Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-01-07
BIDDING ron 1855.


The spoilsmen who forced the uomina.
ton of Hill as the Democratic candidate
for governor of New York, and whose
efforts brought about his election, must
feel as did the man who bought pig in
poke and it turned out to be pup.
Hill's elevation was intended to humlliate
Cleveland. Hin stood for opposition to
clvll-scryce reform, and the presidents
policy was to be rebuked by the triumph
of the opposite principle in bis own state.
Hin was elected, but il we are to Judge
from his FIRST official utterance there VIII
be weeping and wailiDg and gnsshing Of
teeth among the poilsmen who supported
him. He is no better than Cleveland.
How could Mr.. Cleveland have spoken
more vigorously Ia iaySr Of k3yllsoryice
reform than does the representative of
opposition TO that idea in this quotation
from his inaugural message
Tho fundamental idea Of this reform, that
public oflloe rs trust to DO exercised solely for
the public welfare and that the onlces should
be allied only by those best qualified for the
seryicea to be rendered after their nnefs has
been nsecrained by proper tcst, 10 the corner.
stone OF popular government. This does not
conflict with tho principle Indispensable In
popular government that tho huads of tho dc.
partmcnts and others charged with the exc.
cutlon OF the administration policies should be
men In accordance with the chef admlnlstra.
tive oillcer, intrustod for the time being with
the execution of the popular viii expressed
through the ballot boz. The principle OF civil.
service reform, rs contemplated by the statutes
il lp'endod TO apply TO subordinate Official
positions which do not Involve the exercise ot
confidential dutles, the decision of important
matcrs or discretion in tho execution of
administrative policies.
There IL wonderful similarity between
this idea and that of the president in his
recent message treating OF the same sub
ject. He said:
Parties seem 10 be necessary and win con
tinuc TO exist nor can It lac now denied thst
there Nro Legitimate advantages not dlscon
nectod with Office holding, which follow party
supremacy. While craftsmanship continues bit.
ter aud pronounced, and supplies so much of
motive to sentiment and action II Is not fair 10
hold public officials In charge of important
trusts responsible for the best results in the
performance OF their duties aud vet insist that
they shall rely In confidence and important
places upon the work of those not only opnosed
to them In political nnlllatiou but so stccped in
partisan prejudice aud rancor that they have
no loyalty 20 their chiefs and no desire for their
success Civllserylcc reform does not exact
this, nor does II require that those In snbordln
ate positions who fail In yielding their hest
service or who are incompetent should be re
timed simply because they are in place.
The central idea common to both these
views of ciyil-service reform is that II is
well to put in the offices Of greatest trust
and responsibility men In thorough &C.
cord with the party In power, but in
minor and merely clerical stations there
Is no need to make a clean sweep of com 1
potent men 10 make way for adherents OF
another party solely because the former
do not vote with the party In power.
II his message exposes his mind, Gov.
Hill has cut loose from the crowd that
gave him his most enthusiastic support,
and Is to stand by civil.seryice reform.
He, doubtless, has motive In this. lie .
Is looking ahead TO sss and the possibni-
ties OF heading the Democratic national
ticket. The temper Of the country will
never allow an ayowed spokesman TO be
president, and MIR. Hin knows It. Ills
Is a bid for the favor of the re-
form element in his party, and he win
make an administration for reputation as
reformer N the hope and expectation
that his record as governor OF New York
viii lead 70 greater honors, as was the
case with Tilden and Cleveland.