The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-01-28
THE USUAL WAY.

~ - ilot WIN any great hSEiNS va '"'7
prise that we learn from Washington adj
vices for two or more weeks back that the
Postmaster-Gencral has begun his official
lasors by turning out all the trained and
useful men put into the service by his i'm
mediate predecessor as well as by Others
preceding him, perhaps and supplying
their places by new set entirely, aud mex
pericnced in the business 1t seems to have
at last reached point where men are no
longer appointed to Office or elected with
any purpose or expectation on the part o.
anybody of having its duties properly dis
charged or the new officials. for any length
OF time retained, but merely to draw the
pay attendant npon the place and
obtain from outside means all that
can possibly be squeezed out of 1t.
As consequence every new man
in offices of profit and trust, sets about do
ing first what he ought not do or not even
be allowed to do at all, and that is, to get
rid, us soon as possible, of those who know
how to manage and run the department or
Office, or what-not, and put those in imme-
diately who do not know anything about
the same. Thereupon the usual disar-
rangement of the public business takes
place losses and confusion naturally cnsue,
and that time which might have been de-
voted to improvements and reform has to
be consumed by the fresh force in learning
merely the ordinary, routine business.
Mr.. Howe is no exception to what has be-
come rule, in acting as reported, but the
rule is none the less bad one. Under
the present state Of things this unbus-
mess like, and costly practice may always
be anticipated. We have before referred in
have flown and are always likely to flow
from these frequent changes in the diplO-
matte corps and the want of experience of
new men, and the same is true of all other
departments. 1t is but justice to faithful
officer, particularly in the minor offices,
where no policy is framed but the labor is
almost exclusively clerical and executive,
that he should be protected by the laws in a
certain term of otiiCc-a term for either
number Of years or during good behavior,
with compensation sufficient to get good men
and render them independent of the shift.
ing scenes and intrcaoies of politics and the
whims and preiudices Of their supcriors of.
licially, 70 see an old and tried
servant of the public, with thor.
ough knowledge Of every crook and turn
in his office, turned out in his age and pov-
erty upon mere desire on the part of his
chief to provide for scapegraco of a nephew
or friend who know no more than does the
man in the moon about the business they
are to perform, is but poor commentary
on either the good sense or justice in our
laws and Constitution. One of the trucst
and most touching utterances found in our
is that burst of eloquent sor. |
row where Cardinal Wolsey exclaimed that
had he served his God with hall the zeal
with whah he had served his King. He
would not have turned him loose in his age
and nakedncss to his enemies. \ possibil !
ity OF such practices is Il defect i'm any
system and displays the grossest disre-
gard of justice and plain, business
sense. But spoils, lust for power, the i'm
gle of the guinea, have been too strong to
permit betterand clearly suggested course
prevail, until now the statesman is almost
for seriously attempting or insist.
upon reform of the civil service" There
is now bill before Congress to remedy
some of the existing evils, but we have
little hope of its final passage, and must
submit TO the spectacle of a great people
drifting further and further into
wooden nutmeg, dollars and cents, dish
water administration of affairs In the
present case of Mr.. Howe, it is to be partic.
ularly deplorcd that hc could not rise supe-
rior to the customary style OF changing his
force, for he knows absolutely moth
ing in himself calculated to insure
a successful or improved management
of the Post Office Department and should
by all means retain in his employ every cX.
perienced man in his branch of the service.
lie could in this way,by keeping quiet him.
sell, oOVlale the difficulties arising from
confusion aud various changes and the
Department could run itself without any
serious trouble or losses, il, indeed, it were
during his term devoid of needed reform,
The old gentleman isnot celebrated for any
great degree Of push, but 1t was ut least
hoped that lac had too much good sense and
discretion to commence "slashing" so soon.
The proycroial new broom will only sweep
clean when handled by an experienced
sweeper and it is mistake to Imagine
that every one can sweep we'll.
=.H -
OUR CHIEF DRAWBACK.
THIS morning We again publish commu-
hiv'''oh on subject now assuming very
ysH.. IL. =