New-York tribune., 1885-03-15
REMOVAL IND REFORM.

The dismissal of number of Treasury agents,
on the ground that their services are no longer
needed, is commended by the supporters OF the
Administration as an important measure OF
economy, which will save the Government
$4,000 a year. Let it be said at the outset
that some super1uous officials have undoubt-
edly been employed. So far as the new Admin
istration can reduce the service by dispensing
with such officers it will deserve hearty praise
No one desires the retention in Office OF any
person whose work is not needed, ana II IL De
found that any have been kept on the rolls for
partisan rather than public reasons the sooner
they are removed the better. Not whisper OF
opposition will be made by Republicans, at all
events.
But it will be found, when the new officials
have come to understand the duties of their
departments, that the number OF officials en-
ployed whose services were not really needed
has been very much smaller than many have
supposed. 1t will be found, for example, that
the needs of the service differ greatly at differ
ent seasons that the work which requires the
whole time of fifty men during portions of the
year could be done at other times by smaller
number. 1t will be found, also, that in order to
have persons competent to do the work at the
times when their services are needed. 1t Is
necessary to have them constantly under train
ing, and familarized with its details. This Is
particularly the case in those branches OF the
service in which experts are needed, and II the
new Administration discharges competent ex-
perts, trusting that it can obtain Others without
difficulty when the demands of the service re-
ouire them, it will find that it has made mis-
take. Moreover, If it be intended, under false
pretence of economy. to get rid OF Republican
officials who understand the duties of the differ
ent offices, and afterward, when the need OF
more men appears, to fill their places with
Democrats, the public will understand the trick
perfectly well. Mr.. Cleveland's Administration
will gain nothing by any false pretence of re-
form. which is designed only to cover disre-
gard of the law regulating appointments.
1t is perhaps significant that the officers whose
services are thought to be no longer needed are
in MI. Mannings department. Mr.. Manning
does not enjoy much reputation as reformer.
Moreover they are in that branch OF the service
which has to deal with frauds against the in
ternal revenue laws. If the object of the Adj
ministratiOn is to cripple the force by which
such frauds are detected and thus to make the
collection of taxes on whiskey and beer more
difficult, it has chosen a short road to reach that
end. But in that case, too, the device will be
uncovered when the revenue returns are made,
and it will be seen that larger part of the tax
has been evaded through the ineficlency OF the
department..
President Cleveland may rest assured that In
any real reform he will have hearty support.
Neither the country nor the Republican party
desires to have any abuses continue which have
grown up under past Administrations. lie Will
find fewer than he expects, but wherever he
finds one we pray him to cut it off at once. On
the other hand his performances will be re-
garded with considerable suspicion, so long as
the work of reform in intrusted principally to
Mr.. Manning, and he will probably learn in due
time that Mr.. Manning himself needs reforming
more than apy other branch of the Government.