The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-13
The Wipers.

The Democrats are not very powerful
at originating legislation, but they are
terrible fellows at wiping out laws that
other people have made. 4 few years
ago they were engaged in wiping every
vestige OF the war legislation from tho
statute book, and SO vigorously did they
pursue the job that in the end they
came uncomfortably near being wiped
out themselves. just now they are en-
gagged in wiping out the Civil-service
law, with what result to themselves re-
mains TO be seen. sUI .. a.#
So long as the Republicans were so
firmly established in power as to show
no probability whatever of an ap-
preaching change, the Democrats were
the most virtuous Civil:service reform
ers in the world. They could not hold
a convention of any sort without sol
emnly ''arraigning' the Republicans
for gross partisanship in the distribu-
ton of offices, and declaring that merit
and not favoritism should be the true
and only guide in making appoint
ments. Even as late as last year they
were so much impressed by their own
pretenses in favor of Civil-service Re-
form that they did not rs body place
themselves in opposition to the bill, and
it was allowed TO pass without becom-
ing distinctly party measure.
But by talking to each other in pri-
vate and TO other people in public the
leaders have for some months now been
deluding themselves into the belief that
they can carry the Presidential election
Of 1884, and the first thing TO trouble
them in that connection has been the
impediIhent, in the shape of certain pro-
visions of the CIvil-service bill, that
would lie in the way of an immediate
seizure of all the political spoils, and it
was determined that, II by any means
possible, the Civll-service law must be
''wiped."
Mr.. Pendleton, of Ohio, was "wiped"
a few days ago, and all because Of his
connection with the Civil-service bill.
The Democrats evidently thought that
II one of their own number didn't know
better than to act as though he thought
the party declarations in convention
meant something, it was time TO put
him out of the way. His fate will warn
other Democrats not TO indulge in the
recreation Of composing Civil-servlce
Reform bills so long as there is any
possibility Of their passage through Con-
gress. ttr
A gallant Democrat from Kentucky
introduced bill in the House day or
two ago for abolishing the Civil-service
law outright. This goes to the root Of
the matter. The new bill has gone to
the select Committee on Reform in the
Civil Service, Of which Mr.. Mutchler, Of
Pennsyivania, is Chairman, and eight
of the thirteen members are Democrats.
II they do not bring in favorable re-
port il will be because, unlike most OF
their fellows, they have sufficient wis
dom to make them timid.
1t is most likely, however, that the
Democrats will wipe out the Civil Ser.
vice Commission by the process oi
starvation rather than by direct aboli'
ton. That is the favorite process among
towards for killing off their enemies
Democratic lawyers are being impressed
anew with the great fact that the Com
mission is an unconstitutional body
and before the Executive Appro
priation bill Is brought in probably thu
scruples Of the Democrats on the score
Of unconstitutionality will become 81
serious as to prevent their voting TO
any money TO carry on the reforms un
daytakan hv the Commission.
| Whatever way they may be compelled
to adopt in order 10 get rid Of the spec
ter OF Ciyil-seryice Reform, the Demo
crats will march on TO the gloriou
work Of wiping 1t out, and lucky will
they be II they do not perceive befor'
the year is over that with all their pain
they have only succeeded in once NOR
extinguishing the prospects Of theiriowi
party.--Detroh Post and Tribune.