The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-01-15

nelu by u pbrblhteht Onlcb bbehsf, puulc
sentiment became 30 aroused that Con.
gress. needing this popular demand,
passed the present Civil Service law,
Gross Misrepresentation has been made
concerning this law In claiming that II
Ia intended TO keep the Republicans In
0flte. There In no provision In the law
or the rules prohibiting the removal OF
month or DAY. A life tenure
would be i~ndefensible. The law
provides for entry into the classi'
hed service, aud not removal therefrom,
This classified service embraces all en-
ployes receiving q salary OF from SEQ 10
1880 In the eight departments, and no
one can BIO appointed TO enter this ser
ylcs until no has passed q competitive
examination. Many persons have been
misled by supposlng that this examine
ton could DO passed only by q col
legiate. In Tefutati0n OF this |
need only cite the fact that % per
cent, OF thOle who have passed have
had only q common school education,
II 10 an examination such an q business
man would require OF an applicant 10
pass before no should enter HIS eetab
llahment. Such qualifications AZ q bust
ness man would require OF an employe
In hts private business the Government
should certainly require for the transac-
ton OF public business. Shall the sub
ordinate employees DO selected on account
OF political considerations" II we have
an interest In the business Of the Gov.
eminent, then the best test should be-
applied TO the applicants, which Ia not
q political one. Pfosident'elect Cleye.
land has spoken very plainly on
this question, and hia utterances can
not DO misunderstood" Here Judge
ThOman quoted at length from Governor
Cleyeland's letter OF acceptance as Gov
ernOr OF New York, and q letter In an
awer 10 one written TO him on this sub
ject, bearing date October 28, 1889, and
his letter accepting the nomination for
the Presidency, He then continued:
ut IL a mistaken Idea that the business
OF the Government belongs TO the party
In power; II belongs TO the people and
they demand that II DO administered for
the best Interests OF all, and that the
public servants BIO honest, competent,
faithful aud economical. Ia II the prov
ince OF political organizations TO exist
simply to dleburae or dispense patron
agep II that DO true, then the sooner
the dissolution comes the better for that
political party. Much 10 said OF the
J%acksonian principle. ITO the ylctora
belong the apOila," and that that doc
trlne should DO adhered 10, but II seems
10 me that the old advocates OF that
principle could have been content with
the J%eiferaonian test" "Ia no honest, IN
no competent, Ia no faithful 10 the Con
etitution," The present law Is the
first step TO reform and put subordi.
nate places outside OF political tests |
or party fealty, and substitutes q sys.
tenn OF "merlt" instead OF q Rystem OF
"fayorltiam." II has brought 10 the
public service In the last eighteen
m0ntha more than two thousand per
sons, who owe their appointment 10
nothing but thoir own merit. The let
tor OF Mr.. Cleveland 10 George william
again shows the wisdom, cand0r |
and sincerity with which no looks upon
the Importance OF this question, and all
friends OF civil service reform feel as.
HuIeu lHht IneTe IN 10 De no hIbp Dhck'
ward In this matter. | maintain that
the business Of Government should be-
upon the same basis with pri
yato business, and that II Ia the duty OF
the Government 10 select the best
men II can for the salary II
pays. When these results are
The affairs Of the Gov.
Drnment will DO conducted with TWEEN.
~ Ave per cent. less employees aud CORE.
spending reduction In the expense. II
this Ia true Of the general Government
II Ia also true Of the States, II Ia q ~.
ting time for Ohio TO raise herself up 10
the standard OF New York and Massa
chusetts on this question by the passage
Of q suitable civil service law.
THR BANQUET on THE CLUB.
At the banquet under the auspices of
Iaahann rluh lhla ~avanIn0 ahanl Il