Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-08
The Civil SERVICE Reform.


The sudden fondness which has been
manifested of late by the Republicans for
civil service and other reforms, has been
generally attributed to fright caused by
the November cyclone. Such is mainly
the case: but it seems from our Washing
ton correspondence that there is another
cause for this wonderful newborn zeal
among our Republican friends for civil
service reform especially, and that is the
indications that a Democratic President
will he elected in 1884 In that case, I'M
less something is done for their relief, the
present army of Republican Otficeholders
must, of course, take up their beds and
walk, figuratively speaking; and this is
why we now hear so much clamOr for the
speedy passage of bill such as that offer
ed by Senator PendletOn at the last ses-
sion, providing for life tenure of office in
the civil service.
That some such measure will eventually
become law there is little doubt, but the
Democrats should go slow in making it
So. When this subject was touched at
the last session the Radical majority in
Congress turned il into ridicule. They
then did not want any civil service re-
form. In their opinion, at that time, such
reform was very good subject TO talk
about as it might he used, just as it had
been used for years before, as n splendid
medium both for deceiving the people and
conveying the false idea that the Republi-
can party was virtuOus party. The old
style civil service system. however,
suited them full well, as they
had found it a first class political machine
to be utilized for keeping the grand old
party" in power. Only now, when they
see the chances strongly in favor of their
losing this machine, do they change their
tune and raise a great hue and cry about
the necessity of reform being at once ef-
fccted Their prOfessed virtue is too
gauzy. 1t is not assumed out of any re-
gard for the public, but only in the hope
that. should all else be lost to them, they
may still, as a deraier resort, be able to
hold on to the offices and the spOils.
For these reason the Democracy should
act slowly and warily in this matter.
There is no necessity whatever for haste.
The abuse of the civil service through the
forcible collection of assessments on the
Jay-Hubbell- Billy-MahOne plan, for the
purpose Of raising funds for the eorrup-
ton Of voters and consequent debase-
ment of our politics, will furnish
fruitful subject of investigation by the
present Congress, and if properly looked
into. will be about all that body can at
tend 10 i'm this direction in the short time
permitted them before final dissolution
sets in on the 4th Of next March. After
that time the Democrats Of the Forty
eighth Congress will have ample Opportu-
nifty to prepare and perfect a just and
equitable plan for securing such stability
to the civil service as will prevent it ever
again from becoming the football of poll
ties which it has been made by the Radi-
Gals during the past two decades. To pass
any bill OF this character now which
would fasten upon the country the present
horde of Radical officials for aR indefinite
period Of time would be misfortune, and
would render a Democratic triumph in
1894 a barron victory.