The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-07
DEMOCRACY AND oIvIL.sERYIcE REroR,

them their brethren throughout the country,
have received exactly the treatment they
might have expected from the moment they
| spitefully went to the aid of that party which
| has always despised civil-service reform. The
| Commission has slapped them in the face,
and the sting of the blow must send a Jingle
of shame through every sensitive man among
them. 1t has not only disappointed them,
| but its abruptness is almost equivalent to
an insult. Mr.. Jones has not only
been whitewashed in what he has
done, but is given character
for the future. The finding pronounces him
not guilty, with a recommendation that he be
careful not to repeat the offense! The com
mission furnishes a ready-nade apology for
the postmaster and the examiners here Mr.
Jones, according to the finding, chad not, and
he has not now, any intention of resisting the
rules but that he now, more clearly than be-
fore, understands that any political discrim-
nation in making selections from among
those examined will be violation both
of the spirit and the letter of the civil-service
| rules" If Mr.. Jones did not violate this SEN
| timent, why this gratuitous reflection upon
| his intelligence? IF he did not offend, why
this guaranty that he will do better in the fu-
| ture? 1t will be remembered that when the
| mugwumps began to complain Of his official
| conduct, he was very independent, and gave
| them to understand that lie was postmaster,
and that so far as the civil-service rules
were concerned he would not allow
them to interfere with his way
OF running the Office. In this spirit of def
ance he proceeded to make removals in the
most arbitrary fashion, and faithful men were
discharged on no other grounds than that they
| were Republicans, and their places were
wanted for Democrats This was the only
explanation vouchsafed Messrs. Wood and VIII
mington, whose efficiency was not questioned.
| They were Republicans, and were not wanted
To accommodate such cases the civil-service
rules are interpreted as allowing removals
without cause in certain instances which rul-
ing must be accepted as death to the spirit of
the civil service law since faithfulness and
efficiency are no safeguard. But the Presi-
dent has kindly volunteered to go even fur
Their, and has made it plain that any subordi-
nate can be removed at will, the hocus pocus
necessary being charge of offensive partisan
ship, against which there is no defense
The Republican press will be excused in
INDUCING in little retrospection
for the benefit of the over-confident mug
wump. Republican papers and speakers all
over the country predicted exactly what has
been realized. They knew as any unspite-
full, unbiased man might have known, that
Democracy had no use for civil-service reform
except as campaign argument, and precious
little then. They knew, that in event of
Democratic success the civil-service
rules would soon come to be spit
upon, and set aside. The party
aided by the commission, has reached the
even sooner than Republicans expected. It
was thought that the fact that Republican
Senate stood in the way of ''clean sweep
would check Democratic rapacity q little
longer. The commission, upon wllch mug
wumps counted for encouragement has dis,
abused their minds on this point. 1t not only
eXonerates Mr.. Jones, but goes out
of its way to rebuke his ac-
cusers, for it somehow arrived at the
conclusion that he had no intention of violat-
ing the law. The evidence of the mugwumps
that he pertly declared that he had no use for
Republicans goes for naught. The evidence
does not agree with Mr.. Joness protestations,
but the commission kindly takes him at his
word sweeps all adverse testimony into the
waste basket, and declares him all that can be
desired. The curtain goes down on a farce;
the commission has accidentally, or intention
ally, or somehow else, placed itself en- rapport
with the administration, and has kindly re-
lieved the Presidents complications with thai
great majority of his party that sneers at civil
service reform and will be content with moth
| ing less than 'clean sweep as fast as the
| Senate will consent.
PUCKS leading cartoon this week is colos-
| sal figure of Cleveland heading towards a