Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-15
Econo- nv the First Consideration.

President does not seer to be in a
~ to make changes in the offices. He
PPears to be more anxious to reduce the
number Of officials than to replace Re
publlcans with Democrats. Among his
FIRST official acts was the reduction Of the
number Of employees in the offices at the
White House, and orr dispatches yester-
day announced that the Secretary OF the
Treasury had dispensed with the services
of - persons in one division of his
department, thereby saving the govern
ment $4,000 annually. Doubtless re-
duction is contemplated in other divisions
Of the Treasury Department, and in the
divisions Of other departments. The
Secretaries are in thorough accord, evil
IDENTIFY. with the President in the matter
OF reform in the civil service, and it is
probable that before the work Of putting
Democrats in Office is undertaken there
viii jse a very thorough Overhauling of
the entire service. All useless offices
wifi be abolished, and unnecessary
officials discharged. In the opinion of
the administration, doubtless, civil service
reform means economy in the transaction
o. government business, as well as the
selection Of only competent men to ill
the Offices.
There are doubtless thousands of Off
Gals now drawing pay from the govern
ment who render 10 necessary service.
1t was the policy Of the Republican party
to increase the patronage Of the govern
ment TOR two reasons. First, every Office
holder became a party worker, and sec
ond, the greater the number of the Off
cials the larger the sum which the party
was able TO raise for political purposes.
1t is plain, therefore, that if the Presi-
don't intends 10 keep his promises relative
to giving the country an economical adj
ministration, he must at once find out
how many of the 100000 or more offices
can be abolished without damage to the
public service. He and his Secretaries
appear to be searching for this informa-
ton now.
Until it is known how many and what
offices there are to ill it would not be
good policy to begin making changes.
When the work In the interest Of economy
is completed it is probable that the work
in the interest OF improved service Will
begin.
4 moments consideration will be sufii-
cient to convince anyone, except an eager
applicant for an Office, that the course
which the President is pursuing is the
correct one. He viii be SUSTAINED by
public opinion. although the Oflice-saek-
ers may not have only words Of praise
for him.
The fact is, the people are not SO much
interested in having the wishes of the
office-seekers gratifed as they are in
having the government honestly and
economically administered. They haven't
any doubt that changes in the Offices Will
be made in good time, and that the Presi-
dent and his Secretaries can be relied
upon to appoint good and competent men.
1t NAV take time to find such men.
Those who are now clamOring for places
may not all be I'll men to appoint, or such
men as the President can be induced to sp-
point by petitions ana liberal amount Of
Influence. In fact, il is not improbable
that very many Of those who were first to
present their claims for office wouldn't
reflect much credit on the administration
if their claims were recognized. The
country Will not be unduly disturbed,
therefore, if the office seekers show dis
position to be ugly, and threaten TO with
draw their support from the administ1a-
ton, or il the changes in the offices are
not made as rapidly as was expected.