Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-12-18
o,, ar,, WASHINGTON TNW.
OLllrl,. FElDW tIfNI,G. bEC. Il. 1855
4 jag Handled Policy.


II ~ sall that tho President elm
minated many subjects from his
message 90 reduce II To n reasonable
length but even after II bad been
thus abbreviated. It's transmission was
necessary in two installments oven
tho four transcontinental wires
Tho twolye-column supplement Of
the St,NpARp, lrst week contained
about three fourths OF tho document
~ submitted to Congress. The mos
sage sn,iro 10 now received by the
Eastern press. and some OF the top
les omitted are OF more Importance
tlan those sent, aud this will nsces-
state tho publication Of an adden-
dun 10y those newspapers which had
Just congratulated themselves on
the discharge OF a duty well per
formed
The most notable OF the omitted
topics discussed 10y the President
comes under the head Of Civil Ser
vice Reform" The subject Is not
new nor is Il presented ia any differ
snt light than II has been 80 often
stated BY Mr.. Cleveland. lilo sees
nothing but good in the system, aud
indicates q disposition TO adhere to
IT, That there may be some ment
in competitive examinations as to
the fitness OF candidates for clerical
positions, aud that II is duty OF the
President 10 make inquiry into the
honesty and cspabili,y Of aspirants
for the higher offices. none i'll dis.
puts; but that tho Laputian system
Of propounding mathematical or
metaphysical problems enables the
Civil Service Commission TO "aver-
eye up" man in general adaptable
lily for clerical or other service, ap-
pears to us exceedingly Utopian.
Another idea which seems upper
most IN Mr.. Clcvolands mind is that
q man cannot bc n partisan without
necessarily being q chronic Office
seeker. II 10 conceded that the
pressure for Office. incident to q
change Of Administration, was great,
and that II was necessary for him to
adopt and maintain safeguards; but
il lis likewise insisted that q party
which had been truo TO principle
. lifetime. without Office. when q
premium was paid TO turncoats, can.
not 10 properly charged with adher-
ance to the spoils system. In fact,
tho contrary is true; and those hold.
over Offensive partisans. who arc
allowed TO "servo their time out,
are just tho game he In seeking. il he
will but lot his vision fall from the
Aeecy clouds OF ideality TO the tree
tops Of reality. Tho proportion Of
Office. seekers ia the Democratic party
il exceedingly small compared tc
the four million Of voters who de,
clarsd for reform, TO be Effected by {
change of officers, aud il il "A remark
able fact thst tLose who have mani
Tested the most ardent desire FOL
rotation" In Office are the homes
yeomsnry Of tho land who ask moth
ing for themselves.
II there WAS any disposition
shown by the "spoils" party-thos'
who have held the fesh-po,s u quar-
tar Of q century-to meet the Presi
dent halfway on this matter, ther'
might be some practical object sub
served; but the temper shown by tn
Senate nj it's last session in regard I,
combinations, Ia such sharp con
trast with the policy when that bod,
was Democratic with q Republican
Executive. tho policy pursued by tn,
present Senate, after its magnani
nous resolve not 10 avail itlelf Of tL'
party sdvantsgsAb death OF the pre-
siding officer afforded; the course
Ito come nearer homs) Of our Tori
torisl In Secretary making the pat
ronsge OF tho General aovernmen
the means OF perpetuating ranl
partisan newspaper; the action Of th,
Republican majority 10 our Lsgisla
ture In selecting its officers by th,
arictest Of party tests. IN IL show
by the tabulatsd report publishs,
elsewhere In this issue. and th,
probable course Of our Governor il
making his selection for Terriioria
ofsicsrs, do not indicate tho loas
disposition 10 meet Mr.. CLEVELAND
halfway In reform. even by thos
who hold Office q. his pleasure"
This subject Ia Too largo for
abort article. and We will resume ih,
subject in future issue.
- =
A REPRESENTATIVE Of tho hfciiigcn
Ger ~r.tsnu from, H. N.U.t.l an