Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-16
Civil Service Refn,.n,

The PendletOn bill for the reform Of the
civil service, now pending in the Senate,
the provisions Of which we noted in a re-
cent issue Of the News, was severely crit
icized by Senator Brown on Thursday
Mr.. Browns argument, summed up, is
that the bill does not 90 far enough. in
that it only opens to the competition of
Democrats and Republicans the positions
Of minor grade in the public service, leav-
ing the higher positions to be competed
for by Republicans now in office, and that
if passed ii may be construed as prohibit
ing removals by Democratic President,
should one be elected in 1884.
While other Democratic Senators differ
with Mr.. Brown as to the power Of a
Democratic executive to make removals,
should the bill be operative, holding that
it makes no provision at all as to remOv-
ais, his point as to the limits prescribed
TO competition is well taken.
The necessity for civil service reform is
admitted, and need not be argued. To the
mind Of the average Democrat, the most
effective remedy for the evil complained
Of would be the removal Of the horde Of
placemen who have so long fattened
at the public crib, and their replacement
by honest and capable Democrats. This,
from party standpoint, cannot be gain
said. But, if it should happen that Dem
Ocratic President be not elected in 1884,
this remedy could not be applied. Tn
questiOnably the people wish some
thing to be done towards elevating
the tone and improving the
administration Of the civil service. To our
view, the plan suggested by Mr.. Pendleton,
if amplified, can effect much toward this
end. Let its provisions as to competition
be extended so as to apply to all grades Of
the service, and let the proposal to eX-
tend them come from the Republicans.
Then Democratic Senators can cooperate
in the passage of the bill. Then, should
the Republicans be successful in 1884, the
service would still be open to Democrats
and Republicans alike.
To prescribe a tenure for the positions
in the service longer than the allotted
term Of an administration is III democratic.
and should never be cOuntenanced by
public man who has any regard for free
institutions. The Republican party, by
its abuses, has created the need of civil
service reform, and, if its leaders are sin
cere in their professions, they should
prOffeT the fullest measure Of improve
ment. If they will offer to throw open the
service to the competition of every citizen,
Of whatever political faith, we venture to
say that their offer may be accepted.
DE- a..
maintenance in office of the army of place
men who have brought the public service
into such disrepute is to lose sight Of the
judgment passed upon the conduct of that
service by the people a 1.-THE recent cleo
tiOns.
Let the reform be thorough, or let the
people apply the heroic remedy of gen.
eral clearing out, OF what is popularity
known as a "clean sweep" which, after
all. will prove the most effective cure of
the evil complained Of; and, moreover, it
is a remedy that can be applied by the
people whenever they see fit to employ it.
The Republicans had ample OppOrtu-
nifty to effect reform, but they
have gone from bad to worse,
and their efforts now are centered upon
retaining control of the offices despite the
warning they have received. The move
ment for reform should have come from
them, and their programme should have
been sincere and sweeping, The Pendle-
ton bill is good enough so far as it goes,
but it should either be thoroughly
amended or allowed to drop. But, whether
perfected or not, the Republicans can gain
little credit from its passage. For, be their
professions sincere or not, whatever they
may do towards reform Will be done under
cOmpulsion. They have deceived the pub
lie so often that they cannot fOrbear at
tempting TO do so again.