Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-31

The appointment of Bradley b. Smalley
to be collector Of the port OF Burlington, in
place of Gen. VIM. Wells, removed, was an
uounoed last Saturday. This change has
created no excitement, and only mild de-
gree of surprise, for the reason that for weeks
past it has been little more than q matter of
curiosity in the state 10 see how long Mr..
Cleveland would resist the pressure which
was put upon him to give his friend SmAlley
this coveted place. The facts in regard to
both the old and the new collector are fully
given in Boston Journal and Free Press ex-
tracts elsewhere published. Ne. Wells was q
Union soldier and was first appointed oOlleo-
tor in 1872. He has made an exceptionally
faithful and efficient officer, and has not used
his office as q partisan machine His only
offence was that he was Republican. I'm
der his last commission from President Ar.
thur he had nearly three years left to serve.
Ever since Mr.. OlevelAnd's election 1t has
been known that the Burlington collector
ship was the office which Mr.. Smaley wished
10 possess 1t is understood that Mr.. Oleve-
land offered him other desirable places, in
Guiding that of consul general at Montreal,
but all these offers Mr.. SmAlley declined. He
would have the thing he wanted, or nothing.
II is said and we think with truth, that Mr..
Smalley has refused to importune the Presi-
dent in his own behalf But he has never
theless used weapon still more effective by
letting 1t be known, in emphatic language,
both at Burlington and in New York, what
he thought OF an administration that kept
"offensive partisan" Republicans in office
and refused to take care of its friends. It ia
said that charges of offensive craftsmanship
were filed against Mr.. Wells, but Mr.. Smalley
scorned this sort of work and left Il for his
friend Atkins to do.
Viewed simply as q political move, there
Is small fault to be found with Mr.. Smaley q
appointment. He is 9 man Of good stand
ing In the state, competent and efficient, and
It ia suggestive fact, when taken in con-
nection with the present Democratic cry of
Offensive pArtisAnship." that for years past
he has held the office of clerk of the United
States court in Vermont under successive
Republican administrations. II was natu-
raj and proper thing for Mr. Cleveland 10 wish
to give his friend, who did much to secure
his election last year, the place he wanted
but after all this has been said the fact re-.
mains that the removal of Collector Wells to
provide for Smalley is not civil service re-
form. Had not Mr.. Cleveland started out
with explicit professions as oivil-ssrvice re-
former, no fault would be found with his ac-
ton, but when his promises in his letter to
George William Curtis and in his inaugural
address are remembered this action gives the
lie to them ALL So far as Vermont ia con-
cerned the cases Of Collector Wells United
States Attorney Haskins and Marshal Henry
have been regarded as tests of the Presi-
dents sincerity as 9 oivil-serVIoe reformer.
The test has come on the first OF these cases
and the President has yielded. He could not
Withstand the party pressure, and II Is now
only question OF . little time a. to how
soon the other two Federal officials named
will have TO step down and out We are
compelled TO regard this act As q confession
on Mr.. Cleveland's part that he finds Demo