Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-03-28
DAILY pOS1-INTELLIGEhcER
,uI CRIB FeE sFTIeE.

LIS probably 10 sIARssraiioa 70 ~-s
that here are I'll Tie UEsts1 STATES 70
asv AZ Isass ops 1IIEion nsn "ho AZ
sathsr actively sseaesd 10 sc eSort "
procure 8 postum zDssF ihs national
ooysrrrssus or vbS are iast IS sT's'siy
engaged In Efforts 70 retsia iss pos
items tssy already hold fsesasss '1ss'-e-
there are nanheziess otissr s5iiz q,
who, while n0s candidates Is tie 'ls7Ai
seosrsssi0n Of tAe tern, ars Bsvsrsts-
Iess secretly dssnsoss Of secsyisR '7fizee
and are pszfeetly wiIlisF 20 cast assoc
vhatsysr bssipeas they Ars ToS engages
IN and 10 sprins 20 the ssrsice o. tns'f
souutry a. soon 50 the 0pIoEtSni'y Is
.ixsu them. VIII is tbs 10 2 Probably
port.0n Of the greed foT of1sce IL s'tElo-
utabls 20 the natural desire 20 b Ia an-
tkority. This eesire, hSgsEeF. does no'
account for the intensity and vsae prsv
alsues OF the greed. and for an eTpaanAr
ton other causes must be sought
II il undsniabas that 10 the Jnites
states Official life is too easy and the
nav Of ofEeiaIs is TOO large. II isis
gsrs not %. men would not Be Wiling
10 shrow aside EhAasver bosiness or
avooation they may he engaged H. for
the purpose OF iseoeptiHg Government
positions. The hope Of sfheiai position
i almost a. dear 60 the heart OF the
average citizen al the hope Of Heaven.
There IL no good reason why this should
be 70. There u nj reason ShS thoss
Who serve the Government should re-
eeivs more pay fer the amount OF work
performed than those who serve private
individuals or corporations. There il
no good reason way tbs Inan vbo. while
in private life will work for ten or
twelve hours sAnh day, should vOrk
only five, six or seven hours each day
uhen be becomes q servant of the Gov
eminent. There Is no good reason why
an Official should Fecsive salary, Buffi
eient not only to support him comfoFts-
bly,, bat also TO allow him TO pay an an
nual assessment 10 the political party
which keeps him IN power.
There are abuses connected with the
OWL service which the present reform
movement does not affect. They arise
directly from the custom Of making ON
oial Ia every way preferable to private
life. Il Ii a RsneralIy Acknowledged
fact that . large proportion Of those
who once cross tho baioful threshold
at pubI.s life are enable TO become re-
ally useful citizens when thsy are de.
privea Of their Official petitions. The
remainder Of the life ~ the discharged
public servant Is often spent 10 unsuo-
esssful efforts 10 become onse more a
Government Official. Ia this petty bui
tnerossinR ambition he forgess hrs real
Life. work. whatever il may be, and be-
comes the chronic Office seeker. q char.
aeteT 10 he abhoiTed by ell good ciii
nans. In this wsy msny lives which
would otherwise be useful, beeone
useless many which would other
wisa be benefitdal, become abso-
lutsiy detrimental 70 the State.
For thls evil ther.i Is only one remedy.
Official life should be made less attract
I've. Tbs 81 ofheial should not have
saeh glorious memories Of his official
career that no private station can be
attractive to him. Equalze the work
and the pay OF the employees of the
Government aud the employee of the
individual, and the civil service prob
lam will solve itself.