National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-03-10

Tho unexpectsnt public and the army
Of expectant office seekers alike will be
interested in the interviews with mem
bors of the cabinet. which wo publish
to-day, touching the all-cngrossing topic
Of the enforcement OF tho civil service
law. They contain large measure Of
comfort for anxious clerks and EN-.
phasize tho expressions already made by
President Cleveland on this subject.
Mr. Bayard says uneuuivocally II am
heartily in favor of civil service reform,
as aro all the members Of the administra-
ton, so far as know" Mr.. Endicott
says: II asserted that when tho demo.
Gratis camo into power their policy should
bo to insist on faithful discharge Of pub
lie duties and tho retention OF all faithful
employees in Office, no matter what thoir
politics might be, so long as tho latter had
not been made pre-cminent over their
duties. My record 10 made, and of course
| shall stand by IT," and Mr. Garland
says: 81 am committed TO civil service
reform as a member OF Mr.. Clevcland's S
cabinet. The Presidents lottcr of accept
ance and inaugural address define tho
position of himself and cabinet" and
then points to tho significant fact that as
u senator he voted for the enactment of
the law.
These three declarations are very ex-
plicit. Secretary Whitney declares that
the administration Ia in favor Of the civil
service law, but evidently entertains
some mental reservations as to the manner
Of its enforcement. He pronounces it
"ono Of tho easiest laws to evade," and
until cabinet council has settled the
construction to be placed upon it doos
not seem exactly willing to declare him
self without reserve. However, he has
no doubt that 1t will be a natural aud
unstrained Interpretation of it that will be
adopted, and that its spirit as woll as let
ter will be faithfully carried out. Sec
retary Manning, too, says, "G am in favor
of it," but. being an old newspaper man,
and New York politician to boot, re.
fuses to enter into tho subject at length
Messrs. Lamar and Villas were toe
deeply immersed in learning tho intri.
cate details of their offices to spare time
for m interview, but enough is made
public TO give very satisfactory exposi.
tion of the degree to which the advisers
OF the President coincide with his OK
pressed views regarding the retention ol
faithful public servants in office.
Altogether taking these declarations
to be in good faith it must bo said tha
they are of impo rtance, President Cleve
lands sincere devotion to faithful en-
forcement Of the real principles Of the
civil service law must be conceded an,
the country will be gratified by reliable
information that the members of his cabi
net are in sympathy with him. IL woul(
be foolish man who did not realize tha
q great many changes will take place
but these interviews contain q whole
some assurance that the changes will b
practically limited to the higher Office
lhat arc beyond the purview of tn
civil servics law. and are such as b
their importance are held to be III
dicative of the character aud policy {
an administration. 1t is an assuranc
that tho army of clerks and minor OIL
cials who do the real drudgery of go,
ernment service can depend upon retair
ing their positions without regard
politics providing their record is sati
factory No moro could be asked of
democratic administration.