Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-07-31

The subject of civil service administration is a
problem that has occupied the earnest thought of
statesmen Tor number OF years past and the
record viii show that toward its solution many
results of a valuable and comprehensive charac-
ter have been attained by the Republican party
since its accession to power. In the parizan war
fare made upon the latter with the view of weak
ening it in the public confidence great deal has
been alleged in connection with the abuse of the
civil service, the party making the indiscriminate
charges seeming to have entirely forgotten that it
was under the full sway of the Democratic organ
zation that the motto To the yictors belong the
spoilS became cardinal article in the Demo-
cratic creed.
With the determination to elevate our govern
mental administration to a standard of Justice
excellence, and public morality the Republican
party has sedulOuSly endeavored to Law the foun-
datiOn of system which shall reach the highest
perfection under the plastic hand of time and ac-
cumulatlng experience. The problem is one of
far greater ntricacy than appears upon its super
fetal consideration. and embraces the slib-OIeS-
ti0nS of how to avoid the abuses possible to the
Judgement of an immense number of appoint-
mentS in the hands of the executive: of how to
give encouragement TO and provoke emulation in
the various government employees in order that
they may strive for proficiency and rest their
hopes of advancement upon the attributes of Off
cial merit, good conduct and exemplary honesty;
and how best to avoid the evils of creating priv
tation Of European prototypes, may gradually
lose all proficiency and value in the belief that
they possess a life-caling only to be taken away
in case of some fragrant abuse
The thinking, earnest men of the Republican
party have made no mere WOrdy demonstration
upon this subject; but they have endeavored to
quietly perform that which their, opponents are
constantly promising without performing Under
Republican rule the result has been that without
ENGRAVING any of the Objectionable features of
the European systems upon our own, there has
been steady and even rapid elevation of the
civil service in all of its departments until it can
now be stated without felr of successful cont ra-
diction, that the service is more Just more eff
Gent and purer in all of its features than ever
CJIr .
and if defects still exist in system. the country
can safely rely upon the Republican party as the
most efficient instrument for their removal
am in favor of the highest standard Of excel
enc9 in the administration Of the civil service and
will lend my best efforts TO the accomplishment of
the greatest attainable perfection in this branch
of our service.
THE REMAINING TWIN RELIC OF BARBARIsL
The Republican party came into existence in a
crusade against the democratic institutions Of
slavery and polygamy. The first Of these has
been buried beneath the embers of civil war The
party should continue its efforts until the remain
ing iniquity shall disappear from our civilization
under the force of faithfully executed laws.
There are other subjects of importance which !
would gladly touch upon did space permit. l
limit myself to saying that, while there should be
the most rigid economy OF governmental admin
istratiOn, there should be no Self-defeatnG parSl-
mony either in our domestic or foreign service.
Official dishonesty should be promptly and re-
lentlessly punished. Our obligations to the de
tenders of our country should never be forgotten.
and the liberal system Of pensions provided by
the Republican party should not be imperied
by adverse legislation. The law establishing a
Labor Bureau, through which the interests of
labor can be placed in an organized condition, |
regard a salutary measure The elght-houl
law should be enforced as rigidly as any other.
We should increase our Navy to a degree ena-
bling to amply protect our coast lines, our com
MERGE and to give a force in foreign Wa
ters which shall be a respectable and proper
representative of q country like our own. The
public lands belong to the people, and should
not be alienated from them, but reserved for free
homes for all desiring to possess them; and
finally, our present Indian policy should be con
tinued and improved upon as our experience ia
it's administration may from time to tirne suggest
1 have the honor to subscribe myself, Sir,
Your obedient servant
JOHN A. LOGAN.
To the Hon JOHN B. HENDERSON,
Chairman of the Committee.