New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-03
CIVIL sERnICA REFORM At ALBANY.

Democracy as represented i'll the Assembly
spells Civil Service Reform thus P-a-t-r-o-n-
age. Realizing that public sentiment de-
mands the speedy overthrow of the spoils sys-
TEN. it does not hesitate to RECORD itself in
favor of measures AIMED at the giant abuse.
Leading Democratic Assemblymen have ex-
pressed themselves as thoroughly committed
to the new order of things for which the
Pendleton bill stands. In theory they are
ardent supporters of the measure. In theory.
we believe, not "a Democratic Assemblyman Is
opposed to it. All the same from Speaker
Chapn down, they all fell away from thor
position Just as soon as the test was applied
and they were invited to put their creed
into their deed. When such demand
was made-presto their Civil Service Reform
notions resolved themselves into loaves
and fishes. Glance ut the bill
in relation to the State buildings at Albany,
which passed the Assembly on Wednesday,
under the operation of the previous question
1t is nothing except device for turning pa
tronage into Democratic channels. 1t might
Justly be styled An Act to increase the
sources of pap supply for the Democracy Of
New-York. That is all there is OF it, At present
the State buildings at Albany, except the new
Capitol, are supervised by the Governor, a
Democrat, the Lieutenant-Governor, n Demo-
crat. the Speaker of the Assembly, Demo
GRAFT the Controller, Republican, the Secre-
tary of State Republican, and the Attorney
General, Republican. Wednesdays bill places
all these buildings in the hands OF a
board of trustees, consisting OF the Gov
ernOr, the Leutenant-G Governor and the Speaker
of the Assembly. That is to say, the three
Republicans are dropped and the three Dem
ocrats are retained!
Now we undertake to say that nothing more
unblushingly partisan than this was ever ac
c0mDlished in the golden age OF the spolls
system. In the light of it the public is justi-
fed in regarding the Civil Service Reform
pretences of any and all the Democrats of the
Assembly as simply a good article OF bun
comb and hypocrisy. His friends have pointed
To Mr.. Chapin az a man Of advanced and clari
fed ideas, touching public questions Mr.. Ben
edict has been alluded to in similar strain. Mr..
Brooks has a Statewide reputation for sagaclty
and public spirit. But none of these leaders
took the floor to protest against this strike for
patronage 1t is charitable to assume that
they and other reputable Democratic members
duty upon the table at the fierce demand of
the party's boundless appetite.
In perfect keeping with this performance OF
a Democratic Assembly was the recent act of
the Democratic Governor in filling the vacant
Judgeship in AIegany County. While he was
running for his present position. last fall, Mr.
Cleveland wrote a letter overlooking with Civil
Service Reform sentiments. He remained an
unflinching Civil Service RefOrmer all through
the campaign. But the campaign ended and
the Executive chair safely reached, he fills a
high judicial Office in a manner that renders
the conclusion unavoidable that although he
NAV be for Civil Service form i'll the abstract,
he is not for it in the concrete, provided he
can put a Democrat in lucrative position by
ignoring it.
Judging from this legislative and executive
CHAPTER, and both are significant, Civil Service
Reform will not be advanced by anything that
is done at Albany this winter. Democracy will
preach it, but if it continues as 1t has begun
it viii not practise it at all.