New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-22
t1CUTNERY md REFORN.

We now have n new set of regulations and
new set of rules, and corps of examiners and
commissioners, to carry into effect the new Civil
Service act sill, the millennium has not
arrived. 1t would be well not to expect too
much all at once New brOoms sweep clean, but
il takes time. Also, human brOomS need to get
n little acquainted with the work before they
remove much dirt. The new system cannot he
got into full and effective operation by mere
legislative or executive fiat. For some time
there will be impcrfcctionS and abuses, the
more if the good people expect too much from
machinery, and take roo little pains themselves
TO supplement or assist its work. For time
there will still be cakes and ale and ginger will
be hot in the mouth.
The danger is that the country may become
dissatisfied with the whole business, because it
may not effect changes as RAPIDLY as some
expcct or desire We are a rather inpatient
people 1t does not suit us to get reforms
after the British fashion-a century or
two for each small step. But the slow
moving reforms are those that are lclst apt to
move backward Then, too, we are exceedingly
inclined, as a people, 10 have undue faith III the
sovereign power of machinery. When We have
be done and have created the nccdfui Orsani-
cation, with its presumably omnp0lcnt com
mittcc or commission, w are apt To go 10 Slccp
and leave the business to work ltSc. ont as
best it can Consequently we resolve and enact
a rood many things where we accomplish one.
In mechanics we aware that perpetual
motion has not been discovered. But III politics
and sociology, we seem to imagine tina. a ma
chine has everlasting fuel and proper direction
within Itself. This does not happen TO be the
fact. Hence most of our machines for such
ends stand idly looking at each other monu-
ments Of American ingenuity but productive
of nothing except salaries.
The Civil Service machine. it IS cmincntiy
probable, will not run long Or to much effect
unless the people supply the steam. If they
mt into it the whole force Of an intelligent
and rosolute popular viii. insisting patiently
and pcrsi,tently that it SiaH work, and shall
work well something Will be done or learned.
We shall at least find out why it does not do
all that was expected, If it does not, and
whether the machine needs any alteration. But
# the people put no force into it, this particular
machine Will be found as incapable as Keely's
of generating force within itself. Most of The
men in ii viii be content to receive regular
compensation for annually observing that - the
system works beautifully" and for doing
nothing with much elaborate display. The few
men who can never be content to ct nothing
done will quietly retire to make room for
gentlemen of more convenient frame OF
mind and the ingenious machine Will then
continue TO run no whittier as long rs Congress
sunnlies the oil of fat salaries. Ii would be Il
bad thing for Civil Service Reform to have
this effort result in that fashion, and therefore
the people had better put into the machine an
intelligent and resolute purpose.
1t will need all the force that public opinion
can possibly put into it, The obstacles 10 be
overcome are not small. Unhappiy, they con-
sist quite largely of vicious ideas entertained
and habits INDUCED by the people themselves.
The Congressman who recommends an unfit
man is not any worse than the constituents who