National Republican., 1883-01-04

Attention has been called to the report Of
the senate committee on civil service and re-
tronchmcnt. The report contains n number
of remarkable statements concerning the con-
dition Of the civil service. 1t is an arragn-
ment of tho entire form and method of con-
ducting civil aflairs, and contains great deal
of information which would be beneficial to
the public if divcsted Of the opinions with
which it is,cneumbered. Itcharacteriscs the
president as "a keeper feeding n hungry
flock" of ravenous, Ulamorous jackals.
The executive is alleged to be so en-
crossed with the dispensing Of patronage
as to he unable to attend to grayor affairs of
state. This is an exaggerated statement of
partial fact. il is true that the growth Of
an official system from 1000 cmployosJo
100000 has materially changed or enlarged
the presidential duties but with this growth
has sprung up, as corollary, II system Of aids
and helpers, which materially lessons the bur
den of the president. Ono of the remark
able and tlowery expressions Of this public
document is the arragnment of the practice
of political awards: "Tho malign influence
of political domination in appointments to
! aollice is widespread, and reaches out from the
president himself to all possible means of ap-
proach TO the appointing power. 1t rosons
the very air we breathe. Nocongrcssman in ac-
cord with the dispenser of power can wholly
escape it. Time is consumed, strength is eX-
haustod, the mind is absorbed, aud the vital
forces of the legislator, mental as well as
physical, are spent in the never ending strug-
gle for Offices"
The description so wildly given of the on
erous duties of executive and legislator ex-
cites wonder that they can live or even exist
under the present system. But they do.
Moreover, they are always ready for re-elec-
tiOn to these places in which their "vital
forces are thus worn out in the struggle for
patronage. There are yet few patriots liv-
| ing who are also willing to serve their country
in the white house and submit to be nagged
by the army of office seekers and their con-
gressmen.
The whole matter Of the report is devoted
to the subject of civil service reform from
the standpoint of legislators. THE REPUBLI'
CAN recently offered few suggestions upon
lIlS buultCJ Which may DthI lNlttllluh ~
brief. The main trouble with the service is
the interference of legislators. They infest
the executive departments worry the chief
of bureaus and persecute the president in
order to secure the advancement of some oi
their political pets. Not more than one-tenth
of the time occupied in this greed of patron
age is devoted to securing first appointments
These are easily and readily settled. But
where an Office is once secured the beneficiary
haunts his legislative friend and keeps him rum
ming to the departments to secure promotion
That having been finally granted, to be rid
of the importunate, the trouble is not over
| No one is satisfied until he secures the highest
attainable prize. If congress would enact q
law against itself, prohibiting its members from
indulging in this fight for promotions, the first
! step would have been taken in tho right direc.
tion. In the meantime, nothing can be ac-
complished by Illuminating reports and resolu'
tions against that intangibility called the
System" of appointments.