New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-01
POLITICAL NEWS.
MR.. PHELPS ON CIVIL SERVICE REFoR'

MR.. PHELPS ON CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
The following letter, written by william
Walter Pbepa the Republican candidate for Congress IN
the With NewJersey District in answer to ietter a9se
for his views on Civil Service Reform, was puonSneu "
The Epening Post yesterday .ooo
tn Nsssrs Jos.pH r. RASDoLPH FREDERICK =. BURN
HAM H. o. MARSH. and others OF ne EIecuVe III ~.
n,tes ofhs Civil Serriee Reform ASs0o'a'''" I" -''
GKNTLEMES your favor Of the go de asste
because of my absence from home Iou ash ssd
ment of nv Views and position pending and proposed
measures for reform OF the civil service VI 'A0 wv
agree with you that reformation OF the Cly th
vice OF the Government Is absolutely necessary As
purity OF our elections well on other accounts
present managed, and while the civil employ nIv for
ss and as services
the Is liable to be misused, anu rs S ofien
for preventive free and full expression Of the Will OF
the voters conventions ana at the polls by ised
from clerks and others in Government employ by ire
sponsble committees, and expended, no one - o INT
or for what purpose to affect not merely elections, pus
even nominations. Again. by the action and threats oi
similar irresponsible committees clerks ana otne ,ha
whole people-are coerced into eectoneering and other
partisan work. to the neglect OF the work Tor WHICH 'o
whole people hire and pay them. - ~
All this IL contrary to public morals; It degrades the
public service; 1t debauches the politics OF the country
II ~ interfere seriously aud dangerously WIN
the free untrammeled expression OF pubic OphVtn,
both in nominating conventions ana at eecos fea
Il the first necessity to the continuance OF orderly eo
government among us. These gross ana schualor t
abuses OF the public service In its prostitution 10 pd
San purposes schemes have created Dody OF per
sous who make their living out OF politics, ana VINO ioI
a hierarchy the Machine" which MAINTAINS
rewards its members and servants out OF tne puuc
Treasury, for services they give To the acHlne
This hierarchy, having the peoples taxes as thelr COT
uption fund, its power and organization 10 non
nate and elect the highest Offices Legislative ana eA
ecuve such only are Ito subserylent Tools anu
bars the way TO public employment and to nomnatlonS
and elections these and lower places, against ali c
zeDs however able or worthy. who have independence
enough refuse obedience to resist its
True Civil reform must have Tor It's OBJECT 10
utterly break down and destroy this evil ana dangerous
combination against the will and the interests OF the
people The methods of reform must be trencnhnI ana
iarseeing. In my judgment the bills now before Con
gress great mert-one or the other Ought 10 DE
passed; but win add that In my belief, any legislation
which may had must TO be effective, be enforced anu
supplemented by the action wachfu supervision OF
Jealous and determined public opinion, winch should
make it dan gerous the fortunes OF any pubic man
President Congressmanto be detected IN an attept
the Civil Service In any way for partisan pur-
poses While, therefore, readily promise my earnest
assistance II should be elected TO Congress, 10 pass
proper bill securing REFORM must urge yO ana All az
like your not to regard the Work as zone
with passage OF law but to maintain your organ
zatiOns needful to keep watch against the eHOrts
which will be made they have been made, 10 eVahe
good laws and to continue dangerous abuses IN spite
OF ali laws am gentlemen your fellOw-citizen
WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS