Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-08-01
VIM. d. McMASTER, Editor X Pro'r.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, d. c., July 2S, 's3.

much is expected in the way of i'm
provement in governmental methods,
is now in full and complete operation,
to the dismay of some hundreds of ex-
pectant place-hunters who thought they
could jump straight from the examine
ton room into first-class clerkship.
The disappointment is all the greater
for these applicants because they re-
nounced all allegiance to the several
states from which they really hail and
claimed residence in the District of
Columbia, which already has some five
hundred more places in the departments
than her quota. 1t will be only nee
essary for those applicants who gave
their preference for residence in the
District to rest their souls in perfect
patience ivr II matter of couple of
centuries, when their turn will come
for hearing. 1t is n matter of grave
doubt as to the beneficial outcome of
the civil service business. Ways will
be found, and there are already some
discovered, by which the vital provis-
ions OF the law may be set at naugbt
by those who see fit to do so. Our
system OF government, wrought out by
our political methods, is a system of
rewards and punishments, and any leg
islation that attempts to settle the
question whether mans feaIty to
party and zeal in securing his party's
success, shall or shall not be rewarded,
is menace to the existence of political
parties, and will not be allowed to
stand. For ninety years we have gone
on without any untoward governmental
calamity on account of our civil ap-
polntments 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
enforcement Of the doctrine that the
spolls belong 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 unsuc-
cesstul shall be rewarded with official
places, and he becomes not only indif-
fercnt to the existence of his party, but
wishes it well out Of the way. 1t is
the abuse Of this system by the republi-
can party, rather than the system itself,
that has rendered it obnoxious.
Mr.. Frank Hatton did little piece
OF dirty work before he went away on
his present trip that was very like
good many of his official capers. He
reduced three clerks from 81 600 posi-
tons to places paying $1,000, and i'm
mediately filled the vacancies thus Gre
ated by appointing his wife's uncle to
one, his own uncle to another, and
personal friend to third. 1t is under
stood that all Of the degraded clerks
were competent, and had been en-
ployed for long time in bureau in
which they had risen by degrees from
$1,000 to 81, 500 grades. One of
them is described as man skillful in
many things, scholar, a veteran of
the army, and most faithful officer.
The injustice Of compelling the three
men OF experience to surrender their
desks and their salaries to persons who
are without experience is so apparent
to any one that it seems scarcely credi-
BILE 70 believe that Postmaster General
Gresham could have been consulted in
the matter, or, if he was, that he was
truly informed about all the circum-
stances. The degraded men will be
expected to teach the newcomers their
duties, and will probably do most of
the work they have been doing, at the
same time that their compensation has
been reduced. Then if they be not
discouraged and are still inclined to
toll on for promotion again, they must
rise through two grades to reach their
old standing. If these injured men
have as good case as they are repre-
scented to have, it would seem to be
the obviously just thing for Judge
Gresham to restore them to the places
they have lost and let the newcomers
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. NJ. G.,
will himself be called upon to step
down and out. He is wholly unfit for
the position, or any other of hat i'm
portance. His manner on the street
or wherever you meet him seems to
say in his own choice language, "By
God, perhaps you don't know who l
am" BY the way, it is currently re-
ported that Public Printer Rounds will
have to "go" before long. He has
been a great failure. PHONo.
- Senator Edmunds is home from
the Pacific coast, and is very enthusi-
astic about the Puget Sound scenery.
He says the glaciers at Mount Rail