The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-11
TRUE CIvIL-SERVICE REFORM.
Good Government the End and Aim of the
Administration.

1
Administration.
The circular recently issued by Post
master-General Villas calls forth inter-
eSting discussion on all sides. Some OF
our contemporaries criticise it, others
handle it charity, and others aga u
praise it. But there is one very remark
able feature in all the comments that
we have thus far seen. The circular
was marked confidential, yet the most
willing critic can find no Objectionable
phrase in it. From beginning to end
there is not an expression used which
might not just as well have been given
to the public. One looks in vain for
any utterance of an equivocal sort.
How are the departments doing?'
''burn this letter. and equivalent ex-
pressions are conspicuOusly absent.
Postmaster-General Villas has no use for
phrases of that sort. He knows what
he wants to say and says it; but he had
nothing to say except what would lead
to the good of the country.
Whatever our contemporaries may
attempt to show to the contrary, the
utterances of that circular are in line
with true Civil-Servlce reform and the
promises of the party platform made at
Chicago. Civil-Service reform, if il
means anything, means the improve
ment of the civil service of the country,
and improvement of the civil service is
just what the Postmaster-General pro-
poses to carry out by means described
in his circular. If office-holders have
heretofore neglected the duties for
which they were paid, what assurance
is there that they will conduct them
selves differently in the future? If a
postmaster or a cashier or a clerk has
been grossly derelict, yet is allowed to
continue to hold his place, what sort of
example does it set to those about him,
and what kind of encouragement does
it give to those who believe that public
office is public trust?
Turn the rascals out" expresses the
sentiment of the vast majority of the
people, and it is that sentiment which
Postmaster-General Villas heeds in his
letter. Wherever he finds q postmas-
ter who has abused his trust he pro-
poses to remove him and substitute a
man who will attend to duty, not to the
manipulation of conventions, caUcuseS
and wires The only fault to be found
if any, is that he proposes to draw the
line rather too mildly. His idea seems
to be that from one-siXth to One-quarter
| of the postmasters have been offensive
partiSans. Is it not well known to almost
any reader that in the circle of towns
in which he is acquainted, one-half at
least of all the postmasters have been
more active in attending to the work
ings of party machinery than to the
duties of office? We believe those who
will consider for moment will agree
with us that the Postmaster General
has given pOstmasters the advantage of
every possible doubt
The masses in all parties want good,
pure government; they desire to have
good men in office. But they know that
their desires can not be gratified ii con-
ScientiOus, faithful officials are to have
no advantage over those of the opposite
sort; if, in snort, the rascals are to be
allowed to remain in. Moreover, all
but the partisans desire the success of
the Administration; but there can be
no success if inefficient or negligent
office-holders are allowed to retain their
places, to the embarrassment and him
Grance of the Administration. The
Postmaster-General merely says that
good government is the end and aim OF
the Administration, TO secure which it is
necessary to turn the rascals out, :"
and the people will heartily answer,
Ameni-BOStOn Globe.