The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-06-19

Administration.
The circular recently issued by Post
master-tencral Villas calls forth inter-
esting discussion on all sides Some Of
our contemporaries criticise it, Others
handle II charity. and Others aga n
praise il. But there j. one very remark
able feature in all the comments that
we have thus far seen The circular
was. marked confidential. yet the most
willing critic can lind no Objectionable
phrase in II. From beginning to end
there IS not an expression used which
might not just as well have been given
70 the public One looks in vain for
any utterance Of an cquiyocal sort.
''How are the department. do;ng?"
''burn this letter and equivalent cN-
pressions are conspicuously absent.
Postmaster-G General Villas has no use for
phrases OF that sort. lie knows what
he wants 10 say and says il; but he had
nothing 10 say except what would lead
to the good Of the country.
Whatever our contemporaries may
attempt 10 show TO the contrary. the
utteranccs Of that circular are in line
with true Civil-Service reform and the
promises Of the party platform made at
Chicago. Civil-Service reform, II il
means anything. means the improve
ment of the civil service Of the country.
just what the Postmaster-Geaeral pro-
poses ID carry out by means described
in his circular. II ofiicc-holders have
heretofore neglected the duties for
which they were paid. wha, assurance
j. there that they will conduct them
selves differently in the future? II
postmaster or 3 cashier or clerk has
been grossly derclict. yet is allowed to
continue TO hold his place. what sort d
example does 4 sct TO those about him.
and what kind of encouragement does
il give TO those who believe that public
Office i public trusts
Turn the rascals out expresses the
sentiment Of the vast majority Of the
people. and il is that sentiment which
Postmastcr-Gcneral Villas hceds In his
letter. Wherever he finds q po>tmas-
ter who has abused his trust he pro-
poses to remove him and substitute
man who will attend 70 duty, not to the
manipulation Of conventions. carcuscs
and wires. The only fault 70 b. found.
il any. j. that he proposes to draw the
line rather too mildly. His idea seem,
TO be that from one-siNth TO one-quartcr
Of the postmasters have been offensive
parti-ans. Is IL not well known to almost
any reader that in the circle Of towns
in which he Is acquainted. one half at
least Of ali the postmastcrs have been
more active i'm attending tD the work
ings Of party machinery than to thc
duties Of olice? We b icve those who
will consider for moment will agree
with Us that the Po>tmaster-Gencr:il
has given postnia~iers the advantage Of
every possible doubt
The masses in all parties want good.
pure governments, they desire to have
good men IN office But they know that
their desires can not be gratiiied Il con-
scicptious. faithful officials are to have
no advantage over those Of the opposite
sort; II. in snort, the rascals are to L.
allowed to remain in. Moreover. all
but the partisans desire the success II
the Administration: but there can be
no success il inefficient or negligent
ofiice-holdcrs ARE allowed to retain their
places, TO the embarrassment and him
drance of the Administration. The
Postmaster-Gencral merely SAYS that
good government is the end and aim OF
the Administration. 10 secure which II Is
necessary 70 turn the rascals out"
and the people will heartily answer,
Amen! Boston Globc.