The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-06-17
Mr.. Blaine and Civil Service Re-
form.


Extract from a speech delivered at Winterport
Maine, in 1922
There are many reforms which 1 should be
glad to see, and which have for many years
believed in. should be glad to see every fed
eral officer, however honorable, appointed for
specific period during which he could not be
removed except for cause, which cause should
DO specified, proved and made matter of rec
ord. 1 should be glad also to see the tenure Of
all subordinate officers made longer at least
than presidential term, so that the incoming
OF new administration should not be harrass-
ed, annoyed, crippled and injured BY the dis
tribution OF offices. Seven years would be
good length of term, and would effect the de-
sired end. 1t would break Joints with the
presidential term, and would avoid the evil Of
winch nave spoken. There are a great many
honest advocates of reform in the civil service
who believe in life tenure for all subordi-
nate officials. have never been able to per-
suade myself that this would be wise, even II
practicable, and am quite sure that it is not
practicable. Life tenure means pension in
the end to the incumbent, and with hundred
thousand ofice-holders this would impose an
1ntolerable burden on the taxpayer. 1t would
create what might be termed privileged
class, which is always sure in the end to prove
unpopular and odious in the eyes of the peo-
pie. Nor do / believe it was ever
demonstrated that life tenure insures
the best, most faithful and most hon
orsole service. 1t may often be wise
to retain man in Office for all the wears of his
active life, but I believe be will be better
officer II his commission shall expire at stated
periods, and his efficiency shall be his claim
OF reappolntment and continuance in our adj
ministrstion of State and county office. This
IS frequently illustrated. The gentleman who
has practical charge of the Treasury of Maine
has been in his position forty-one years, his ap-
polntment being annually renewed in recogni-
t1on OF his ability and fidelity. Even with his
strict integrity do not doubt that he has been
a more careful sofficer than if he had been
originally appointed for life or term of forty
one years. In the county of my residence we
elected the same man treasurer annually for
thirty-three years. He was better officer
than though he had been originally chosen to
serve for the full generation, during which he
nonoraoly discharged every duty. believe,
therefore, from such instances as these, and
many others which / could name, that it will
prove far easier task to educate public
opinion to renewal of appointment to eff
cient ana valuable officers, with sufficient
salaries to enable them to lay by something
for rainy day, than it will be to get popular
consent to life tenures, with pensions to large
civil list, constantly growing in numbers and
amount, and constantly provoking opposition
In the popular mind.
Extract from Mr.. Blaine's eulogy on President
Garfeld)
In the beginning of his Presidential life
Garfeld's experience did not yield him pleas
ure or satisfaction. The duties that engross
so large portion of the Presidents time were
distateful to him, and were unfavorably con-
trasted with his legislative work. 81 have been
dealing all these years with IDEAS" he impa-
tiently exclaimed one day, "and here l am
dealing only with persons. have been here
tofore dealing with the fundamental principles
OF government, and here am considering ali
day whether A. or B. shall be appointed to this
or that office" He was earnestly seeking some
practical way of correcting the evils arising
from the distribution of overgrown and un-
Wleldly pstronage-evils always appreciated
and often discussed by him. but whose mapni-
tude had been more deeply impressed upon
his mind since his accession to the Presidency.
Had he lived comprehensive Improvement
in the mode of appointment and in the tenure
OF ONCE would have been proposed by him,
and, with the aid of Congress, no doubt DER.
fected