The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-12-27
BEYOND POLITICS,
DR.. Culvor's Views on Civil-ServiCe
Reform.
THE OFFICES ARE TRUSTS.
He Believer That the Faithfulness of
a Man 5nculd Be the Test to Be
Applied Ey the Incoming Admins
tratioD, Not Party Fealty-Cleve-
land'e Probaple Policy.

"what &c your opiniop," asked reporter OF
THE oprrrc tc-ooy OF Dr. O. p. Culver, "as u
the policy Of the incoming administration on
the question OF OWL Service reform, so much
talked Off VIII there be any considerable
number OF Republicans now In ONCE retained
under the Democratic administration, think
youf"
"weli, my desr cir" said Or. Culver, "you
have propounded 70 me question which 1t is
hardly within ny province to answer. do
not know how fer President Olevelsud will
regard this question OF oivil.Service btndng
upon him OF mat of his administration, in
erecting the needed reform 80 much demanded
by the country TIC Will, think, execute the
law.
"under the 2cpuolican regime since the close
OF the late civil war the public onices have
been turned into partisan caravansary, aud
the temple OF liberty has been converted into
den ofthie7ae; eud Gs these facts became man.
fleet TO the people, there was cry OF reform
that camo up from all parts OF the country
that arrested the ntt nti0n OF those in place
and powor, snG demanded OF them halt in
the abuse Of thctr Official positions. II was
not only denorellal1g to tho public service,
but II vas 0otaoralizlng In It's effects upon
society By corruptug men for mere partiaau
purposen. What think you OF Cabinet oficer,
Member OF Oonarc9s, or the head OF Gov
eminent bureau piUndering his subordinates
In Office 10 order 70 create partisan corrup.
ton fund and Jet for years this has been
maintain pltos eud power. The civil, State or
Government Offices were made brokerage of
fces, and Cabinet oflcals, Congressman and
heads OF IureGus we're mere brokers, aud all
those who fGiIed 70 meet the pecuniary de-
mands made upon taem, were dismissed from
Sfhis methcd o. corruption had been car.
ried to such su extent that It was sappiug the
very foup6atioDs OF eur Government, endan
gerlng the liberties Of the peopie3y oe asyst EN-
Government into an imperial despotlsm.
When the people awoke TO this condition OF
things, they asw the necessity OF laying the
az al inc root OF tue tree Reform In the Civil
Service vas demanded. The Democratic party
| claimed that tbs public ofilces were public
trusts, md not tD9 mere perqufsiteS OF party,
| 10 be sold to tha highest bidder.
"The moshods adopted by the Republican
| party were those OF mere contract, aud which
| had material influence to dfminish the 70:
spectability IespOloibillty and the purity OF
| the public nifcer, and which introduced a
system OF om1lat patronage, corruption aud
| deceit wholly &C Wlr with the publtc inter
ests. 1t ves those abuses of the puollc trusts
| that demerGcn frcform.'"
"Then YOU do not think that the reform de-
| manded cer 90 Greeted by retalning In omce
| any considerable number OF Republican en-
plSyes eakea ,ho ssspofnt sI.or ar,o ro,oru
| demanded Lee nothing In the world to do with
the question ot tanning Republicans In office.
| Suppose you ned come great enterprise on
hanS snch e rdm9vipg the ang pS
avenues and the rnell, In tho present status
OF that road would you employ the president
superintendent snd civil engineer OF the road,
or Colonel Totte6, their attorney, to aid your
Then, IL preetdons Cleveland and tho Demo-
cratic party intend to reform the abuses that
have crept into the CIVIL Service of the Govern.
ment, they Will not employ the men TO aid
them In this reform that have been toe
Instrument, directly or Indirectly, OF the
abuses complained OF.
Reform"
"Then you would make general swespins
out of tho Executive Departments in wash.
ington city Gnd hII ihem'with Democra,s?'
asked tho reporter.
l. sob, no, rot exactly" answered Mr.. Culver,
81 would ilral inquire Into the official record
which each Of tho Government employees had
mado In their respective positions, whore
that position ~ns 1Glow the head or chief OF q
| bureau or dlgiei0p, during the entire time he
| or she had held such position, aud II found
| that they vera qualified and honest and had
| been faithfuk 20 hseiF trust would say retain
| them, regard leeB OF their political or partisan
tenets. Guoh net hold ONCE from motives
public policy, tnep, no mere partisan consld
Grafton ought 10 influence the action OF the
Executive toward such public servants.
"As TO new appointments, good aud compe
Democratic party 10 MI those. ! would ap
point none 20 ol1Cs that had not aided In thu
election OF Cleveland and Hendricks, aud
would turn out all who had by speechor pei
| aided In oorrhpting the ballot, and by othe
unlawful moanc attempted to perpetuate tn
| power OF the RopnbllcRn party.
"unlees tue 51u9ee complained OF are thor
oughly and radically reformed tho tenure o
power OF tho psmooratic party VIII be short
To accomplish the work OF reform, then, thu
Administration OF President Cleveland mus
| not be Handicapped by any undue weight
Unity OF pUrpore and OF action 10 essential Z
success. United Uo stand, divided we fall,
is as truo OF partioe as OF States. Those are, Il
| BRIEF my vioNs OF Civil Service Reform"