Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-07-01
ROBRINa THE EMPLOYEES.

The very remarkable audscity and
coOlness with which the republican
managers are going TO work 10 collect
assessments froni the governments uf.
hcsrs. ~ the teeth Of the repeated
declarations OF ths. party plat forms as
to the ofticchOlder's true position, aud
OF uifsnlstakble public .rebrobatl6n OF
the iprsc'i ice, show that they coubt on
lmpunlty for the present 1t oil eveuts.
they are evidently very confident
thai they. have for the moment doth
ing TO fear from congress in thelway.
OF further prohibitory Legislation,
and they sre willing, for the sake Of
the money, 10 risk being rebuked at
the poll. The suggests the idea Of
some sort Of compromisc, at least for
this present until the public hss more
fuliy made up its mind, betv eel, the
promoters OF this abuse, as We Icon.
slider It, aud the civil service reform.
srs. Yhe theory of the spoiIsmel, ss
We understand il, 10, that the places
IL the public service belong in absu.
lutte possession TO the. party iu powe.
to be used primarily for the be-. Ill of
the party, but with an obligati-h,, iu
the nature Of lieu, to use the M also
for the, discharge Of the public bust.
ness, 40 efticlentiy ~ IL consistentwitb
proper attention to the party Inter.
ests. 1t is this theory which iustifies
the demaud that the offisehoitie shall
pay back q portion OF his sslart to-
ward helping TO keep the party in
power. He pays it us the rent. 10 to
speak, OF his Office. II 10 1t once an
acknowledgment that the party owns
the Office, and that the iicer's tenure
OF II depends ON his serving the par.
~. The amount proposed TO be levied |
this year istwO per cent, which, sup.
posing it. TO reach al salaries, would |
bring about $4,000 into the; party
treasury. But, if the officsholdersl
eau anord to pay this, and are willing |
to pay It sooner than surrender their
places, il shows that they are over.
paid, and that the civil service an.
preparation might be, aud therefore
ought to be, reduced bv that amount.
Every dollar paid by the government
more than II need pay to have its
work properly dOne is fraud on the
taxpayer. Therefore. il it sppe .rs
that an officer, whose salary is 81. 900.
can afford to give $50 to the r. pGbIi-
csu committee for. the privilege of
"sS psoSCS SALARY
ls $3.50, aud SO On all through the
service.
This is the reformer's view of the
IL, Oh the other hand, the
party in power j. entitled, rs q mat.
Ter OF right, Oh "the American plan"
10 take two per cent. Of the Gtfice.
holders salary, ami tho officeh.Ader
70 bound to pay il as part Ot the lepl.
Innate cost of carry ing on party gov.
srnmeni, why not do away with the
" hole machinery of assessment, and
indeed with the very name Of assess.
neutI Why should the party COM
nlttee have to 60 every year through {
'he cumbrous aud expensive process ,
IT issuing circulars to the clerks. and ,
lending agents through the public Of
ices to collect the money! Nothing Z
IAN be more destructive to discipline /
han the existing mode of collecting I
ne assessments has become. 1t teach.
- the employee to feel that he has ,
,thsr snd more powerful superiors !
han his official superior, and that he !
An make himselt secure iu his place, :
'ot by diligence and fidelity. but by
ne pay ment Of round sum annual. 4