The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-23
The Democracy and the Civil Ser
vice.
N. Y. SUM-

n. Y. Sun.
The resolutions adopted by the Tam
many Hall General Committee on tri-
day evening concerning what is errone-
ously known as civil service reform, are
commendable for the care and discrimi-
nation which they manifest in stating
the true objections to the competitive
examination system.
The preamble recites among other
things that "recent legislation has tended
to diminish and restrict the authority of
officers chosen by the people to appoint,
promote, and remove their own subordi-
Mates"
Tie most ardent supporter of the
existing Civil Service act will not deny
that such is its tendency. Instead of
permitting the appointing power to
choose from among all the persons in
the country competent to perform the
duties of given Office, it restricts the
choice to four persons selected by some
one else. No one outside of this group
of four can be appointed. The diminu
ton of authority which such limita-
ton involves has hardly been appreci-
ated until now except by careful stu
dents of the legislation in question. 1t
is opposed to the spirit of the Constitu-
ton, if Lot to the letter of that instru-
uent, and is certainly unwise as matter
of public policy, even if it should turn
out to be valid as matter of law.
The resolutions protest against any
legislative or administrative measures
which may tend to create permanent
officeholding class in this country, and
denounce all attempts to grant life
tenure of Office to any body of public
servants" The civil service reform
orators for the most part disclaim any
such purposes as those thus assailed,
but it is plain enough that the measures
which they advocate are extremely
favorable to the establishment of a per-
manent tenure for vast body of public
officers. This would be great evil. In
republic like ours the more citizens
who, at some time or other in the course
of their lives, can take part in the gov
eminent of the country. the better it is
for the security of democratic institu-
tions.
Finally, the condemnation of Boards
or Commissions vested with the authori
ty to control or interfere with the exer
else of the power of appointment by
cfcIllsC OlHLciS - cSPcNidlly W Dt
approved.
The tone of these Tammany resolu-
tions is undoubtedly in harmony with
the feeling of the great mass of voters
in this State, whether they be- Demo
Gratis or Republicans. The latter may
deem il expedient to refrain from ex-
pressing their true opinions on the sub
ject Just now, but they are adverse to
the Eatonian system all the same. This
is not at all because the average elector
is Indifferent to the efficiency of the
civil service, rs the Mugwumps are 50
fond of assuming, but because they
recognize almost by instinct the anti
American character Of the competitive
scheme as q means of
selecting the best men for Office. They
know that if that mad been the only
path into the public service Abraham
Lincoln would never have been Presi-
dent of the United States, and Ulysses
s. Grant would never have commanded |
the Union armies. If such q system |
would keep the best men out of great |
place.. IL Is likely to keep the best men |
put Of small ones
The Eatonian system must gol