Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-05
RELIABLE TESTIMONY.

The Washington Critic. live inde-
pendent paper published at the seat of
government. is very warm in its advo-
cacy of Blaine and Logan, as it sees in
their success continuation OF the
prosperity OF the country, and ieaves
no stone unturned to place them prop
erly before the people. 1t has been
looking over its files of the Washing
ton Post, an undoubted Democratic
authority, dyed in the wool, and in
the issue OF September 8, 1882, finds
the following in relation 20 the VIM
terport speech Of Mr.. Blame, delivered
two days previous:
According TO the brief report sent
by telegraph. Mr.. Blaine said he would
Ike to see every federal officer, how
ever humble, appointed for a specific
period, during which he could not be
removed except for cause, which
cause should be specified and proved.
He should be glad to see the tenure of
all subordinate officers made longer al
least than presidential term, SO that
the incoming of new Administration
be not crippled or injured.
The adoption of these suggestions
would 60 far toward removing many
of the worst evils OF our civil service.
If an official were sure he would not
be thrown out of place on some paltry
prcteXt, or for DO other cause than q
desire to put another in his place, he
would be relieved of load of demon
alizing anxiety, and would be much
more useful because much more hap
py man.
The constant fear OF losing Office, OF
being deprived of support for Il
family, is one of the most demordl-
iZing features of our civil service in ali
its branches. The man who breads
the fall of the Off ia AK every day,
who knows that fidelity to duty is no
guarantee of exemption from decapi-
tation, who sees in every stranger that
enters the office his possible successor
is in no condition to do good work.
Fixity of tenure would correc. all this
The incumbent, knowing just when
his term would expire would prepare
for that event. Besides, the evils OF
having crowds of place hunters always
besieging senator's, representatives ami
heads departments would be abated
Ii places were not creatable on de
mand there would be no throng OF
greedy applicants Mr.. Blaine sug-
gests seven years as the proper term,
and that will do as we'll as any other
number.
On the subject of life tenure Mr..
Blaine's views are precisely what The
Post has always urged. He does not
believe in it because it means pension
in the end and may create a privileges
class. We could not send old men and
women out of Office to starve. II
kept on the rolls until unfit for further
duty, they would have 10 be provided
for on civil retired list. Tie worst
| abuses under our government now are
| sheltered in the retired list OF the army
and may. If the whole country knew
, the Whole truth in regard to some Of
these retired gen lcinrn. there would
be Il louder howl raised than has been
heard for many wars. There mus
be no extension OF This >ysiem there
fore there mnst be no life tenure OF
civil offices.
So il seems that Mr. Elaine did take
| a position on civil service reform be-
fore he wrote his letter of acceptance.
and in plain and sim,,tc, and for thai
reason most emphatic, terms. What
viii the sixtecn-imch collar dude re-
formers say LOW: VIII they go on
the principle lhni u lie well stuck TO
is as good a, the irutb!'