Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-09-25

GeneraI Grant and Civil Service Re
form.
George William Curtis, in Harpers Magazine for
October.l
1t will be one Of the chief distinctions OF
the Presidency of General Grant that 1t en-
couraged the first serious effort for the eman-
cipation of the civil service. II was fitting
and fortunate that the military leader in the
war which freed the slaves when called TO
the highest civil position, should take the
first steps 10 free the civil service from its
servile thralldom TO party politics. When
that great work shall be accomplished, the
name OF Thomas Allen Jenckes, OF Rhode Is
land, who began the first serious agitation
for the reform with an ability and courage
which made the task Of the later laborers
comparatively easy, will be honored az among
the most sagacious OF American statesmen.
Like Romilly, who humanized the penal code
of England. and Clarkson, who abolished the
British slave-trade, Mr. Jenckes will be re-
membered as the father Of civil service reform
in the United States.
Immediately after the war he introduced
| his bill into the House OF Representatives.
There was little knowledge of the subject or
| interest in II. There had been no popular
agitation. But Mr.. Jenckes meant TO begin
the agitation, and he did begin II then and
| there. Undismayed by neglect or scorn or
pondence with the English reformers, and
renewed his efforts 30 long as he remained in
| Congress. His last act rs q Representative
/ was TO draw the amendment to the appropri-
alton bill OF 1871, which, thanks TO the friend.
/ ly skill Of Mr.. Dawes the chairman OF the
| committee and OF Mr.. Armstrong, OF Penn
| sylvania was adopted at the last moment,
| not from any Congressional interest or DESIRE
but merely 70 save the whole bill This was
I A - L. Il A.
/ pointment OF what was known, although II
was not so designated by the law, as the first
Civil Service Commission, and 1t was drawn
by Mr. Jenckes after consultation with Gen
eral Grant, TO whose military experience and
natural good sense the general reasons Of the
i reform, as Mr.. Jenckes stated them, were at
once apparent and conclusive.
The movement began, therefore, with the
distinct and hearty approval of General Grant.
/ But he saw and said that, although in its ma
| ture an executive reform, the relations Of the
Executive and the Legislature were such that
their cooperation was indispensable 10 its
general application and success. After year
or two II was evident that Congress was hos
tile, and In his message OF 1876 General Grant
said "If Congress adjourns without positive
| legislation on civil service reform, l will re-
gard such action as a disapproval of the sys-
/ tenn, and will abandon IT," TheR was no
| legislation, and the reform was suspended.
But ii was not abandoned by the country.
The General at that time undoubtedly Rp-
proved the principle Of the reform, but he
probably supposed its enforcement to be pre-
mature until public support was more assur-
ed.
The Easy Chair may be pardoned the mar.
ration Of a personal anecdote connected with
the subject, known only to General Grant and
itself, which the General Is not likely ever TO
have told. 1t is q little incident which Illus
trates in the pleasantest way certain senti.
mont In General Grant which in 80 plain,
sturdy, and positive a man might not be sus.
pected. The Easy Chair had been interested
In the preparation OF the rules and Of the
first report upon reform after the passage oi
the Jenckes amendment, and on the morning
that the President was TO send them TO Con
gress be had asked the Easy Chair TO come
TO the White House and hear the message
which was to accompany the report. WheI
the Easy Chair arrived, the President sait
that the message was copying, and presently
the original, in his own writing, interlineC
and corrected, and the fair copy to be sent Il
the Capitol, were both laid before him. Gen
| eral Grant read the message aloud, the listen
or sitting at the table by his side. When h,
had read IL, with the shy air Of q bashful CIR
| he pushed the autograph draught over the Ia
BILE toward the Easy Chair, and said quickly
"There; II isn't worth anything, but perhap
you would like TO keep 1t" and began imme
diately to speak Of something else.