Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-08-18

regard thorough reform of the civil service
as one of the most pressing necessities OF
the hour; that honesty, capacity and fidelity
constitute the only valid claim to public en-
ployment; and the offices of the Govern
ment cease to be a matter of arbitrary favor
itism and patronage, and public station be-
come again post of honor"
In 1875, the year that was pre-emi-
nently year of reform, a year in which
the great reform Governor of New York,
Samuel ]. Tilden, was the Democratic
candidate for President, the platform OF
the party declared in clear and unmistaka
BILE tones that: Reform is necessary in
the civil service. Experience that proves
efficient, economical conduct OF Govern
mental BUSINESS is not possible if the
civil service be subject to change at every
election, be a prize fought for at the
ballot-box, be brief reward of party zeal,
instead of posts of honor assigned for
proved competency, and held for fidelity
in the public employ; that the dispensing
of patronage should neither be tax upon
the time of all our public men, nor the
instrument Of their ambition"
In 1880 the party declared in favor of
the thorough reform in the civil SER
vice" From all this can any other con-
clusion be drawn than that the Demo-
cratic party is pledged to civil service re-
form? And is not the President carrying
out these doctrines? In the minor and
clerical Offices if those who at present
hold them are thoroughly competent, is
there any reason for their removal? Of
fees which are of higher grade and
should be in consonance with the policy
of the party, should be filled by Demo-
Gratis. Already the country has seen the
result of pressure in the appointment Of
several officers, of whom Judd is the most
notorious, and is there Democrat in the
country who does not feel chagrined
that the President should have been SO
imposed upon?
We have somewhere seen it urged that
the President has no right to delegate his
power OF appointment to the Civil Service
Commission. Assuming that such is the
case, has he any more right to delegate
his power to Senators and Representa-
tives and prominent politicians? The ex-
aminations under the Civil Service Law
determine an applicants fitness for office !;
the President still appoints him. If the
| Civil Service Law were made broader in
its scope, and an examination were to be
the criterion of Il mans fitness, have
Democrats anything to fear from COM
petetive examination? And if they who
are most successful at such examinations
shall not be Democrats, still should not
Democrats rejoice that the fittest man for
aplace had been appointed?
In conclusion, we cannot sum up the
case better than by quoting from Il recent
issue OF the New York Herald:
The Democratic party carried the election
on certain promises of reform, which it is
| bound to keep or else 90 to disgraceful and
lasting defeat. The President, against the
] will of, as we believe, only small part of
the party, is honestly trying to redeem the
party's promises. He and his cabinet re-
main faithful to the party's engagements !;
| and that is well for them. Nothing would
be more fatal to the good name of the Pres
| ident and his Cabinet than to succumb, un-
| der any pressure whatever, to the demands