The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-22
THE POSTMASTER GENERALS LETTER.

THE POSTMASTER GENERALS LETTER.
The circular letter Of Postmaster-ge genera
Villas has not received the attention its sig
| nifcance demands. Even as his own utter
ance and intention it would be a remarkable
paper making, as it does, farce of civil
service reform. 1t is more than the wish Of
that official. His position is such that he can
not occupy it without being in perfect har.
mony with the President. The letter, there
fore, must be regarded as revealing the pur-
pose of the President to kill the spirit while
punctiliously observing the letter of the
civil-service law. The Postmaster-genera
makes the way plain by prescribing
the procedure necessary to secure the
ousting Of postmasters now in charge,
and the installation of corresponding number
of Democrats The simplicity Of the formula
tons Of the country. All that is required is
for congressman to select those officials whose
places he wants for his own friends. Against
these it must be formally alleged that they
have been offensive rartisans, whatever that
may mean. Since the jury before which the
case is to be tried is a party to the prosecu-
ton, it is easy to see what the verdict must
be. 1t is the simplest way Of multiplying law
that could be devised, and how we'll it will
work will be evident before many more weeks
shall pass.
IF such circular should emanate from the
President it would create scandal that would
strip him Of every pretension Of civilservice
reform, and place him in the category of avictor
apportioning the spoils among his followers.
Is not this practically true nowY By whose
authority and consent was that ''confi-
dentiap letter issued but by the President's9
Surely nobody is simple enough to think that
Mf. Villas issued it on his own responsibility,
and without assuring himself that it was in
consonance with his superior's views. Mr..
Cleveland has played the part of ''Mr. Spen-
low too long. Secretary Bayard has been his
''Mr. Jorkins' until now, and now
it looks as though Mr. Villas was to undertake
that unpleasant role. There can be no Jor-
kins business in the administration of public
affairs. If Mr.. Bayard's recommendations
have been bad, as unquestionably they have
been very bad, they have hurt Bayard; but at
the same time they have injured the Presi-
dent, since there is where responsibility must
finally rest. 1t were convenient if the Presi-
dent could point to this or that member of his
Cabinet and say: ''Thou did it, But he
cannot absolve himself in that way, and to at
tempt it is but to confess disgraceful weak
ness
1t is fair to presume that all orders from the
departments are issued either with the con-
sent Of the President or that they are sent out
in the belief that they represent his wishes,
and. of a certainty, they are all subject to his
revocation If Mr.. Vilas's letter for the multi
fcation of the civil-service rules is not in ac-
cordance with the Presidents wishes, it is in
his power to recall 1t and to set himself right.
The acts of his Cabinet are his own; he is re-
sponsible for all that is done, and especially
all acts so sweeping in their effects as
this. Mr.. Vilas's circular has not been
recalled, and will not be recalled 1t was
prepared with we'll understood agreement on
the part of the President, and must be ac-
copied as one of many opponents of the char
acter of the administration. A strong man,
an able man, would expect this, and accept
the responsibility that is thus incurred. If
this is the understanding, it is presuming
upon popular ignorance to make further claim
of reform of the civil service or of anything
else, except so far as reform may mean turn
ing out faithful and efficient officials and sup
plying their places with untried partisans.