The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-07
THE POSToFFICE IN POLITICS.
Commissioner Edgerton's Views Upon the Ac-
ton of the Fort Wayne Postmaster.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
Fort WAYNE, Ind, May Sit having been
charged by the editor of the Fort Wayne Daily
News that in the election of delegates to the next
Democrats Congressional convention the post
master at Fort Wayne and his assistants had
violated the spirit Of the civilservce law in do
ing partisan work at the polls. and the attention
of Hon. Alfred p Edgsrton, of the Commission.
having been directed to the marscc--, the latter
gentleman addresses the editor the following
communication, the first expression of his views
on the law of civil service. the rules in pursu-
ance to it. made and promulgated by the Presi-
dent-which have the force of law-the regula-
tons of the Commission and their application to
political elections which he has yet given to the
public prints. Mr.. Edgerton Says
There is no subject of political Importance
upon which there is go much inexcusable ignor-
ance exhibited as on that of civil-servce reform.
Denunciation of it is not argument; but with
many It is easier 60 condemn than to compre-
bend Those who do not know why Congress
passed the civil-service law-why the President
and all of his Cabinet, and every government Of
ficlal in the departmental service at Washington,
and every collector of customs, and every post
master whose Offices are under the law, approve
and sustain it--cannoJ much longer remain in ig-
norance of it and keep out of graves for the for
gotten dead.
"a public necessity existed for such law,
and all the Presidents from Grant to Cleveland,
have felt it and demanded public attention to 1t.
The State of New York testified to this public
necessity when she gave Grover Cleveland 1872.
154 majority for Governor Charles nj. Fol-
ger. Mr.. Cleveland said, during that canvass: 1
have no hesitation in saying that fully approve
the principles embodied in the Pendleton bill re-
lating to this subject of civIl-service REFORM
and Governor Cleveland so testified when he ap-
proved the civil-service law of New York, closely
analogous to the federal civiservice act, and
which ne enforced during his administration as
Governor, and which continues to be enforced
by Governor Hill his successor. The State of
New York again most emphatically testified to
the necessity when she gave her electoral vote to
her 'civilservice Governor And President
Cleveland has taken care that the civil-service
law shall be faithfully executed wherever 1t ap-
plies.
In transmitting the report of the Commission
to Congress on the Goth of March last, the Presi-
dent said OF the law and its purposes With the
benefits it has already secured to the public
service plainly apparent and with its promise Of
increased usefulness easily appreciated, this
cause is commended to the liberal care and zeal
Gus protection of this Congress-
"The clamorers and 'mousing owls
for patronage pie would like to restore 1.-THE old
condition of affairs; and wherever is found pro-
nounced opponent of the cvil-service law, in
him will be found politician who will fill the
public places, regardless of the needs of the gov
eminent, with the friends he had promised to
reward for service, too often disbonorably
licited and rendered. 10 be thus the purveyor
of Office is the end and aim of low am bition
which has found no other way by which to rise.
The clvilservice law stands In the way OF
inscriptions and unworthy men getting into
governmental employ wherever that law ex-
tends its operations, and for that reason alone
do professional Office seekers denounce it. If
the Fort Wayne postofice under the civil
service law, neither the postmaster nor any one
of the employees of the office would have been
in any other than their place of duty and honest
work on last Saturday No postofice which has
less than fifty employees is under the law and
therefore its principles was here violated with
impunity. The law should be extended in its
operations to all postoffiiees -There clerks and
carriers are employed.
'If the News will print the civil-service faw,
from. he eight to the fifteenth sections, inclusive
it ~ furnish its readers with some very useful
information. Wherever the people know what
the law is, it finds advocates and supporters, and
fighting for the spoils of Office only becomes a
disgrace and a reproach. AS said in the last
port of the Commission, the law and the rules
are of such nature ana their practical methods
are by some so greatly msconceived and dis
trusted, and their execution confronts many
partisan personal and selfish interests that their
enforcement is possible only when it is absolute
The present administration, more than anyone
previous, is determined upon the absolute en-
forcement of the law and the rules, and it will
be seen before it closes its present term that it
will 60 hard with those who strive or contrive to
obstruct or defeat 1t. The purveyors of Office
will be compelled to succumb to the just policy
of the administration TO maintain the civil-serv
ice law and that policy had been incorporated in
every Democratic national platform from 1876
until now. and candidate for the presidency
can be elected upon any other platform
Commissioner Edgerton left for Washington
to-day.