Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-06-19
APPROACHING THE ISSUE.

The Republican papers are beginning TO
howl louder than ever as the removals of
offensive partisans and incompetent and
corrupt officials in the public service be-
come more frequent. The fact is the Presi-
dent and the heads of the departments have
been occupied up to the present time almost
entirely in filling vacancies and reorganiz-
ing the most important bureaus, and the
work of making peremptory changes in the
minor offices is just being begun
Enough has been done TO convince the
Republicans that they need not hope for any
special favors from the administration. The
President has had threats of the Republi-
can Senate held in terr0rem over him for
month or two, but he pursues his fixed
policy as quietly and fearlessly as if there
was no such body in existence. He is not
only respecting, but enforcing the civil SER
vice law in letter and spirit, but he con-
strues the law for himself and does not pay
any attention to the forced constructions
which the Republicans put upon it.
We are glad to see that the President and
the heads of the departments are beginning
to realize that they cannot successfully in
augurate their contemplated reforms in the
departments because of the lack of sympa-
thy and cooperation on the part ofthe heads
of bureaus and divisions. 1t is impossible
to invEstIgEte any branch q fne public ser.
-vsltssc where neglect, carelessness or wrong
doing is suspected with any prospect of sue
cess, because those suspected are always in
formed before the investigation begins, and
hence are prepared for 1t. AS Investigations
have to be entrusted to Republicans, it is
easy to understand why they generally fail
to sustain complaints.
As the heads Of bureaus and divisions and
the chief clerks about the same are all Re-
publicans, the heads of the departments
have no subordinates upon whom they can
rely with that implicit confidence they ought
to feel in their assistants.
Ofcourse there is only one way to remedy
this state of affairs. That way is the re-.
moval of those of the chiefs of bureaus and
ot'AoiOus uuu Tic CtllCi CltIhb WHO are nOJ
in sympathy with reform, and the placing
Of good Democrats in their places. These
heads of bureaus and chief clerks do not
come within the jurisdiction Of the civil
service law, and that law, therefore, would
not be violated If they should be removed.
We realize that they could not all be re.
moved at once, because they are necessary
for the transaction of the public business
but we are glad TO see that the administra-
ton thinks they can be removed gradually
without detriment to the public service.
No doubt this awakening of the admins
tration to an important change, and the
meeting of the issue In as quiet way az ii
could possibly be reached will cause the
waving of the bloody shirt by the Rspubi.
can Senators, and the abusing and Islander.
ing of the administration, hut their noise
will amount to little. The country has be
come accustomed to il and it does not excite
the least interest. They may annoy the Presi
dent, but they cannot defeat him. They make
themselves obnoxious TO him, and TO the
heads of the departments, but both the
President and these officials have It In their
power to make themselves equally as OBJ.
noxous 10 the Republican Senators.
II will be wise in the Republican Senators
10 accept the situation, and the majority oil
them will probably be wise. The threats OF
the Republican journals will have no effect
Employees who are not partisans to the
extent ofallowing the public service to suffer
can be obtained without difficulty, and we
repeat, that We are glad to see that the
administration is gradually but surely APP.
preaching this point We think the sooner
the better for public good aud for the credit
andshonor OF the administration.