Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-12-06
THE PROSPECT FOR CIVIL SERVICE
REFORM.

are scarcely ever elected to Congress with
out being compelled to make great many
promises in return for assistance. Almost
every member of Congress goes to Wash.
ington weighted down with obligations to
political friends, and very large percent
age of these political friends are men who
would have but a poor prospect if they
were compelled to rely upon their success
in competitive examinations. for obtaining
office. We long ago pointed out the very
serious character of the difficulties in the
way Of reform, arising from this state Of
things. However much the people may
demand reform, the men who can alone
enact it are hampered and embarrassed
from the outset, and almost pledged
against any such measure. The experience
of every President has been identical with
President Arthur's. They all find them
of office-seekers. The more conscientious
they are the sooner are they worn out with
the ungrateful labor. But thus tar no man
has been found strong enough and patient
enough to resist the temptation to get rid
of the responsibility by allowing the men,
bers of Congress to control appointments.
The kind of men who have been given
prominence in national politics through
the spoils system are not the kind of men
to throw down the ladder by which they
have mounted. Indeed, to ask them to do
away with their own patronage is to ask
them to renouuce all ambition, and to re-
tire from politics, for there are very few OF
them who could secure a re election if
they had no army of official claqueurS at
their back to watch their interests in
their districts, and to arrange" all the
party machinery with view to the accom-.
plishment of their desires. And this is the
real difficulty in the situation. Congress
has come to be dependent upon the spoils
system. A generation of politicians have
been educated and trained under it. They
do not understand any other methods.
Like poor old Thurlow Weed, they believe
it is the best system in existence. Ard so
it is for them for under rational system
they would have to devote their energies
and capacities to productive industry of
some kind, and would be forced to leave
politics to those who were able to rely upon
their own merits. But the Congress of to-
day is body which understands nothing
but the spoils system, and which is too old
to learn. The question therefore is,
whether the fear of public opinion will be
powerful enough to overcome the fear of
political suicide, with these men.
1t must be admitted that their position
ia extremely embarrassing. In fact, to use
a vulgar but forcible expression, they are
between the devil and the deep sea-. If
they do nothing about Civil Service reform
they must apprehend that their constitu-
ents will retire them into private life. If
they do anything about Civil Service re-
form they know that they will be inca.
pacitated for reelection. In these pecu-
liar and discouraging circumstances, our
Congressman cannot lie expected to ex-
hibit much enthusiasm. And the position
is a bad one for the country also, for the
problem before it is how to induce body
which lives by and through abuse, to abol-
ish that abuse. 1t is true that there are in
the present Congress an unusual number of
members who have already been defeated,
and who may therefore be disposed to
shed a certain splendor over their exit from
public life by assuming virtue foreign to
their natures. This is one hope, though
we must confess that it is feeble one.
But if nothing is done at this session for
reform, how can it be expected when the
Democrats come into power? The Repub-
licans may be said, in the words of the
English Poet Laureate, to have dropped
"of gorged" from the public treasury.
But the Democrats are faint with famine,
and their eyes CLEAN hungrily as they scent
the prey. Is it to these starved and greedy
politicians that the country must look for
relief?
The Democrats, moreover, are not com.
mitted to Civil Service reform as the Re-
publicsns are. Yet there is one avenue
of hope even here. The Administration
will remain Republican, and the President
can, if he chooses, keep the Democratic
Congressman from the public crib by refus.
ing to let them dictate any appointments.
Under the smart of such disappointment,
and from motives of revenge, they might
be induced to vote for the abolition of the
Federal patronage altogether. Whether
the President will so &C. as to encourage
them in that tendency is, however, very
problematical. No Executive has ever
seemed to care greatly for contests with
Congress, and Arthur may prefer quiet
life to the doubtful public advantages of
course which would be open to miscon.
struction. On the whole, therefore, it
appears probable that unless Civil Service
reform is established at the session which
has just been opened, the country will have
to wait for it some time longer. OF course
it is possible that the Republicans may
suddenly and unexpectedly develop noble
spirit of self sacrifice, and pass the Pendle-
ton or some other bill of the kind. This
is possible, but We are constrained to ad-
NIT that we do not regard it as highly
probable. And yet if the Republicans do
nothing in the premises this session, it will
be almost hopeless to think of rehabilita..
ing the party in time for the next Presi-
Dental election.