends to be in
our confidence. Further quotations We're
made from Stephen A. Douglass and others.
Next the senator proceeded to review The
exploits of the Civil Service Commission,
which was organized under the Admin>tra-
| ton of General Grant, and which grew into
such popular disfavor that Congress refused to
appropriate for its support. Taking up a re-
port of this commission. the speaker got the
Senate in Vein of laughter by quoting some
of the questions propounded by this commits
sion. First, for an examiners position in the
post-otfice, the applicants We're allowed no
memoranda. Among the questions asked We're
these: Name the four largest islands on the
globe:' IF there is Il Senator" said NOor-
heeS, who can do this off hand, he can do
more than | can.
''GiVe approximately the latitude of Wash
ingtOn ana London:
''Name the principal ocean streams or cur
rents"
Where are the principal table-land> of the
globe"
And now we come to senator PendIeton'>
! low grades. | quote some of the conundrums
asked:
'''Giye the course measure must take to be
introduced in Congress, and, if it is vetoed to
be law of the United States:'
Name the kind of Congressional concu-
sions subject to Il vote:'
Name the voting power possessed by the
presiding officers of Congress"
TO this | refer the attention of the Chair"
said Voorhees,, as good-natured twit to David
Davis.
- What part of the United States was the
original territory. and what Government ce1ed
it to the United States:'
'Oh," said Voorhees,, ''if clerk can answer
all these questions, what a fine handwriting he
must have.'
In commenting in running way on each of
these several conundrumS, the speaker made of
this feature of his speech clever piece of
satire. 1t was papaby ridiculous that the
Senate comprehended it full well. Dorman b.
Eaton, who had remained up to this portion,
left the chamber. or rather incontinentlv sneak
ed out on tip-tOe
II Think said Voorhees,. THAT the public
service should examine the men who PROFOUND
such questions, and see if they fit to run at
large. Now let me read Il clincher:
IF of is ! of 2-5, what will be I of $40
of 81
What Senator among you can stand up and
answer this as climax:
"A man weighing ninety-siX pounds runs
against Il man weighing seventy-tWo pounds
with velocity of six degrees; what is the re-
suit"
Now" said the speaker, ''if anybody wants
this humbug continued let him vote for this
bill, which | shall not. | am in favor of elect
ing, rather, Postmasters, Judges, Marshals, and
such classes of officers. 1t will take away from
the appointing power $4,000 places"
Further criticising the bill, Mr.. Voorhees, de-
clared it was no cure for Civil Service corrup-
ton, but only an aggravation. The Republican
party came into power in 1861 and has had all
the offices. Now, the Senator from Ohio pro-
poses to keep these officers in as trained band.
With the Republicans the support of the bill is
death-bed repentance. Public interest requires
a change, except in the case of meritorious sol
diers. who should not be removed.
Il am opposed to the bill in every feature.
1t does not accomplish what it pretends to. 1t
is to keep in place trained band of officials
whom desire to turn OUT
These are representative men of the party
which is to reform the civil service and the