National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-09-18


correspondent desires THE REpUBLICAN
to state the facts in relation to the removal
Of Capt. Bacon, n weigher in the New York
custom house, and the appointment Of
Brooklyn alderman named Sterling in his
place. There is nothing new or strange in
the facts Of this case. 1t Ia merely the
turning out Of experience, capacity, and
fidelity to make room for raw and rough
material. 1t is "reform," just such rs has
hccn illustrated in hundreds Of cases within
the past three or four months.
The New York Times, than which there
Is no more earnest supporter Of the admin
istratlon, says Of Mr.. Bacon that he ia nm
cx-ofllccr of the United States navy, having
when he resigned the rank of lieutenant
commander, won in service; he was ap-
pointed to the Office he lately held on the
personal request Of Gen. Grant. The Times
thinks that while these facts do not cntitlc
Mr.. Bacon any special favor, they are evil
dence OF his character and standing. lie
has been sixteen years in the service, and
"has shown special fitness for his work.
His integrity is beyond question. His
accuracy, promptness, and industry are OF
lNNblNs lilS hDlltth lbI IItttINllE 'NliSEi-
plinc among his wor<mcn and getting
from them the greatest service for the pub
| lie while treating them with entire fairness
and impaItiality is well known. His rcpu-
tation In these respects is so thoroughly
established that importers have for a long
| time been in the habit of accepting his
weights and selling their goods by them,
very unusual evidence Of confidence. Dur
ing his long service his accounts have been
kept with the greatest clearness, and no
error in his weights has ever required cor
rcction.n
So much for the man removed. As to
| the new appointee, the Democratic Phila-
delphia Times says he is liquor dealer,
without experience, and with no qualifca-
tons for the place. 1t is alleged that he
has been one Of Boss McLaughlin's Brook
lyn FOUNDERS, and that he ia appointed sim
| ply to please his patron. The Times adds ::
| There is not the slightest excuse for such an
| appointment and the sooner II is revoked and
Sterling sent about his own business again. the
| better 1t will be for the administration aud the
| public service. This Is not Il good time to bring
such persons to the front and it is especially
inopportunc 10 put them into places held by
efficient and experienced officials.
The Democratic New York World devotcs
a long editorial to this ''reform of the wrong
end" The general tenor Of the article may
lie judged from the first paragraphs
The removal of Capt. George b. Bacon from
the Cilice of chicfwcigher in the Brooklyn dis.
trict, ard the appointment of George H. sler-
ling n Brooklyn liquor dealer. in his place,
whether in violation of the civil service law or
not, are in dirCc, conflict with all principles OF
good government and genuine civil service ro.
form which the people have right to expect
from Democratic administration.
The New York Herald, after heartily
cCmmcnding the removed official, says:
The gentleman who is to take his place has
everything TO recommend him to the patriots
of the land. That he knows nothing about
weighing is too small matter to be considered
when you remember that the object in getting
the position is the pay and the porqulsitos, no,
the work TO he done. 1t ia also supposed that
he will be grateful and not neglect his friends
when "a really good thing appears. lie is a
dealer in the common beverage with which
noble patriots quench their thirst and will dis
pensc the liquid freely, though more or less
unwillingly. Besides this 1t is hinted that he
may be persuaded to open an evening school
ard teach the FIVE hundred men in his employ
just how they ought to vote in order to save the
country.
We have thus complied with our CORE
spondent's request, quoting from the chief
of the Mugwump papers and from three ot
the ablest and most honest of Democratic
journals. But, as we have said, there Il
nothing especially novel or peculiarly in
tpIpstiur I'm this case IL is nhOut n fni
average sample of ''reform" methods.