Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-03

Civil service reform is invariably asso-
ciated with the management Of the affairs
of the general government. That there is
any occasion for reform in the political
methods and practices of state and munich
pal governments appears only incidentally
in the discussions. That genuine and eff
fective reform in the methods Of carrying on
either a local or the general government
must proceed from the conscience OF the
people is seldom brought out in the noisy
contests which are had over the filling Of the
federal offices. The principles Of true
civil service reform are not 80 thoroughly in :
grained in the popular conscience as to stand
the test of direct personal application. Itch
ing for office, its distinctions and emoluments,
is human weakness, and only with the rad
ical cure of this disease of the public cuticle
will come genuine and permanent reform
in the administration Of the diverse affairs
of government. Legislation alone cannot
accomplish this reform. 1t must begin back
at the fountain head Of power. Local civil
service must first undergo reformation.
Until the idea is eradicated that every man,
irrespective of capacity or fitness, is entitled
at some period of his lifetime to fill the
office of school committee, highway surveyor,
seectman, Justice of the peace or town rep
resentative, national civil service reform will
not make head.
Vermont would hardly feel aattered by an
insinuation that her voters are not in faTor
of the great popular political reform. And
yet as state, in the most vital function OF
state government they have systematically
and persistently violated the essential prin'
ciple of civil service reform i'll the practice
which generally prevails in the election Of
members of the legislature. The time is
somewhat remote when these officials will be
chosen, but the "unwritten law" which re
quires that the office Of representative shall
be passed round biennially among the vot
ers of town is always near at hand, and il
is not too early to call the attention of the
people to this pernicious custom. 1t IL
barely possible that the inconsistency be
tween their virtuous precept in the matter
of national civil service reform, in which
they have for the most part only remote
interest, and their vicious practice in loca
affairs, which fairly reflects their real ami
mus on the subject of office holding ant
office seeking, may lead to reflection and in
course of time to reform. In the interest o.
better laws and progressive state govern
ment the voters may come to the conclusion
that personal ambition to spend few week
at the state capital at the states expense
shall subordinate itself to the public welfare
and that representatives who have shown |
capacity, an aptness, for judcious Legislation
shall be returned to the legislature by rea
sonable number of successive elections
The waste of time and money and other at
tendant evils in biennially schooling new
crop of amateur lawmakers need no eluci
dalton. Every man of sense comedies al
that is urged against the existing practice
The crudities which have disfgured tn
legislation of the state and crippled its stat
utory law are in large measure the legiti
mate product of the senseless custom of 70
tation in office, which has come to govern il
the election of representatives. The trained
skill of the practiced physician is relied
upon to discover his patients disease AM
discern and apply the remedy; to the vigi
lance and research of the lawyer, natures
and sharpened in the conflicts of the bar
great interests are implicitly entrusted; il
grave matters of finance as well as in a
other important affairs, the man of capacit
and experience, proven by ouooooOful tria
is honored with responsible trusts,-but fo
the business of making the laws of the stat
and all that this service implies, untraine
men are chosen to dabble in legislation for
few weeks, enacting laws for their successor
10 repeal. making business for the lawyers
increasing court expenses, and adding to tn
embarrassment of citizens. There is absC
lutely no justification for this one term Gu,
tom, and no man will stultify his own int
ligence by presuming to defend it on an
reasonable grounds. 1t has its existence i
the lust for office. When more healthfl
practice has been instituted in the matter {
filing these local offices we shall have betts
local governments and there will be LEI
cause for vehement and Fictitious adv
cacy of national civil service reform.
great expense the laws of the state have jul
been revised. The time is suspicious fl
the institution Of a reform which shall NAL
the next revision lighter task. No matt
what cliques or individual ambitions ms
suffer, let the people insist upon returnir
to the next legislature those members wi
by experience, capacity and faithful servi
are entitled TO reelection.