The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-08-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHIseroN, D. c., Aug.4, 'S3.

N'N'', " shS oioh'". NA sSOiiS ii'Ai
dreds of expectant place-hunters who
thought they could jump straight
from the examination room into. a
first-class clerkship. The disappoint-
ment is all the greater for these ap-
plicants because they renounced all
allegiance to the several States from
which they really hail and claimed
residence in the District of Columbia,
which already has some five hum
dred more places in the departments
than her quota. 1t will be only nec-
essary for those applicants who gave
their preference for residence in the
District to rest their souls in perfect
patience for a matter of couple Of
centuries, when their turn will come
for hearing. 1t is matter of grave
doubt as to the beneficial outcome of
this civil service business. Ways
will be found, and there are already
some discovered, by which the vital
provisions of the law may be set at
naught by those who see fit to do so.
One system ofgovernment, wrought
out by our political methods, as a
system of rewards and punishments,
and any legislature that attempts to
settle the question whether a mans
fealty to party and zeal in securing
his party's success, shall or shall not
be rewarded, is menace to the ex
istence of political parties, and will
not be allowed to ostand. For ninety
years we have, gone on without any
outward governmental calamity on
account of our civil appointments
made because of partisan activity in
many cases, and because of loyalty
and high patriotism in many other
cases, and the Government, does not
seem TO- be- suffering now from the
of the doctrine that the
spoils belongs to the victors. Take
from the voter the incentive to do
duty for his party by proclaiming
that he who fights in opposition, even
if unsuccessful, shall be rewarded
with official places, and he becomes
not only Indifferent to the existence
of his party, but wishes itwell out Of
the way. tits the abuse of this sys-
tenn itself, that has renderedit obnox-
Mr.. Frank Hatton did a little piece
of dirty work before he went away
on his present trip that was very like
a good many of his official capers. lie
reduced three clerks from $1,000 po-
sitions TO places paying $l20o, and
imme diately filled the vacancies
thus created by appointing his wife's
uncle to one, his own uncle to anoth-
err and a personal friend to a tliird.It
is understood that all the degraded
clerks were competent, and had been
employed for long time in a bureau
in which they had risen by degrees
from $1,000 to $1,000 grades. One Of
them Is described as a man skillful
in many things, scholar, a veteran
Of the army, and a most faithful off.
Ger. The injustice Of compelling the
three men Of experince to surrender
their desks and their salaries to per-
sons who are without experience is SO
apparent to any one that it seems
scarcely credible to believe that Post
master General Gresham could have
been consulted iu the matter, OF, if
he was, that he was truly informed
about all the circumstances. The de-
graded men will be expected to teach
the new w-comers their duties, and will
probably do most Of the work they
have been doing, at the same time
that their compensation has been re-
dueed. Then, if they be not discour-
aged, and are still inclined to toll on
promotion~again, they must rise
through two grades to reach their old
standing. If these injured men have
as good'a case as they are represented
to have, lit would seem to be the OBJ
viously Just thing forJudge Gresham
to restore them to the places they
have lost ana let the new w-comers step
down-or out. 1t is to be hoped
that the time is not far distant when
this swell-head from Iowa, who wears
the title of First Assistant p. M. g.,
willlhimself be call to step down and
out. He is whollyunfit for the posi-
tion, or any other of that Importance.
His manner on the street or wherever
you meet him seem to say in his own
choice language. "By God, perhaps
you don't know who am" BY the
way, it is currently reported that
sRublicPrinter Rounds will have to
"go" before long. He has been a
great failure. HA'a'' ~ ~ "
The brilliant maritime achieve
ments of the Americannavy are null
tiplying, all the time. Within three
months. as many ships of our vast
navalforce have sailed to the bottom
ofthe sea with astonishing celebrity,