National Republican., 1883-10-10
A nImddIed Iserorner.

Tho New York Tribune, in its Issue of yes
tcrday is very much exercised over an inter
view with Mr.. Hatton on the civil service
law and its practical workings. The inter-
Wow rs published in the Commercial Adreriiscr
was in the main correct II did, however
omit to state chat Mr. Hatton said he was in
favor of n vigorous enforcement of the law
on the Interpretation put upon it by the COM
missonors. The REPUBLICAN docs not de-
sire to do the Tribune any injustice It's arti-
Gle will be found in full in another column.
The TriImo asks the removal of Mr.. Hat
ton from the position he now holds For
what? Because, as it says, he holds and
| expresses his own opinions, regardless of the
fact that he is the occupant Of government
position. This is strange doctrine for pro-
fessional reformcr TO preach. The very
essence Of civil service reform, as advocated
by its special champions, is that public
servant must be Judged alono upon his
merits rs an official, and, no matter
what his opinions may be, he shall at
1
der tho law which had tho hearty support of
the TriJgIc, the commissioners are not evon
allowed to take into consideration whether
or not the applicant or occupant is republi-
can or democrat. He may be the bitterestand
most blatant foe of the republican party and
the administration, but that must not weigh
us feather against him. Does the Tribune,
as pioneer i'll tho civil service crusade take
the position now that every man who holds
an office must surrender his opinions, or that
he must blindly indorse every measure of
| legislation passed by his party, or that
he must never differ wilh the administration?
Does the Tribune mean to say that, had the
President declined to recommend the passage
of the civil service law and had congress
not passed such law, Collector Robertson
and Postmaster Pearson should have been
removed for differing with the administra-
tion and congress, and for expressing such
difference? THE REPUBLICAN will agreo
with the Tribune that if the first assistant
postmaster general does not faithfully dis
charge his official duties ne should be asked
to step down aud out. But it
wants to know whether the Tribune meant
what it said when it was advocating the pas.
sage Of the BILL and whether it now wants a
I" boss " TO control the honest opinions of an
officer in Department.
THE REPUBLICAN, is glad to see tho Tribune
demanding that none but "good republicans"
shall be retained in Office by republican
administration This is q very long advance
step for the Tribune, and that paper will re-
ceivc no heartier congratulations than The
REPUBLICAN now extends.
BY the way, in the article copied elsewhere
the Tribune seems to think it great crimo for
| bureau officer to differ with the President
The Tribune doesn't seem to care much for
consistency. In the samo issue we find the
following article complaining because tho
President does not agree with some of the
bureau officers:
There is said to be much discomfort in Washing
ton among the bureau officers over the Preside mt
direction that 10 reports shall be given TO the
press even in summary, before the message is
sent TO the country. These officers, many of whom
take deep interest in their work and are anxious
to keep the country informed about it, know
well that If their reports are held back
until congress opens they will be COM
pletely lest in The food Of more import
ant documents and business. The newspapers
cannot ana will not fling ton of official reading
matter at their readers heads in ono round ball
Usually the minor reports have been given out
from time to time before congress met, and when
the public was ready to give them attention. Let
us have the reports, Mr.. President The point OF
etiquette really doesn't US us being important.
If the Tribune is right in tho position taken
in its article copied in another column, will
that paper please tell us what business a
bureau officer has differing with the
administration. In one article the Tri-
baRe complains because bureau officer
differs with tho administration and
in the article quoted above, taken from the
same issue of the paper, it critciscs the ad-
mnistration for differing with the bureau
officers, But then consistency doesn't seem
, to be diamond that glitters on the shirt
r front Of the Tribune to any alarming extent.
UrItigs, TREATY Rl,yls aud ThIncsc /.