The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1885-10-16
WASHINGTON LITTER
tFrOm our regular correspondent,
wAsnIsoroS, srpr. 25th, 1895.

Week nNNd ucCu tuo AVotkhuttbh W
Civil Service Commissioner Eaton,
aud the reply Of the President accept
Ing the resignation. One OF the mosl
interesting coming events will DO the
appointment Of new set of Commits
sloners. Who will they b., and what
will they do? II Is certain that the
new Democratic Administration has
been much hlndered and embarrassed
by the Civil Service Law as Inter
preted by a Republican Civil Service
Commission. II a clean sweep could
have preceded tho enforcement OF
the law, 1. would have been salutory,
But the attempt to graft tho law up
on an unspeakably bad civil service,
that rotten heritage of the Republl.
can party, has resulted 10 the mega
ton Of much for which patriots have
striven through all the dark aud cor
rupt era Of the aseendency Of the
party Of spolls. No one with the
least acquaintance with the history OF
politics since the war can deny that
the Republican party has been tho
party OF spolls. And It has appro-
priated the spoiIs IN such an open and
atroclous way, from the insignIfi-
cant places of scrub-women and towel
washers up to tho highest judicial
places, that its professions OF friend
illness to proposed reforms In the dis
trIbution OF office, smell so strong Of
hypocricy as to make one sick.
When Mr.. Cleveland was placed
In the Presidents chair II was sup
posed that he would tarn out many
OF the corrupt men who never were
appointed on civil service rules, or
for any service except such as they
rendered In the bad cause OF hxIng
elections, bus Ing votes, stuifing bal.
lot boxes, and stealing the Preslden-
cy as Ia 1876. But, the President
has been embarrassed by The kaowl-
edge that a packed Republican Jury
In the Senate viii sit In judgment
upon all his appointments. II Is
possible but not probable that the
Senate will be Democratic before the
lapse OF the Presidential term. I'm.
less this shall come about, there can
be no hope Of complete and thorough
civil service reform during the pres.
ent administration. Reform Is Inn
possible while the Offices are filled
with the corrupt and corrupting men
who have been placed In Office by a
long line Of Republican presidents,
cabinet officers, senators and mem
bers.
Change and publication II a crying
demand in all the Departments. The
oft used metaphor Of The Aegean
stables is not exsggeration when ap-
piled to them. Democrats, well Sc.
lecled and good men, have been given
the prominent Offices. In otheI
words new commanders have beer
placed over an alien army, a host o
servlleImutineers, whose study, dag
and night, Is to assasslnate the ca Ise
under the banner OF which they ar'
marching. The new commander
sincerely desire 10 regain The land 0
political honesty and economy onc'
held by their fathers, and they have
given the command "about march
In healthy tones. The Colonels re
peat the command bat with less con
fideriee, for they are nearer the army
while the captains aud lieutenant
initiate II with a wink we'll under
stood by the treacherous host.
There will never be any serious re
form In the Departments until q
least one-half Of the light fngere
expert subordinates are put out, an
at least one.haIf Of the army of civ
service employees Is composed OF me
la hearty accord with the sentimer
and principles which placed Demo
cratic President In the White House
There is to-day in the Interior De
partment nearly every one OF the 0
ficials who have been responsible Il
the ring rule which has so long dom
mated this department.. Some
them are kept to-day in the face
the fact that their presence has bee
the cause of scandal in the past, an
must be the cause OF scandal in til
futura. There seems to be timl
spirit running all through the bus
. ness of the Interior Department;
conservative dread of hurting tt
feelings OF the old ring officials. TT
. same spirit which dictated the RESET
lodging around the corner appoin
:. ments in the Patent Office is four
in many OF the bureaus of this d
partment. There is no doubt th
the service here would be greatly II
proved If as clean sweep OF q
chiefs of bureaus were made as b
been made ia the Treasury Depal
7 ment.