National Republican., 1883-09-22
Concerning Congrcssmcm and the Civil
service.


Concerning CDnsrcssmcn and the Civil
Service.
And now it appears that tho system Of ex-
aminatons in astronomy, physical geography,
history and constitutional law deemed ncces-
sary to test the fitness of boys for positions as
letter carriers and copyists, is wholly inappli-
cable TO the matter of promotions. Mr..
Graves, of the old George W. Curtis civil
service system, declares that the original
reform was only TO regulate admission into
the civil service, aud that promotions cannot
be well regulated by any but the heads Of
departments or bureaus. lie says that outside
Of the departments men cannot be found con
pctont to decide upon the fitness Of clerks for
new duties. Indeed ho doubts whether boards
of examiners could be formed inside who
could decide intelligently upon tho question.
And so the heads of departments who were
held to be untrustworthy in the matter of
original appointment Of nine hundred dol
lar clerk are found to be entirely fit to deter
mine upon promotions to every grade above
that. Mr. Graves is undoubtedly correct in
his statement as to the impracticablity of
competitive examinations for promotion. Tho
duties of clerks in the same bureau are so din
feront that ability to fill one place does not
imply the ability to fill another.
If Mr. Graves is correctly reported he has
INDUCED in extraordinary language concern
ing members of congress. lie is represented
as saying substantially that the conditions
which render competitive examinations de-
sirable for admission to the civil service do not
govern in promotions for the reason that con-
grcssmen do not make bargains for promotion,
while for original appointments they do. Tho
newspaper which claims to have interviewed
this exceedingly frank bureau official makes
him declare in effect that congressman have
been selling tho clcrkships for influence in
elections, and that the departments have
ratified the sales and delivered the goods. He
then informs us that when o clerk is once ap-
pointed he loses all influence, and that there
fore his congressman, having no further use
for him, docs not care whether lie is pro-
noted or not. Tho wicked congressman,
being thus eliminated from tho promotion
problem and the good department or bureau
man being no longer tempted by him, the
latter abstains from the corruption which, by
request of congressman, he had indulged
in in the first instance. This let's in great
food of light upon the civil service reform
legislation, and shows us the perils we have cs-
capped in the form of wicked congressman and
weak departmental and bureau officials. To
service reform act of the last session Senator
Pendlcton, finding his political fortunes on
the wanc in Ohio, might save himself for re-
election by promising half dozen clerkships
in the state and treasury departments to the
sons or nephews of ofmembers of the helegislature.
Being elected he then proceeds to draw on
Folger for the places thus disposed Of The
secretaries not having the strength of mind
or the integrity to refuse Mr.. Pendloton's dc.
mands, the clerkships are bestowed as pei
contract. The appointoos being shorn
of influence by tho fact that they are
the mere stpendiaries of senator,
and goes no more to the fountain of power
for that which shall slallc their thirst. Sec
retaries Folgor and Frelinghuysen being, ac
cording to Mr. Graves, only the plant tool
Of senators and representatives will makt
unworthy appointments in fulillment o
corrupt bargains, because requested so to do
but they will not mako unworthy promotions
because not requested so to do Hence th
necessity of appointing men superior to tn
secretaries in the qualities of frmness an,
purity to stand between them and the con
gresslonal panders while new clerl
is being appointed, and henco also tn
entire absence of any necessity for prop
to the easy virture of secretarie
when not approached by those moral lepers
as in cases of promotion. We submit tina
this is the statement and logic of Mr.. Grave;
If he is truthiully reported in the New Yorl
ErcniRg Post of Thursday. If he can be col
rect as to his facts, congressman were not
whit too carly in the work of interposing
barrier between their own base designs an
the plancy and subscrvicncy of the executiv
departments. Tho only wonder would
that such bad fellows could thus be moved t
lcgslate against themselves
The question remains whether civil servic
commi sioncrs would become as vile as con
gressmon if tho people should choose them q
representatives, and as weak as cabinet min
listers if the President should invite them {
his council board. We differ in toto from Nj
Graves's reported facts and logic, But bot
seemed interesting contributions to the dis
cussion of civil service reform.
-S
A Few Words Concerning Roscoe Conklin
Abuse and sander of Roscoe ConlSling ~