The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-05-25
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
Mr. PendletOn's Review of Of
fetal History.

WASHINGTON May 24-The report of
the Senate Committee on Civil Service
and Retrenchment made by Senator
PendletOn upon the bill to regulate and
improve the civil service of the United
States will be printed to-day and the
| testimony accompanying the report,
which is quite bulky, will follow in a
| few days. The bill is known as the
PendletOn bill, and within rational linn
| its Senator PendletOn will earnestly
! press it's early consideration. The re-
port sets forth that "the growth of our
country from $4,000 square miles to
100000, the increase of population
from 100000 to 5O,OOO,OOO, and the ad-
ditiOn of twenty-five States imperial in
size and capabilities, have caused cor
responding development of the machin-
cry and facilities of the Government.
In the beginning, even as late as 1901,
there were 906 pOstOtfices, now there are
4,S4S; then there were 50 custom
houses, now there are 1856; then the rev.
enues were less than 100000, now
they are $40O, 1000; then our Ministers
to foreign countries were 4, now they
are 33; then our cOnsuls were SO, now,
728; then less than LOCO men sufficed
to administer the Government, now
more than 100000 are needed; then one
man might personally know candidates
for the civil service, appoint them on
their merits and supervise the perform
ance of their duties, and for sufficient
cause remove all the officers, now no
single human being, however great his
intelligence, discrimination, industry,
endurance and devotion, even if relieved
of every other duty, can, unaided, select
and retain in official station those best
fitted to discharge the many and varied
and delicate functions of the Govern
ment." The report describes the spOils
system and the manner in which and
the extent to which it has, with the
growth of the country, practically
changed the Office of Chief Magistrate.
1t pOTtrays the degree to which the Ex-
ecutive and Congressman are besieged
under the reign of this system. "It has
come to be widespread belief" says the
report, that the public service is char
liable institution furnishing employ
ment to the needy and home to those
adrift. Employment is sought of the
Government because it cannot be found
elsewhere" A late Secretary of the
Treasury is reported to have said that
fiYessixths of the applicants for Office
during his administration based their
demands not on merit, or fitness, or
character, but on their poverty and in
capacity otherwise to obtain a hveli-
hood. The early practice of the Gov
ernment is mentioned: During the
eight years of General WashingtOns
Administration there were only nine re-
movals, and all for cause. Mr.. Adams
made nine removals also, but it is be-
lieved that none were because of a diff
ference of political opinion. Mr.. JEFF
fersOn removed only thirty-nine Office
holders, and he repeatedly and sOlemnly
declared that not one was removed be-
cause the incumbent belonged to a pO-
litical party different from his own. Mr..
Madison during eight years made five
removals. Mr.. Monroe during eight
years made nine and Mr.. John Quincy
Adams during four years made but two"
1t is clearly explained what the Pendle-
ton bill is and what it is not, an eXpla-
nation much needed, as the bill is wide
ly misunderstood. One argument
against the measure Is specifically an
sWered. The opponents of the bill are
fond of saying that when citizens be-
come Office-holders they do not cease to
be citizens, or lose any of their rights,
OF avoid any of the responsibilities of
citizenship, as though this bill affirmed
the contrary doctrine. This statement
has been thousand times repeated as
IL it were an argument against the
measure and as though the bill were a
denial of these rights. The report pro-
tests and proves that the provisions of
the bill will make the Office-hOlder a
better citizen, and not less a citizen nor
a worse citizen. q volume of interest
ing testimony will accompany the re-
port 80 soon as printed, which will make
an interesting treatise upon the science
of administration.