Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-06-01
CivIl-Servlce Reform.

Mr.. PENDLEToN's REPORT AND REVIEW OF
THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF TUE COUNTRY.
From New York World
WASHINGTON, May l9-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 tomorrow aud the
testimony accompanying the report,
which is quite bulky, will follow In a
few days. The bill is known as the
Pendleton bill,an within rational limits
Senator Pendleton will earnestly press
its early consideration. The report sets
forth that sthe growth of our country
from $4,000 square miles to 100000,
the increase of population from 5000.
600 TO 50,000,000, and the addition OF
twenty-five States imperial in size and
capabilities, have caused n correspond
ing development of the machinery and
faculties of the Government. In the
beginning, even as late as 1901, there
were 906 postofiices, now there are A..
S4S then there were 90 custom houses,
now there are 1876 then the revenues
were less than 5000 600, now they are
S4OO, 600, 600; then our Ministers to for.
eign countries we're 1, now they are 80
then our cousuls were 63, now they are
T2S; then less than l,OOO men suificed
TO administer the Government, now
more than 100000 are needed; then
one man might personally know candi
dates for the civil service, appoint them
on their merits and supervise the per.
formances of their duties, and for suffi.
cient cause remove all the officers now
no single human being, however great
his intelligence, discrimination, indus.
try, endurance and devotion, even If re-
leved of every other duty. can, unaided,
select and retain in official station those
best fitted to discharge the many varied
and delicate functions of the Govern.
ment." The report describes the spoils
system ana the manner in which and
the extent to which it has, with the
growth of the country, practically
changed the Office of the Chief Magis.
trate. 1t portrays the degree to which
the Executive and Congressman are be-
sieged under the reign of this system,
alt has come to be widespread belief,
says the report, THAT the public service
is charitable institution furnishing
employment to the needy and home
to those adrift. Employment is sought
of the Government because IL cannot be
found elsewhere" A late Secretary of
the Treasury is reported TO have said
that FIVE sixths of the applicants for
office during his administration based
their demands not on merit, or fitness,
or character, but on their poverty and
incapacitv otherwise to obtain liveh.
hood. The early practice of the Gov
ernment is mentioned: During the
eight years of General Washington's
administration there were only nine re.
movals, and all for cause. Mr.. Adams
made nine removals also, but il is he,
lieved that none were because Of q diff.
ference of political opinion. Mr.. Jetisr.
son removed only thirty nine office.
holders, and be repeatedly and solemuly
declared that not one was removed be.
cause the incumbent belonged to poll.
tical party different from his own. Ar.
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.
lt is clearly explained what the Pendle
ton bill Is and what 1t is not. an expla.
nation much needed. AZ the bill is
widely 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,
or avoid any OF the responsibilities of
citizenship. "a though this bill affirmed
the contrary doctrine. This statement
has been a thousand times repeated as
IL il we're 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 oflice.holder
better citizen. and not less q citizen nor
a worse citizen. volume OF interest.
ing testimony will accompany the re.
port go soon as printed, which will
make an interesting treatise upon the
science of administration.