The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-26
CIyIL-SERYIcE CONTEST.
.. *. Goss, of Gosport, Takes First Prize, S25;
4. D. Long, of Columbus, Second Prize, $l5.

form" occurred in the college chapel last night.
A few months ago the Civil-service Reform Club
of Bloomington offered $40 in two prizes. $50 and
form of the civil service. Seven excellent essays
appeared on the programme. One OF the largest
audiences OF the college year listened to these es
says. The judges were Prof A. b. Woodford,
Rev. Fl. v. Givler, of the III. e. Church and Miss
Anna Rallentine; Professor Patton referee. The
Judges unanimously awarded the first prize of $50
90 Mr.. d. K Goss, of Gosport, Ind, and the sec
ond prize of $l5 to Mr.. t. d. Long, of Columbus.
They also reported that in their judgment the
second best essay was that of Mr.. Albert Rabb.
of Covington. Ind. but according to the terms of
the contest both prizes could not go to the higher
classes. Mr.. Goss and Mr.. Rabb are both juniors.
end are both vigorous thinkers and forcible in
their composition. Mr. Long is one of the rising
young men in college, and, for sophomore, he
presented a remarkable production.
The cause of civil-service reform has lately
been creating considerable interest IN our COM
munity, and the public interest attaching to this
contest causes it to be the absorbing topic at
present in political and educational circles.
The ''spoils to the victors' is rapidly becoming
an unpopular idea Mr. Goas's essay is attract
ing considerable comment, especially his refer
ences to political abuses in Indiana. His subject
was, rs there Need of Civil-service Reform2"
After introducing the subject, he proceeded to
discuss it, in answer to the following questions:
''(1.j Is there cause for reform in our civil
seryice2 If there is ~, how can this reform
be best Accomplishment
HFar Loe, %to al
.sf these States; but wonderful as has been the
growth from few seaside colonies with four
millions of agricultural people to nation Of 6f-
ty millions, spread over continent, with all our
varied and diversified national life. yet more
wonderful was the wisdom of the men who
fra .,ed our organic law and defined the powers
OF our government to meet so we'll the exigen-
cies of the hundred years of growth. Politics
and experience had taught society to seek in d.
vided and welldefined power the surest
guaranty of civil liberty. Doubtless
the fathers of the Constitution held
that the benefcent operation of the
government depended upon the complete indie
pendence and full responsibility of the executive
judicial and legislative powers each in its own
proper sphere. The judiciary has maintained
its original independence, met its requirements.
and demonstrated its right to place in respon
sible government, under constitutional guidance
and restrictions. Our judiciary is marvel and
q model. the pride and pleasure of him who
reads his countrys history. But how has it
been with the executive and legislative branches
of our government The CONSTITUTION vested
in the executive the power of appointment and
removal The men who wrote that law thought
of the two three scores of consuls, collectors.
and postmasters to be appointed by the execu-
tive with a due sense OF responsibility. The
early Presidents never abused the appointing
nower. From Washington to John Quincy
Adafns, each succeeding President held that it
was the true public policy to continue faithful
servants in Office. and to remove none without
Just cause. Could those who wrote the Consti-
tuition have beheld future President of this
Republic give over the vital machinery and
storehouses of this Nation in its hundred
and fifteen thousand offices as rewards to those
who had elevated him to Office, like victorious
general apportoning the spoil of conquered
city, we doubt not this contingency would have
been met by constitutional provision. But not
only has the executive broken down under nat
urally extraneous and eyer-increasing burden,
Ont the failure has involved the constitutional
and vital independence of the executive and
legislative powers.
The essay then deplores congressional inter-
ference in executive appointments, and relates
instances of political abuses which have come
under his own observation In Indiana. Among
abuses of congressional patronage he relates
that two eminent naturalists, in the interest of
science had asked the appointment Of rising
young scientist TO the assistant SUPPLEMENTARY
of our national park. But did the man sc emf
nently qualified and so we'll recommended receive
the appointment One quiet Sunday morning
of the past summer. while the good people of q
neighboring town were going to church, man,
more beastly than the mule upon which he rode,
was seen covered with mud, drunk, urging his
beast upon the sidewalk and attempting to enter
a saloon. He was fined IN the mayors court as
dsturber of the peace. That was the man
whom congressional patronage caused to be APP
pointed as assistant superintendent Of Yellow
D. - -
was the son of a man to whom was due poit-
ical debt Against such weghty reasons the
worthy young scientist stood no chance.
But these abuses are not new diseases in the
history of government. There is not q single
evil in our administrative system that has not
had its counterpart in civilized European ma
tons, and until 1883 be it said with shame, we
were the only nation Of christendom that had
not songht and found at least a partial relief.
Walpole sold the offices of the kingdom for gold
Newcastle put administration upon the
auction block The world knows the
story of Give in India and the rapacity pecula-
ton and oppression of Warren Hastings are writ
ten in the fiery words of Sheridan and Burke
Reform of her civil service became the Ito be or
not TO be" of British government.
Tn answering the objection that the reform is
opposed to the spirit of democratic government
the essayist pertinently asked if it were the spr
it of orr institutions chat our President should
cease the study of craftsmanship, should neglect
ministration and schemes of finance, and devote
more than one year in four to listening to this
debauched demand for place; to settling petty
disputes of party. determining whether this par
tsan that supporter shall be clerk collector;
whether this Congressman or that Senator has
the better claim TO dictate consul postmaster
Il, indeed, such prostitution of this great Office
in keeping with the spirit of our government Is
it an inseparable feature of free government that
our Congressman should desert their desks to
crowd upon the departments to throng the bu-
reaus and offices. urging the removal of political
foes and the appointment of personal friends,
while questions of vital public interest appeal in
vain for consideration
Mr. Goss closed his essay with an appeal for
the enforcement of non-political Offices from poll
hcs, for a distinct administrative branch in gov
ernment embodied In civil service commission.
and for a statute debarrire Congressman from
interfering in executive appointments. All the
essays were favorably received, and created
quite an impression upon the audience.