The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-13
The DEMOCRATIC IDEA.
Decided Measures of Reform Marking the
Close of the Fiscal Year.

Decided Measures OF REFORM Marking the
Close of the Fiscal Year.
The close of the fiscal year was
marked by some decided measures of
reform. at the seat of Government, in the
discharge of superlluous employees, and
in otherwise cutting down expenses.
The saving of salaries in one bureau
alone, that of engraving and printing,
amounted to S272 day. Many other
changes and removals have been ef-
feeted in the Treasury Department,
with the view of bringing the business
10 practical. working basis. The sys-
tenn of account keeping has been con-
siderably simplified. and the machinery
of government will run more easily
during the present fiscal year. At the
same time, the "clean sweep" which
was so much talked about, proved. like
many other reports, which were float
ing about the capital, an idle scare. In
spite of the many evidences given by
the Administration, that it is to be con-
Quoted on strict business principles,
there seems to be disposition in some
quarters to expect some startling or
revolutionary action ont its part This
is foolish and unjust toward the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet 1t was just such
action, repeated at certain intervals,
that brought the Republican Admins
tration into trouble and contempt.
The people expect from President
Cleveland honest, fair government,
economically administered. and their
interest kept in view above all others.
This has been the governing idea in all
the appointments made in Federal of
fees since the 4th of March, and the
removals and changes have been in ex-
act accord with it The public has yet
but a faint idea of the magnitude of
the work of reform undertaken by the
present administration. Twenty-fOur
years of Republican maladministration
corroded the public service and
poisoned the entire body of govern
ment to such an extent that great care
and circumspection had to be exer-
cised in the first application of the
Democratic remedy. 1t is easy for
those who take but superficial view of
the change of Government, and what
the people meant and expected when
they made that change, last November,
to speak about "clean sweeps" and
instantaneous cures.
When patient is brought almost to
the verge of dissolution by disease and
neglect, the skillful physician who is
called in does not at once proceed to
heroic remedies. He rather endeavors
to- extirpate' the disease by degrees.
The Democratic Government had a
more difficult task than seems to be un-
derstood in some quarters. Successive
Republican Administrations made the
system of spoils and plunder so inher-
ent in the Government that it could
only be attacked gradually Every de-
partment was so honeycombed with
corruption that the new chief had to
proceed cautiously and slowly to- dis
cover the root of the disease and to'de-
wise cure for it. The President and
his Cabinet have achieved aprodigious
amount of work during the past four
months. They found a complex, eum-
berSome system in each, department,
devised solely for the purpose of con-
cealing fraud and knavery. Simpler
and more economical methods have
been substituted, and The veil of mys
terry and secrecy which. shielded so
many rascalities has been torn away.
Under the present system industry and
honesty alone can succeed, as the trans
action of public business has been
placed on right intelligible basis.
The first efforts of the new Govern
ment were directed towards economy.
In the White House itself, as in every
department were found hundreds of
superlluOus employees, and sinecures.
They have been gradually weeded out.
Again. it was found that the clerks paid
little attention to the hours of work ex-
pected of them. Now they are COM
PEELED to put in full days. work as
they would be obliged to. do'in any we'll
managed private establishment. Fitness
and capability have been adopted as
the essential qualifications for office,
not the mere reward for party services.
One of the causes of the downfall of the
Republican party was the disgust of the
people for its corrupt, partisan methods
in making Federal appointments bribes
for inscriptions retainers- President
Cleveland has>set his face against this
obnoxious system from the. beginning.
All his appointments have. been solely
for the benefit of the public service. In
every case his Judgment has been amply
sustained by the. results. With an
efficient working: force. and.a large re-
trenchment of expenses the Democratic
Adm nistration commences the fiscal
year, confident that it win make a
showing such as the people expect from
it ard win to a still greater degree the
trust and faith of those who voted for
honest Government lastfall--W Washing
ton Past