Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-12-05

submitted, contains an account OF the man
ner in which the civil service law has bean
executed during the last year andmnch vAlu-
nbls information on this important subject.
am inclined 70 think that there is nothing
more general in the minds OF people OF our
country than conviction Of correctness
Of principle upon which the law enforc-
ing Civii-servics reform is based.
iAtes only part Of the subordinate
public positions throughout the country.
IL applies the test OF fitness to applicants for
these places by means of q competitive ex-
animation and gives large discretion to the
commissioners as TO character of examine
ton and many other matters connected with
rs execution. Taus the rules and regula-
s Ions aaoPssd . p the i,h 16.
tical usefulness of the statute ana
with the results of its application
Tbs people may well trust the Commission
to execute the law with perfect fairness, and
with AS Little irritation as is possible, But.
of course. no relaxation OF she principie
which underlies it. and no Weakening of the
safeguards which surrounds il, can be
expected. Experience in its administration
VIII probably suggest amendment Of the ius-
tics of its execution, but venture to hone
that we shall never again be RENTED to the
plane which distributes public positions
purely as rewards for partisan PURPOSES
Doubts may well be entertained whether our
Governments could survive the strain of a
continuance Of this system, which. unon
every schange OF Administrator IN
spires an immense army of claimants
for office TO lay siege to the patronage Of
governmet engrossing tia time of nnbl;o
officers with the opportunities SPREADING
abroad the contagion of their dIsappoint-
naent and filing the cir with the tumult OF
their discomfort.
TO THE oFFIcE-HUNTERs,
The allurements of an immense number of
offices and places exhibited to the voters Of
the land and the promise OF their bestowal in
recognitlonof partisan activity debauch
the suffrage and rob political action
OF its thoughtful and deliberative
character. the evil would increase with IN.
multiplication Of offices consequent upon our
extension and the mania for oiice-holding,
growing from its indulgence, would
pervsoe our. population so generally
that patriotic purpose, the suppors
of principle, the desire for the public good
and soiicitude for the nations welfare would
be nearly banished from the activity of our
party contests, and cause them to de-
generate into ignoble, selfish and dis
graceful struggles for the posses-
sion Of office and public place.
Civil-service reform enforced by law came
not too soon to check the progress of demon
Riization. One of its effectt not enough re-
garded is the freedom it brings to the politt-
cal action OF those conservative
confusion aud risk attending an arbi-
tray and sudden change in all the
public offices with change of party rule, cast
their ballots Rgainsb SUCH chances. Parties
seem to be necessary and will continue TO
exist, nor can it be now denied that thers
are legitimate advantages, not disconnected
with othcs- holding, which follow party SUI
premacy.
While paruisanship continues bitter and
pronounced, and supplies SO much of motive
TO sentiment and action, it is not fair to hold
public officials in charge of importanu
trusts responsible for the best results in
the performance of their duties, and yea
insist that they shall rely in confidence
end important places upon the work of those
not only opposed TO them in political afilia-
tioa but so STEPPED IN partisan prejudice and
rancor that they have no loyalty to their
chiefs and no desire for their success. Civil
service reform does not exact this nor does
II require that those in subordinate positions
who fail in yielding their best service or who
arc incempetent should be retained simply
because they ara in place,
The whining of a clerk, discharged for in
doleHce or ineompetency, who, though he
gained his place by the worst possible opera
tion OF the spoils system, suddenly discovers
that ne Ia eatitled to protection under the
sanction OF ciYil-servlce reform, represents an
idea no less absurd than the clamor of tho
applicant, who claims the vaGssfsv
as his compensation fer tia. - su
bic party work. The civi9 -.lvisa
not prevent the discharge u enc nv
incompetent clerk, but it dde prsvssssssfs..s.s
plying his place with I'll unfit party
worker. Thus, in both d. phases /.
seen benefit to the pubic seryjcs
And the paople tho desire goodovernment
having secured this statute, war rsIi,as
quish its benefits without protst nor ara
they nnmlndful Of the fact that & full adj
vantages can only be gained Though, Eh6
complete good faith of those having its sSe-
cution in charge, and this they will hist
upon. | recommend that the saties
on the Civii Service Commissioners n IN
creased 10 a sum more nearly comInensats 4
to their important duties. 1t is sour OF
considerable aud not unnatural, disfte
that no adequate provision has yet heS}nade
for accommodating the principal li3fy OF
the Government.
THE CAPITAL CITY.
OF the vast collection of books al PAM
phlets gathered At the Capitol, nd bering
some seven hundred thousand, exdiIive OF
manuscripts, maps and the produdi OF the
graphic arts, also of great volume al value,
only about three hundred thouFnd vol
umes, or less than half the election,
are provided with shelf room. II Iothers,
which are increasing at tho rate ofkrom Co.,
oUO 10 %, 900 volumeS year, AFT not only
inaccessible 70 the public, but are SUP
jeet TO serious damage and deterioration
from other causes in their present idtuation.
A consideration of the fact that tho Library
of tee Capitol has twice been destroyed or
damaged by hre. to daily increasing valnes
ana It's Importance as place OF deposit OF
books under the law relating TO copyrisns,
make manifest tbs necessity 81 TyxsTaf-55tS n
ton TO insure its proper accommodation al
protection.
Ny attention has been called to q cont
versy which has arisen from the condit
OF the law relating TO railroad facilitiea
the city of w ashingtou. which has involF
the Commissioners of The District in ntf
annoyance AND troable | hope the al
Guilty viii be promptly settled by appropFi
legislation.
Iha Commissioners represent that snon
of tbs revenues of tue District are now
oeposi5 IN Cue Treasury OF the United Sta
60 repay TIE sum advanced by tie Govef
nlelt for sewer improvements under the
OF June 30, 1854. They desa
now an advance OF the she
by the District of the cei
OF extensive improvements to the streatso
tia city. The totsl expense OK these contem
plated improvements is estimated at 81, o0e,
OO0 and they are of the opinion chat a CDR
siderable sum could be saved il they had Il
the money in band, so shat contracts for
whole worA could be made at the same ting
They express confidence that IL tbs adyaas
sszDd tor should be made, the Goysrnmee
would bs REIN burEed the same Within I'd
soaabe time | have no doubt these
could DO made much cheaper
undes taken together, and prosecuted accoH-
lag TO general plan.
Tvs license law now In force within th
DiSpejob is deficient and unoertaia in come &
It's prGylSiaas, aud ought 60 Re amsrdstrs -
The Commissioners urge with good reason
the necessity Of providing a building for the
use OF ths District Government which shall
batter SECURE safety and preservation OF Ice
books and records
TIE LAW OF SUCCESSION.
The nresent condition OF the law relating to