Savannah morning news., 1885-10-12

Some of the papers are actively engaged
in waying war on the civil service COM
! mission. While they are proiessedly in
| favor OF civil service reform, they do not
appear to admire the manner in which the
present commissioners are carrying on
work of reform. They have an Impress
ION that the commission itself needs re-
forming.
Several alleged misfeasances and mai
Geasences of the commissioners have been
paraded before She public during the past
few months, but the war against them has
not been very brilliant success. 1t has
not been proved that the commissioners
have done anything very bad, and itseems
TO be generally believed that they have
not done much that is very good.
The Washington Post has had a glimpse
at some Of the accounts of the Commits
sioners against the government provided
for by the law allowing them the neces-
sary travelling expenses incurred in the
discharge of their duties. The PDSt
seems to have found a mares nest in these
accounts, and makes some extracts from
them under the startling caption "ROb.
bing the Government"
Dr. Gregory, during twelye-days'
visit West last March, spent, for what he
considered his necessary expenses, $l53,
-. Among the items stated in his ac-
count are railroad fare, cab, lunch, news
papers, parlor car, sleeping berth, meals,
porter service, (meaning, doubtless,
"tips") etc. the Doctors expenses were
Sl2 30 per day, which shows that he must
nave lived quite well during his trip. The
Post says he charged $26 80 for railroad
fare from Chicago TO Washington, when
the actual fare was only $l3, and
that it was likely that the auditor
would not allow him 81 charged
for a section in a sleeping car, as he might
have got along with 81 berth. 1t may
be considered doubtful whether the items
porter" whicn occur frequently in the
bill, refer to the bottled article or the
biped usually 50 termed; but, doubtless,
It means the latter. Probably a very
strict construction of law would require
The Doctors bill TO be cut down a little,
but free-living official could certainly
so construe the word necessary as to JUS
tify nearly all the items he has charged 10
the government.
Mr.. Eaton has little bill on file which
has also been criticised, not because it
shows extravagant living, but because it
seems to indicate the nature of the great
reformers drinks, especially when it is in
the South. During his stay Of three days
in Shreveport, La, last spring his expense
account was 81 05, about 81 Of which was
tor lemonade and ginger ale. Doubtless
il would be difficult for DR.. Gregory to
get along on the small sum of 80 per day,
exclusive of drinks, as Mr.. Eaton did.
The government, it seems, ought to be
willing to pay tor the latter gentleman's
lemonade and ginger ale, especially as he
with champagne and porter, as
well as newspapers and other luxuries.
Taken altogether this attack on the
Commissioners appears to be weak and
i'll advised, though some parts of it make
rather interesting reading. 1t would be
well, however, for the Auditor TO draw
the line sharply between necessaries and
luxurles. The term necessary expenses
was far too literally construed by many
nigh Republican officials, chief among
whom was Attorney General Brewster.
His example ought not to be accepted as
a precedent.