Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-24

Commissioner Eaton's Resignation.
The report in Washington to the effect
that Civil Service Commissioner Dorman
b. Eaton has rendered his resignation to
the President is confirmed by our tele-
gram from that city. 1t was semi
officially announced, Monday, that
Mr.. Eaton had an interview with the
President, and that the commission would
probably be reOrganized at an early day.
While it has been stated that the work
ings of the commission under what is
! known as the Eatonian system or regu-
/ latlons has been satisfactory to the adj
mlnistration, it may probably be doubted
whether the statement is strictly true.
1t is known, to the sorrow Of many office
seekers, that the President has very con-
sentative ideas about removals, and it
has been said that be has been in perfect
accord with the Civil Service Commission,
and his letter seems to confirm the state
ment.
The Republican members Of the com
mission were appointed, it is belived, for
the purpose of so constituting and exc
cutting the civil service law as to satisfy
TO some extent the growing sentiment in
favor of reform, but really TO benefit az
much as possible the Republican party
and its partisan workers. The work of
the commission under Mr.. Eaton's leader
ship has been severely criticised. Tho
present rules OF the commission are be-
lieved to be extremely imperfect and the
manner Of conducting examinations and
OF making appointments tends TO defeat
in many instances the work of real civil
service reform.
While the President has not antagonized
the commission, he is believed to be in
favor of a modification OF its regulations
that will practically reform the
fanciful and unsatisfactory system now
in vogue. 1t is not thought that the
President asked for Mr.. Eaton's resigna-
ton, or that he limited that it would be
acceptable, but there can be little doubt
that it was received with equanimity,
Notwithstanding the polite regrets eX-
pressed in his letter accepting it.
All intelligent men must recognize the
fact that the work of civil service reform
under the present law, no matter what
the political complexion OF the commits
sion may be, is very largely experiment
tai. No doubt the present commissioners
have made many mistakes, if they have
not been biased. as has been charged, by
partisan motives. The present civil
service law is not perfect, and it VIII
doubtless be amended from time to time
until it will be made as nearly perfect as
possible; but whatever changes NAV be
made in the law, or in the system of
examinations and appointments, it is
necessary that the civil service commits
sion shall be in accord with the admins
tration politically, as well as regards it's
official acts.
The better and wiser elements OF the
Democratic party are fully committed to
the principles of civil service reform.
Some system Of making appointments
different from that under which the pa
tronage of the government mas been dis
pensed in the past has come to be an alb
solute necessity. There have been abuses
ever since the government was founded,
but the outrageous and unblushIng viola
ZION of evepy idea of deoency by the Re-
publicans during the last twenty years
has demonstrated the immediate necessity
for the enforcement of some patriotic and
non-partisan system.
Under the old spoils system the civil
service would probably be as corrupt I'M
der one party as another, for the spoils at
tract the most avaricious and unscrupu-
lous members Of party to the front.
The history of the service during the
last quarter Of century has convinced
the country that reform under a Republ-
can administration is impossible. The
work has been entrusted to the Demo-
cratic party, and that party should make
no mistakes and take no risks. 1t has ae-
cepted the trust in good faith, and its
leaders, az well as the great Democratic
masses, should see to it that none but
genuine reformers are placed in influen-
tial positions.
The Democratic party cannot reform
the civil service by using partisan Repub-
lican officials. More especially it cannot
accomplish this reform while the great
commission which is supposed to be the
chief instrument of the reform work re-
mains controlled by Republicans. The
bemocIhuc party 10 IeSpohsiDle 10 the
/ people for the work it has undertaken.
and none but trusted adherents of that
party should direct its policy.
The country, the administration, and
Mr.. Eaton himself, are TO be congratu-
lated on Mr.. EatOn's resignation, although
| be mas been a pretty decent, il not an
earnest and faithful commissioner. 1t is
for the public good that he should go.
The Drummers' Tax Again.
| A al,