The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1885-04-21
THE EVENING CRITIC.
Ola Series is0s-New series 1856.
TREASURY TOPICS.
Views of CiviI.Bervice Reformers on
Secrelary MannInE's Policy.


The Treasury Department, with its
thousands of employees in Washington and
throughout the country, and embracing
as IL does every branch of the Govern
mcnt service, is generally accepted as the
central institution through which the
policy of the Administration Ia to be mado
known and developed. In official circles all
eyes are turned upon tho Treasury, and TO
it and It's many dependencies ciyll-service
reformers and spoila-seekers are looking for
the indications as to the construction to be
placed upon the civil-service rules aud
law, and upon the manner In which the
spirit of civil-service reform is to DO fol-
lowed and the pledges Of the Administra-
tlon carried out.
The detachment of civil-service re-
formers who linger in Washington hoping
to exert an influence over the Administra-
tien are not convinced that Secretary Man
ming has any respect for or devotion to
civilservice reform principles and pre-
cepts other than those which loyalty to the
President and obedience to tho Democratic
platform, the letter Of acceptance, tho Cur
It's letter and the inaugural address COM
mand. Nevertheless, 10 is asserted that
Secretary Manning will not depart very
materially from the principles of reform as
the President has outlined them.
Secretary Manning has become to be
regarded as the most influential member
of the official household, and to him 1t Is
generally believed the delicate task has
been assigned of harmonizing the acts of
the Administration with the best interests
of the party. In this spirit it is generally
believed that Secretary Manning Is to set
the example as to how far concessions are
to DO made to the spoils-seekers, and how
far expediency Is to interfere with higher
motives. Thus far he has suffered more
than any other member of the Cabinet
from the opportunities of influential party
leaders, and has been more constantly
hesieged by oilice-seekers,
Civil-Service reformers generally give
him credit for having made few concessions
to the demands thus constantly pressed
The Higgins appointment, they say, stands
out boldly as tho mysterious and solitary
blot on the 'scutcheon. These reformers
give him credit for the retention Of Assist
ant Secretary Coon and the selection, in Mr..
Fairchild, of another assistant believed to
be advanced, radical and intelligent In his
civil-service reform sentiments.
OF Secretary Manning's changes thus far
little unfavorable comment is made. With
the exception of the Higgins matter there
has been no violation of the letter or spirit
of the Civil. Service law. The few removals
have been justified either by offensive par
tisanship or lack of such special fitness or
ability as should shield an official from re-
moval. Mr. Mannings future actions are
awaited with much interest, although the
reformers claim pretty definite knowledge
of the course to be pursued. The chiefs of
bureaus whose appointments were purely
political and who have no special fitness
will all go and probably be replaced by APP
pointees of about the same kind. The bu-
reau officers whose retention would be
asked by the most extravaganza reformer
are few in number. The Treasurer, the
chief of the Life-Saving Service and the
Supervising Surgeon General of the Marine
Hospital Service are entitled to retention
by faithful and efficient service and pecu-
liar fitness, and will PROFESSIONALLY re-
main. The Comptroller of the Currency
and Director of the Mint are generally ex-
| pected to serve out their terms. The re-
| formers have no idea that others will be
| spared. The other bureau chiefs of the De.
| partment itself, of tho Bureau of Engrav-
ing and Printing, and, perhaps, other de-
| pendent bureaus, they say, are sure to go,
| and to go soon.
| The assistant chiefs of bureau come UNI
der very different category, and the Sec.
| rotary is said 10 have promised that those
assistants who have been faithful in the
discharge of their duties will remain un-
| disturbed. Where removals are made for
L
subordinates should be promoted instead OF
political appointments being made, but the
advocates of this principle do not hope to
prevail, except in isolated cases, where spe-
cial technical knowledge and experience
are required and the appointment of q
novice is manifestly imprudent.
The chiefs of divisions, more than seventy
in number, are confident of retention ia all
instances where their records justify it
| xybn hau Vie Ia
ranks by long years of faithful work and
who have been the real workers of the De.
partments. Their places have never been
considered political ones and very few
partisan appointments have ever been made
Among the clerks of the civil-servicC
| grades there is no fear Of removals other
than those which Republican heads o.
divisions or bureaus might have recon
mended with view to improving the
service. Partisanship will not, it is gener.
ally believed, invade the ranks of thu
clerkships. The policy of the Secretary il
regard to the positions below the civll-ser
vice grades is little known. He is quoted
as having decided not to disturb the OLE
soldiers who have been appointed to til,
rolls of watchmen, laborers etc.
1t is generally believed that in nearly al
these grades the best and most efficient viii
remain, aud that gradually all agains
| WHOM COiupldlnb III ulduO Will give way "
Democrats appointed on the same priuci
Piles as the present incumbents. Secretar,
Manning is said to regard the CUSTOMS spe
cial agents and Internal Revenue Service
throughout the country as the branches IL
which partisanship has prevailed to tn
greatest extent, and in which thore is tn,
greatest necessity for a change of personnel
Through all these branches the civil-servic
reformers claim that they have received as
surances that the best men will BIO spared
They say that no opposition will be mad
to the removal Of the less efficient and t
the partisans. who constitute an immens
percentage of the employees. The recon
mendationa of the Treasury Commission
will, it is said, be acted upon without ques
ton, and will include many changes il
methods of work and numerous reassign
ments and reduction of force.
BEWARE OF counterfeits. Salvation OIL /
l what want 10 CuI0 yOur aClea and Dainl