The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-08-06
OFFICES.

l
In extenso on the question, and tn,
bulk of his remarks, the most salient
features, are given this merning
These civil service refsrmers are fight
ing p good fight. They are insisting
upon greater purity and honesty
in the public service, something
else than miserable party yea
as justification for Office. So fal
not patriot in the land viii say my
THR HERALD has INDUCED in strict
ures and criticisms upon prekonl
methods and the present absurd civil
service statute, but in common with
the best DemOcratic sources IN the
nation 1t will he found that our crit
cisms are leyolsd chiefly at tho ineili
cheney and absuIditv Of the existing
statute, while DESIRING as intensely
aud honestly rs anybody the utmost
purity and independence in the civil
service. Not the thing, but tho man
ner Of reaching it, is and has been our
cause for complaint.
Bitter partisans may got into Office
and use their power for selfish pur.
poses. The interests of their party
and therefore the majority of the pub
lie may DO neglected and the personal
fortunes of tho appointed or mis- family
DO exclusively consulted. Such in
stances arc, however, rare. The inyes.
legation proceeding now with reference
to the Indianapolis postoflico involves
such question. If the appointees are
not competent and worthy let thom
go. II they are the right people for
tho right place, the fact that they are
Democrats ought not to exclude them
from Office under Democratic
administration, especially so whom the
fitness OF their chief was vouched for
by the vice'president himself OF the
United States, nor is IL at all wrong
that Mr.. JONES should desire to Oh.
gsDize his Office in his own interests
and select those best known to him.
Under Republican rule all the do
partments OF ,he civil service have
been invariably filled by partisan and
often most incompetent people. Tho
best contributor" was far ahead of
the "best clerk" The most disgust
ing party services were re-.
warded with office, until the entire
government service became honey
oombed with dishonest, incompetent.
unfaithful and olionsivoly partisan
officials. Must such mass OF often
sivo matter be- ever dumped into
office? Can tho country not purify
Itself? AZ a corrupt and shameless ad
ministration fills the government
offices with people unworthy of such
confidence and distinction, must a
practically life tenure statute keep
thom there always and a puolic opln.
ion denounco those who attempt purI.
iicglion and reform?
Civil service "reiormn is anything
else but reform, If one clsss Of mon
can forever hold office, Whilo better
men walt ON the outside aud, perhaps,
as much or more entitled 70 recogni-
ton than the fortuuatos in Office. We do
not maintain uncondiuonauy hat to
the vlctors bolong the spoils, but cer-
tainly the victors have tho Same right
to oi'irlal position as the vauqulshol.
u is this palpable one-sidedness and
injustice that has caused such a d.
vorSity of opinion in this country.
While parties may deny the right of
the victor TO the spells, they Will never
Insist that they should 60 to the van
quiShod simply because they have be-
tore boSn in power.
But the methods arc moro objection
able than the spirit OF this prepoSsd
change. If mon especially qualified
for certain class of work woro chosen
under thc'o "roform" regulations. 80
much the less Objectionable tho stat
ute, but an incompetent man who in
CUP in reading, 'ritlng and 'rithmetic,~
but has possibly no idea OF either pub.
lie or private business, may carry on
tho best certificate Of examination, the
best appointment and be the poorest
clerk In the long list OF applicants.
If We must have a civil service law
lot II be one that will fairly meet the
case. Lot every man in tho govern
nent DO selected, not only for original
appointment, but for promotion,
purely by reason Of qualifications for
that special place sought. There are
many other things that ought 10 be
demanded of public official than
mere proficiency in English clement
airy branches and the further fac, that
tho salary is between 5000 and $3.50
per annum, and statute or policy
falling to recognize this fact must be
certainly and radically wrong.