Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-01-09
Reform in the Civil Service.

upon the question Of civil service reform,
which we published last week, has been
extensively, and for the most par. favor
ably, commented on by the press Of the
country. The letter sets forth very COM
pee platform for the incoming executive
in dealing with this important, and pro
badly embarrassing question.
The President elect refers to the fact
that large number OF the official places
are not within the terms OF the civil ser
vice law adopted by the pres Congress,
and says that many of these are so discoh
nected with the policy of administration
as to be within its equities, and that re
nova therefrom of the present incumbenrs
in his opinion, should not be made dur
ing the terms for which they were appoint
ed solely on partisan grounds. This will
be the policy which President Cleveland
may be relied upon to adopt in this mat
ter, and thus the idea of "clean sweep
which has been advocated in some quar-
tiers, is negatived by the plain declaration.
of the prospective appointing power.
That large body of prudent and conser-
vative citizens who for years have regard
ed with great concern the menacing dan
gers to the liberties of the people found in
the formation OF the large army OF Federal
officeholders into force to he used for
the continuance of the power of the party
in control of the government, and who
have labored so earnestly and 80 zealously
to neutraiize this force, will read with
great satisfaction the clear expressions of
the Presdent-e 'ect as to his pc icy in this
regard.
The great danger to popular liberty hid
den IN this improper use of the Federal pa
tronage has been clear shown in the Re
publican admins ration Of the government
since the close of the civil war The num-
Der of Federal office holders has grown to
huge proportions. There are now more
than 100000 of this. class of servants in the
employ of the government, receiving as
their annual compensation probably be-
tween one hundred and fifty, and two hun
dred mil Of dollars. This large num-
Der Of people has become a class which a
tacit condition of the continuance Of
their privileges, hold themselves in .eadi-
ness to render any partisan service, legiti
mate or questionable, that may be required
of them by he party in power. And his
immense amount of money has come o he
regarded as fund upon which the domi-
nant party can levy tribute al libitum &C
cordingly as the exigencies of its cam
paigns may require. These government
otficeholders have become as oJedient and
subssrvient in the hands of their political
masters as were the liegemen of the old
ancient barons, from among whom
they levied tribute AMI raised armies to
carry on their oppressive wars ofconqu.st.
Before this great and we'll ory1niz.i pow
er the popular will stands in imminent
danger
i'SN'SuiLiue tEe siciN fuEHatt ~ ppPu-
lar liberty thus impending, a large and in
tiuential dy of citizens have been for
years past making earnest and concer ed
effort. TO effec' the overthrow Of the spoils
system. II was due 10 this sentimen, and
these exertions thai the Pendletou bill re
ceived the favorable consideration OF Con
gress. It was the well known position of
leading Democrats upon the question that
drew to Mr.. Cleveland the support of Re
publican and indepen lent voters who are
impressed with the importance Of this
question. No more opportune or effective
time han now for remedying this great
evil can be chosen, and there is little
doubt that the incoming administration
will accomplish much l.. that direction.
While it would be most desirable that
all positions of emolsme1t under the gov
eminent should be held by competent and
faithful Democrats, it is more important
that popular liberty should be safe
There will, however, beyond a doubt be
many places that will be properly made
vacant during The coming administration
and al of these, will, it Is safe to say, lie
filled with Democrats