Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-12-27

MING, DECEMBER %, 18
CIVIL SERVICE REF0Rm.
The Principle Not Applied whsrs Most
NssdeA.-Evil Exa0plss Of the eenaSs
and House.-Thiek Heads Ia Omce snd
Cesgressnen with Bsd Manners, -Indi-
sna's Great Wss Govers"r.-Bsewster
snd the Democrats, Miss Grusdy ssd
ths spsaksr's Wife.
Correspondence ef the Fress and Dakotatan.
Warrington, Dece,nber %, 1sS3.-Ths
last congress passed. Law for The regu-
lation Of the civil service, providing fer
appointments on mssit anl noe ~ nasty
smiiatiOn or political influence. The
Law is very stringent in its provisions
regarding clerks of inferior grade, but il
altogether silent in its application to
higher positions. Why? Because every
two years number of congressman are
relieved of the cares of legislation aud
they want such positions as ludgeships,
land Offices, Surveyor general Offices,
eonsulships. the bureaucracy, &C., left
open to them without examination as to
their fitness. When the new congress
assemblies We see men who voted for the
civil service act Of the last session voting
now in opposition to their then expressed
sentiments and turning competent and
experienced men out of positions to
make room for untried men. The demo.
Gratis led of in the house and their ex-
ample is initiated by the republicans Of
the senate senate. Ex-members of son.
gress accept positions at each end OF the
capitol-pesitions made for them by
ejecting competent incumbents. The
policy of the government is indicated by
its lawmakers at one session of congress
and adhered to strictly where starving
salaries are doled ont, but those same
lawmakers do not hesitate to antap unlze
their own policy where they can confer
places of distinction and profit upon
their political friends. The lawmakers
themselves have made civil service re-
form . sham and fraud. There can be
no confidence entertained hereafter for
their expressions on this subject.
Hsw many members of the Last con.
gress, failing in 9 re election to the pres.
snt, consented-ah! yes, consented, and
gladly, toto be made registers and
receivers of land offices. district attor.
neys for territories and consuls where
the fees made fair emoluments? And
how many of these ex-members, under.
going ON examination for fitness or ca
pacity, would have received land Office
appointment? How many of then
could tell the difference between q town
ship and q range? How much does /,
congressman know anyhow, more than ,
common mortal?
Where civil service rules should apply
more than anywhere else Is IN sppoint
ment of cabinet officers and heads o
bureaus, especially the latter. 1t il
amazing to see the kind of men that ar,
sometimes placed in charge of impor
tant bureaus-and more amazing to se.
them retain their positions. Men VII.
stick out their tongues when they write
their names are not usually quick wlttet
or very learned. Yet these tonRu,
stickers are the greatest Office stickers
They appear glued to their Official seats
It is these fellows that civil service rulet
should exclude. They are the obstruc
tions in the transaction Of public bust
ness, and the country suffers from thick
head in all its branches. I would lik
to be personal in respect to several mel
in judicial positions, and to some in two
at least. of the executive department.
but it would do no good. They ar
guilty Of no crime or fraud that l kno,
of, but are small.souled, weak minde
and. stupid. Thrown on their own N
sources they would starve.
These stupid men never spoil fro,
the holding of Office. They put on n
"style" and offend no one in that "a!
It ls the man who is flattsrea out OF h
propriety by an election to the senate {
house that speedily runs him to ruin.
senator who came in With the CARTEL
administration was liked at home
all. He was approachable and Was sul
posed to hold himself on level with b
neighbors. A short residence at Wasl
ington gave him ideas of his SUPERIOR,
and he began to occupy higher groun
A constituent. man of national reput
tion IN q religious organization, calls
on this senator in relation to mont
claim of tribe of Indians, claim
which the constituent aud no other ind
vidual, except she Indiars, had doll
, of interest. The senator was shock,
to think that he was sufficiently CORFU
to consider an Indian claim was mo
strons. The constituent vas spurne
and one OF the best and purest men
the nation turned from the senate
apartment. In conscious dignity Il
senator walks our streets, erect a
proud. and is supposed BY those v
= know him by public reputation only
:. be gentleman aud legislator of NC
y than average ability. Yet, before ci
- service reform, of which he is an ad,
cate, took effect. he was known to so
y. ladies Of literary culture aud general
- finement whose husbanda or aons dene