Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-09

protection,


TO accomplish this nrotection.
recommend their amendment to meet the
neoessities OF the situation, and | commend to
OF Congress the suggestions
Iontelucu ia the report of the Commissioner of
Agriculture, calculated to increase the value
anu elnelency OF this department..
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Inc report of the Civil Service Commission,
Whieh VIII be submitted, contains an account
u. the manner IN which the civil service law
mas peen executed during the last year and
much valuable information on this import-
az. SUBJECT. am inclined to think
Inat There is no sentiment more gen
eIal IN the minds of the people of our
country IMAM conviction of the correctness
| OF tne principle upon which the law enforcing
CIVli service reform is based. In it's presen
conultlon the law regulates only part OF tbs
suDoTulhaIe public positions throughout the
| country. III applies the test of fitness to APP
| pucants Tor these places by means OF a COM
| peutlYe examination, and gives large dis
cIetlon 10 the commissioners as to the cha'-
actsr OF me examination, and many other
matters connected with Its execution.
Thus the rules and regulations
adopted by the commission have
meeh TO do with the practical usefulness
OF the statute and with the results OF its APP
plcatlOn. Tho peopie may well trust the
commission TO execute the law with perfect
FAIRNESS and with as little irritation as is pos
sible.
NO RELAXATION TO BE EXPECTED.
But, of course, no relaxation Of the princi-
PIE which underlies it, and no weakening of
the SAFE guards which surround it can be eN-
| pected. Experience In its administration
| Will probably suggest an amendment
OF the methods OF its execution, but
| venture to hope that we shall never again be
RENTED to the system which distributes pub
| TIC positions purely as rewards Tor partizan
service. Doubts may well be entertained
whether our government could survive the
I strain of continuance of this gstem, which,
glan0p "a
\ an Immense army of claimants for Office TO
lay siege to the patronage of the government,
engrossing the time of public officers
with their opportunities, spread
ing abroad the contagion Of
| their disappointment and filing
the air with the tumult Of their discomfort.
| me allurements of an immense number of
! omces and places exhibited to the voters of
the land and promise of their bestowal inlrec-
| ognition of partisan activity, debauch the suf-
| trage and rob political action of its thought
ful and delIberative character.
DANGERS OF THE EVIL.
The evil would increase with the multiple
cation of Offices consequent on our extension,
| and the mania for ofice-holding, growing
from its indulgence, would per-
wade our population so gem
orally that patriotic purpose. sup
| port of principle. the desire for the public
| good and solicitude for the nations welfare
would be nearly banished from the activity of
our party contests and cause them to degene-
rate into ignoble, selfish and disgraceful
] struggles for the possession of Office and pub
| lie place. Civil service reform enforced by
law came none too soon to check the progress
| OF Generalization. One Of its effects-not
| enough regarded-is the freedom it brings
| TO political action of those ConserVa-
| tive and sober men who, in
fear Of the confusion and risk of attending
arbitrary and sudden change IN all the public
ofhces with charge of party rule cast their
ballots against such q chance. Parties seem
| to be necessary. and will long continue to
exist.
SOME LEGITIMATE ADVANTAGES.
Nor can it be now denied that there are
legitimate advantages not disconnected with
Office holding which follow party supremacy,
while craftsmanship continues bitter and pro-
IOunced and supplies so much OF motive TO
sentiment and action. It is not fair to hold
public officials in charge of important trusts
responsible for the best results in the per-
Torrance of their duties, and yet insist that
they shall rely in confidential and important
places upon the work of those not only Op-
posed to them in political utilization. but 90
stepped in partisan prejudice and rancor that
they have no loyalty to their chiefs and no de-
sire for their success. Civil service reform
does not exact this, nor does it require that
those in subordinate positions who fail in
yielding their best service, or who are incom-
petent, should be retained simply because
they are in place. The whining of clerk
discharged for incidence or incompetency,
who, though he gained his place by the
WOThb DO5blbl6 operation OF tnb spOiis hysl6us
suddenly discovers that he is entitled to pro-
lection. under the sanction OF civil service re-
form, represents an idea no less absurd than
the clamor of the applicant who claims the
vacant position as his compensation for the
most questionable party work.
EFFECT OF THE LAW.
The civil service law does not prevent the
discharge Of the indolent or incompetent clerk,
but it does prevent supplying his place with
the unfit party worker. Thus IN both these
- h.
service and the people who desire
good government. Having secured this
statute viii not relinquIsh its benefits with
out protest, nor are they unmindful of the
fact that its full advantages can only be
gained through the complete good faith of
those having its execution in charge, and this
they viii insist upon. | recommend that the
salaries Of the Civil Service Commissioners
be increased to a sum more nearly common
surate to their important duties.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY.
It's a source Of considerable and not unnat-
ural discQptent that no adequate provision
has vet been made for accommodating the
principal library of the government. OF the
vast collection of books and pamphlets gath
cred at the Capitol, numbering some 100000
exclusive of manuscripts, maps and products
Of the graphic art, also OF great volume and
value--Only about 100000 volumes, or less
than half the collection, are provided with
shelf room, The others, which are
constantly increasing at the rate
OF from $4,000 to 10000 volumes a year, are
not only inaccessible to the public. but are
subject TO serious damage and deterioration
from other causes in their present situation.
A consideration of the fact that the library of
the capitol has twice been destroyed Oh dam
aged by fire. its daily increasing value and its
Importance as a place Of deposit OF books un-
der the law relating to copyright, make man
ifest the necessity Of prompt action TO insure
it proper accommodation and protection.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
NV attention has been called to the contro-
versy which has arisen from the condition of
the law relating to railroad facilities IN the
city of Washington, which has involved the
commissioners Of the District in much annoy
ance and trouble. l hope this difficulty will
be promptly settled by appropriate legisla-
ton
The commissioners represent that enough
Of the revenues Of the District are now on de-
posit in the Treasury of the United states TO
repay thesum advanced by the government for
sewer improvements, under an act OF June 30,
1854 They desire now an advance OF the
share which ultimately should be borne by
the district, of the cost OF extensive improve
ments to the streets OF the city. The total
expense OF these contemplated improve
ments is estimated at Sl,O00O00.
And they are OF the opinion
that a considerable sum could be saved il they
had ali the money in hand, 40 that contracts
for the whole work could be made at the same
time. They express confidence that IN the adj
vance asked for should be made the govern
ment would be reimbursed the
same within reasonable time. 7 have