Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-12-21


sion Of Congress the attention which has
been so long promised. Fol- the last
six years each party has been coquet-
ting with it, playing YARN before cleo
ton and cold after. During the cam
paign recently closed civil service re-
form was n of the strong cards Of the
Democracy and it is slightly amusing
tonote that since the unexpected advan-
tagc gained by the results Of the cleo
ton there appears not that restless
ayidity for the enactment of civil service
reform laws that was observable when
it was anticipated the party would re-
main, as before, a minority party. In
the senate Pendleton is pushing his bill,
but more with the apparent idea Of us
ing it as y thorn in the side of his Re
publican brethren than any especial
cagerness to see it become a law. In
fact it is obvious TO the most listless OBJ
server, as stated by Senator Sherman,
tiat this reform like all other great re-
forms will have to be made if at all
by the Republican party.
While the Pendleton bill is leisurely
pursuing its way in the senate another
bill on the same subject has been intro
duced 10 the house. This bill is known
rs the Kasson bill and while less elabo-
rate than the other appears to present
a much betterplan for practical reform.
Tie Pendleton bill is filled with cum
brous machinery at the head Of which
stands a commission Of five persons who
shal have entire charge Of all matters
connected with the civil service. Each
of these commissioners it is needless to
add is to have q salary commensurate
to his Importance and authority. 1t in
effect creates an entirely new branch
Of government while on the other hand
it furnishes no guarantee that the com
mission will be any more immaculate in
thcir operationsthan were the politicians
before them. This bill provides for
competitive examinations but has moth
ing to say about fixed Tenure Of office
which would be quite embarrassing
should the Democratic party come into
power in 1884.
The Kasson bill, on the other hand,
leaves out the cumbrous appointliye
machinery providing simply for APP
poIntment by heads Of departments
after thorough examinations as to fit
ness. 1t does however provide for a
fixed tenure Of Office and prohibits scna-
tors, representatives, and United States
Judges, from soliciting, requiring, or
recommending, any person for appoint
ment unless requested to do so by the
appointing power 1t is understood
that among other amendments one will
be offered rs a substitute which viii pro-
vide that the subordinate employees in
the civil service be divided up equally
among the different states in proportion
to the population and n commission be
appointed by the Governor of each state
and territory and commissioner of the
District of Columbia which commission
shall meet Mt certain times and places
for the purpose Of eXamining applicant,
for such positions as may be due at
that time to the said state or territory.
This is an elaboration OF y plan pro.
posed by Richard Grant White in the
North American Review during The past
summer Or rather takes his propose
rs u basis and wcaves on features from
other bills. Mr.. White while fighting
in the ranks of rcformers had the adyau.
tagc Of practical experience in the sub.
jet Of which he treated, having serYeC
y number of years in the New York
Custom House. His plan, which pos.
Sessos at least the merit of simplicity
would give each state and territory til,
quota OF appointments in the civil ser.
vice and subdivide this among the dis
t~riets, leaving The appointments TO IA,
representative from The district the sam,
as appointments are now made ia "a,
military and aay,l aeadamics rlo.,
candidate. .ypFa NJ W. xan,in.l Is, NJ.
board Of examiners .,nnoin,.j IN Il,
Chiefs of Bureaus and If ,bs ,nao;ote.
was found below Inc standard r@ssoi,,.,
or failed 10 pass his examination. natip,
was given to the representative from
whose district he came and he nroyiJe,
for the appointment 81 another candid
ate. In this plan 1t Is further provide,
that all Apprentices shall enter at IN,
lowest grade and hold Office durin,
good behavior.
The very simplicity ofthe propos,l !
"s"luS' II, Il Is Pl"'n' practical ant
couid easily be put IN operations. with