The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-08-27
GETINTo line

ion, and politicians who have been sneering
and ignore the anti-slavery movement until
II led us into a civil war, find it batteriug
mperiously at their doors with questions
which it may he inconvenient for them to an
swer. The Civil Service Reform League,
which has been formed out of the various
Associations previously existing, thinks it
time 60 ascertain how many of our Congress
men are welded to the Dagon Of the Spoils
System, how many OF them are sincere in
their professions Of desire for a change, aud
what they mean Ivy their vague expressions
on this head. Two forms of circulars have
been prepared, either of which, modified to
suit circumstances, may be- addressed by |
constituents to candidates for Congress, the |
Legislature, or the Senate. The answers
ELECTED will in any case he a valuable contri- |
button to the literature of the reform, and
the League has beside made up it mind to
deliberately work for the defeat of any man
who nra2enly avows himself corruptionist
in this regard, or whose answers are even
''dSlN' duN Unsatisfactory. IL Is u case Ol
Under which king, Bezonian; speak or
die0' and while the results may not be at
once apparent, this is long step in the d-
rection of that field of practical politics" "
which the Spoils System has considered pc
ouliarly its own. The first circular refers
Largely to the Pendleton bill now before the
Senate, and the practical success of the sys-
tenn it embodies Z" as certified by Presidents
Grant, Hayes, and Garfield, by members of
" the Cabinet and by subordinates in the
" departments, and as developed in the New
" York custom-house and post office" The
chief points of advantage it summarizes thus
forcibly and positively:
l. The independence 1T secures to the President
Senators, congressman and executive officers from the
opportunities seriously obstructive to the public bus-
ness, of class of office seekers of whom MIR. cy-
Secretary Window said "that the claim of FIVE
siNls of those applying for place in the Treasury
rested on no better basis than their inability to sup
port themselves. -
=. Greater fidelity and efficiency in the public ser
vice, with larger Intelligence higher character and
more devotion ON the part of employees due to the
awakening of an honorable ambition and the develop
ment Of self respect.
3. Economy in the cost Of the public service.
While Governor Cornell and Mayor Grace, of New
York, estimate the saving at one-thrd, President
Garfield held that ''wth iudlcious system of civil
service the business of the departments could be bet
ter done at almost one-half the cost
!. Increased strength and dignity to the Govern
ment In freeing 1t from patronage, nepotism, and
favorltism, with the scandals and public Indignation
.. The opening of the civil service by fair cumpe-
ton based on common rights and equal justice to the
meritorous youth of the Republic without distinction
That the effect of this change viii encourage popular
education and good conduct by securing rewards for
excellence is shown by the remark of Sir Charles
Trevelyan, that lin England the opening of the
civil aud military service in its influence upon ma
uona education was equivalent to an hundred thou
sand scholarships aud exhibitions of the most va ua
Bile kind
Tie second circular is more strictly inter
rogatiye, including an actual catechism
which it will take a very willy politician
indeed to evade, unless he decline TO answer
at all, which would be not only disrespect-
ful, but a confession of the worst. After re-
ferring to the fact that both political parties
have declared for the reform in cir plat
forms, the following inquiries are pro.
pounded, together with some touching the
crime Of g political assessment -:
/. DO you regard a reform in the civil administla
tion as necessary and work which should b.
promptly entered upon?
?, What, in your view, should be the nature eN
tent, and practical methods OF that REFORM and wha
support, If elected Will you give ut?
3. DO you, or not think that President Grant
President Hayes, President Garfield, and PreSlden
Arthur were wise in urging the importance of such
reform upon Congress, or that II is the duty OF tina
body to cooperate with the President for bringing
about.
L. Do you approve the civil service rules of PTeBl
dent Grant, which he informed Congress had beel
beneficial IN their effect or his request for furthe
appropriations for enforcing them or do you on th
contrary, approve Of the refusal of Congress In sT
and 1875 20 make the appropriations he asked and b,
reason Of which the rules could not lie longer Gu
forced?
.. DO you think that the patronage of the depart
ments and great offices should DO appOrtoned am0nl
members of Congress- or be lnterfered With by them
Oh, on the contrary, do you hoI that vacancies ii
subordinate places should be filled by the proper
eculiye officers appointing the most worthy appll
cants be ascertaned by examination
q. As the one hundred and siSty-fourth section u
the Revised Statutes requires all persons To b
examined before being appointed in either depart
men-thus declaring that influence and Iecommenda
tiuns are inadequate tests-do you or not think tina
the various applicants should lie examined, not a
now Independently and privately, but together AMI
publicly 50 that the most worthy Offering may be Sc
cured; Or, In other words, do you, not, fave
competitive e&amlnatiOnsY VIII you support III,
Pendleton Hu President GRANITE rules, iuy sIuI.
liar measure for enforcing competitive examinations
T. DO you, or not, favor the competitive or merit
system Of securing places In the public service, tn
same has lately been and Is now being applied In IN
post ONCE and CustOm-house at the city Of New York
DO you approve OF the results achieved In those Offices
or do he ppu hpys al Ia 4,
made the spoils Of parties aud factions?
r. DO you Justify the promise Of places on the par
Of members of Congress for political support, Ia
use Of their Influence at the departments and else
where, Ia order % secure Offices for their fayOrites
on, do you, on the contrary approve tho Views OF I'm
late Presidents Grant Hayes, and Garfield, who con
drmned such practices
@. poyou, or not, approve the practice Of eOeTcnI
those In the public service work for either party
Of their being removed for party reasons or with
out good cause? What, IN your opinion Is g0o(
cause for removing clerk?
These circulars not only seem admirably
adapted for their purpose, but give such
convenient memorandum of the history ofth
reform up to this time and the reasons 70
expecting its ultimate triumph that we hav
quoted from them freely.
There is here a matter Of expedieucy Gl
It's best sense) which should not be over
looked by party managers. These circular
viii be sent largely to Republican candidate
that party having been in power ever sine
the war and able to effect the reform at an
time. If the responses given are unssti.
factory, to whom can respectable voters turr
ia order TO make their protest eilectual, br
to the opposition or Democratic candidate
Il therefore behooyes the nominees OF OF
party in every district to get in position
gsaeive and not to drive OF this very possib
accession Of Independent votes. Let theI
i've the pledges which their Republioa
competitors decline! They have the fulle,
rant in their party platform for so doing
|. add to which IA tba fact that the be,