The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-12-29
The Pendleton Bill.


civil service has passed the United States
Senate by large vote, only five Senators,
all Democratic. recording themselves in OPP
position to its final passage, though other
Democrats were paired against it. The bill
now goes to the House. There it will be de-
bated, and speedily passed unless the Demo
crats resort 10 the ditstcry tactics employee
by them in the upper body to delay thu
transaction of public business. The Republic.
cans will strenaously urge vote and unless
unreasonable delay is made by their opp"-
nents. will ea,ly secure it. The measure il
certainly "a decided step, though not long
stride, in the direction of refos m of the
civil service. 1t is good beginning, but
further legislation will be needed. Such leg
islation can be secured by retaining in pow
er the Legislators who have already done SO
much.
The bill,as will be seen by reading its pro-
visions, applies TO but small number, COM
paratively, of government officers. For ex-
ample the only governmt mt office in Maine
which comes within its scope is the Portland
Custom House, and there are none in New
Hampshire or Vermont. As it comes from
the Senate it's practically the same as orig
inally reported by Mr.. Pendleton near the
beginning of his term. 1t provides for
salaried commission of three, representing
both political parties, who shall prepare
rules for competitive examinations of appli-
cants for office Officers are to be appor-
Los, &c lott
States, and promotions are to be from the
lower to the higher grades Political assess
ments are oibidden and removals for refus-
al to pay them prohibited. Recommends
tons by Congressman are to be ignored. The
commission sits sometimes in Washington
and sometimes in the several States. Al
pointments in the Departments and in otter
government offices where the number en-
ployed is fifty or more, come under the pro-
visions of the bill. 1t does not apply TO
officers elected; to those appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate; or
to laborers in government employ. Its auth
or says cts scope is very limited; its pro-
visions are very simple; they do not apply
to those officers who may exercise political
power, who may dictate policies, whose eff
ficient cooperation maybe essential in ear
rying into effect the theories or policies of
parties. They apply only to that immense
body of subordinate officials, clerical and ad-
ministrative, whose duties under every ad-
ministration would be the same, who could
not under any circumstances, in the proper
&c -. =. Al.
slightest degree the political programme of
the party in power.
1t certainly is Every limited" for the pro-
visions do not apply to an immense body''
of subordinate officials, probably to not
more than ten thousand, certainly to not
more than fifteen thousand. But il is good
as far as it goes-and perhaps it goes far
enough for a first step. The second will BIZ
easier to take. The bill was evidently de-
manded by the people; and the Republican
party, always sensitive to public opinion,
hastens to formulate the wishes of the Poo
pie into law. The senior Senator from Ohio
brought up the bill at an early day in the
session, on the 18th inst, and it has been
debated in the Senate every day since. The
Republicans took it up in caucus and made
it a party measure. The opposition to it
came from the Democrats, who talked
against it, delayed it by dilatory motions,
and attempted to destroy it by so-caled
amendments, cunningly contrived to change
its character. The distinguished Democrat
from Ohio got little help at their hands.
After long debate a vote was reached
Wednesday. The only negative votes cast
five-were by Democrats, though ten Demo
Gratis were paired who would have voted
against it had they been present. OF the
thirty-nine who voted in the affirmative
twenty-five were Republicans. To the Re
publican Senators is entirely due the credit
OF passing the measure: to Democratic Sem
tars the discredi of opposing it. To the
Republican party the country will leok for
further measures of reform in the same di-
rection: to the Democratic party for further
opposition to reform. The one yields 10
the wisr es of the people as expressed at The
polls last Fall: the other seeks to obstruct
the fulfliment Of those wishes. The one,
as ever, is sensitive to public opinion, and
hastens to obey its Dictates the other, as
usual, is true to its Bourbon instincts, learn
ing nothing, ard forgetting nothing.