The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-02-03
Our WASHINGTON, Letter.
Civil Service Reform.
WAsnlSeToN C1TY, D. CT
January %. 1885.

ous officials in the Departments here.
When Gov. Cleveland's letter to the Civil
Service Association was first made pub
lie, there was much satisfaction expressed
at the views II contained. But after
reading the utlerances contained in the
letter in connection with his views ex-
pressed on the same subject on former
occasions, and then applying the princi-
Piles thus gathered to individual csses,
the feeling OF security apd satisfaction
soon gave way to doubt and uncertainty.
When It Is remembered that manv OF
these officials have been in Office 80 long
that they have come to thiLk the who'll
machinery OF the Government would
stop II they are not permitted to remain,
we can then form some idea OF the situ
alton from their present standpoint. IF
you were to talk to one of this class, you
would find that his desire to remain in
office arises from patriotic motives alone
that the country needs his services aud
that the whole institution would 60 to
the everlasting bow-wows IL be was not
retained. / venture there Is not single
employe in any OF the departments here
who is ready and willing to tender his
resiguation to the incoming admiDistra-
tion. Too patriotic for that, you see.
And yet the conduct of many Of these
office. holders during the recent election
was no better than the most unscrupu-
lous ward politician. For instance, am
told that msnv Of them INDUCED in the
grossest sIander of Gov. Cleveland, and
asserted that his election would be q na.
lional disgrace-ihst formidable brig
ade OF them acted as volunteer spies and
infoImers throughout the campaign and
reported the movements of their suspec-
ted associates 1T that black lists we're made
oat OF such as appeared lukewarm->that
host Of them were vertable hulldozers
ard took an active par, in the most dis
reputable work Of the campsign
The evidence taken before the Springer
investigating com mittee shows that Rath
bone, the chief of the special examiners
division In the Pension Office, was in
Cine ncinnati during the October election,
and conducted regular Republican po-
lltical bureau there With his force OF Spe-
cial Examiners. With Dudley, the Com
missioner OF Pensions, at the lead Of the
Republican Committee ut Columbus, di |
rectiug the campaign in Ohio, and Rath-
hone, one OF bis Chiefs OF Division, in
Cincinnati, working as his lieutenant, it
is not to be wondered that the charge
should be made that the Pension Office
had been run in the interest OF the Re-
publican party during the late campaign.
And evidence is daily coming to the
surfsce in support of this charge. While
the Special Examiners in the ield we're
actively engaged in political work, the
examines OF the cases in the Office were
performing their part OF the work under
the special direction OF their chiefs. II
can he shown--snd will be shown at the
proper time--that under express orders
OF these chiefs of divisions no case call
ed up by any Democratic candidate for
Congress in Ohio or Indiana. during the
months OF September or October should
be considered or passed upon--that in
stances have occurred in which cases,
ready for allowance, have been withheld
simply for the reason that their allow
ance at that time might aid the Demo-
cratic candidate for Congress. These
examiners act as judges in passing upon
the merits o! claim. and here we have
q direct political influence brought TO
bear upon their action in ore respect at
least. And the claimant, who may be
sore in need OF the money, is compelled
to wait month or 80 longer, on . mere
technicalty, aud for fesr that its pay
msnt might in some way inure to the adj
vantage of some Democratic candidate.
Such conduc, deserves the condemnation
OF oil honest men, and no Civil Service
rules can protect such rasca's.
Investigations are now In progress be
fore Mr.. Springer's and Gen. Warmers
committees, which will at least partially
expose certain practices which have been
going on in various departments of the
Government for years, and with which
the people should have been made &C.
quainted long ago. While no specia'
obstacle is now thrown in the way Of
these investigations by the ofi,als in
charge, yet no special advantages are Of
fered by them, nor IS any Information
volunteered, but there Is one fact very
evident, and that Is, no investigating
committee under any Democratic Con-
gress would ever have heen allowed to
proceed as far az these committees have
already gone bad not the Democrats sue.
ceeded in eleciing President. To effect
reform in these departments. thor
ough cleaning out OF the heads of de-
psrtments, bureaus and divisions must
be made early, and the process folio we'd
up among the rank and fi!e until every
tool and scoundrel is banished.
Joe Taylor's Scheme.
In this connection the b Il introduced
by Mr.. j. D. Taylor deserves some at
tention. 1t will be remembered that,
esrly in the session, this great "Bll Pro.
ijector" introduced bill to prohibit the
removal OF sny Union soldier or sailor
from Office by the new administration,
except for cause.
The bill is remarkable manifestation
OF love for the soldiers--in office Now,
| If all the soldiers aud sailors were in of
fee the scheme would no doubt be hailed
with delight by every one Of them. But
they are not all in office. In fact there
are very few Democratic soldiers in Of
6ce. The most of the soldiers in Office
are Republicans, but then all Republican
soldiers are not In Office. The result of
the proposed law would be to retain
those soldiers who are in Office as priv
Eileged class. In word, the bill is an in,
suit and an outrage to every Democratic
soldier-snd even every Republican sol
Idier-who is not now in the employment
OF the Government.
This is demagoguery for you. In his
zeal to make capital for himself, under
the pretense OF love for the soldier, he
is found introducing bill which would
operate against large msjority OF the
soldier element and in the interest of the