New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-16

A REPORT on CIVIL SERVICE REFORM INTENDED
TO GULL THE CREDULoUs WHICH MAY REPEL
THE FAITHFUL
fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUSgl
WASHINGTON, June 15.-It is expected that the
report recently submitted to the House by
the select committee on reform in the Civil
Service will be circulated by the Demo-
Gratis as a campaign document. II is understood
that the report was prepared with that object in
view, and that before it was adopted and pre-
sented to the House a draft Of 1t was
submitted for criticism and revision to
such eminent Civil Service reformers as Speaker
Carlisle. Samuel j. Randall. w. X. Morrison and
j. Randolph Tucker. At the suggestion OF some OF
the Democratic reformers it is said. the COMMITTEES
broadened the scope of the document, so as to in-
clude q formal approval of the work of the Civil
Service Commission. 1t is noted as political coin-
cidence that the report was submitted June z, the
day following the adjournment of the Republican
National Convention. 1t is an adverse report on
two bills introduced January IA, more than five
months ago, which shows that the select committee
acted only after cautious and mature delberatlon.
One of the bills was offered by Mr.. Clay, of Ken
lucky, a Democrat, and the other by Mr.. Shaw, of
Illinois, also Democrat
sPRAT TO CATCH GUDGEoSs.
Although the report was unanimously agreed to
by the committee, there is good reason TO believe
that a majority of the Democratic members were
at first opposed to it and yielded reluctant assent
to 1t only after strong and repeated representations
by prominent Democratic leaders as to the favor
able effect it would have upon party prospects.
The ground of opposition and subsequent reluc-
tance was that in case the Democratic party should
triumph in the coming Presidential contest, the
report would be ugly difficulty in the way OF
turning Republicans out of Government employ.
ment and putting Democrats in their places To
this objection the answer was that neither Demo-
cratic President Democratic Congress could
be bound by the report of House Committee, and
that there was no reason to fear way
would not be found to make room for
Democrats in case of Democratic success. In pri-
vate conversation among Democrats the real object
of the report Is freely discussed and the leaders are
laughing IN their sleeves at the smart" trick they
have devised, and by which they hope to gull
certain class of voters
CAUTION WILL DE NEEDED.
With the report itself Republicans find no
fault but the Democrats in dstributing it as a cam
paign document will be compelled to exercise great
care. If many copies, bearing the imprint of the
Democratic Campaign Committee, should fall into
the hands of greedy Democrats who believe that TO
the victors belong the spols," and who have been
hungering for office for twenty years, the result
would be far from satisfactory in party sense
to the Democratic leaders. The ardOr, of
who can read and who have been zeaously work.
ing year after year to turn Republicans out in
order to get themselves in, would not be stimu-
lated, to say the least, by the receipt from Demo-
cratic headquarters OF campaign document con-
tanning such sentences as these:
The evils of corrupt exercise OF this power OF official
designation have placed the leaders Of all parties OF 10.
day attitude cOndemnatory Of mere partisan sys-
TEN. nucuating with the defeat OF party,
growing Of the quadrennIal contests fixed by tho
Constitution Grave complaints have been justly made
against nearly every administration of the Government
by OF these practices OF the several political
parties In the distribution Of official patronage,
until they have grown to be designated
spos system and the officers Of trust and RESPONSE
bty adudged to be the rpened fruits of party success,
rendering these appoin 70 office the subject OF fac
onal contest introducing the principles OF intrigue and
corruption to govern and control their selection, In
stead OF the efficiency, honesty and good be-
havior of the public official Since the or
ganizatiOn of the Civil Service Commission
great good has been accomplished IN many directions,
and better feeling pervades the dominant sentiment
the subject OF reform in the Civil Service, inspiring the
hope that distant day the benefits OF similar laws
may extend throughout the several States, and by har
mOpy and homOgeneOusness of sentiment and action,
much of that which contributes the bitterness OF
political contests and the scandal OF free institutions
shall be forever eliminated and destroyed-State ana
National"