Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-06-18
ATTACK ON CIVIL SERTICE
REFORM


AS is well known at this time the
Democratic party is an unhapp, family
on the civil service reform question. =
The law. it will be remembered, is
Democratic offspring, having its origin
under the Arthur administrator PEN
dleton then a Democratic U S. Sen
ator from Ohio, introduced the bill in
the Senate, aud by the concurrent act Of
Republican Senate and Executive
and Democratic House it became a
law. That the Democrats were then
Inslncere in their profession Of re-
form in the civil service i. now obvious;
and that their intention was to handicap
the Republicans in their appointments =
the latter then having coutrol Of most
OF the Offices under the Federal admins
tra'lon' is now too apparcu, to be ques-
toned. Tue Democratic party little
thought when the civil service act be-
came a law that change would so soon
take place in the Federal administration.
They little thought that the ingeniou,
device they were weaving around the
Republican party, in the name Of re-
torm' thereby restricting its power and
influence, by reducing its patronage,
would IN short time recoil with redoub-
led effect upon their own household. But
nevertheless such is fact. and TO-DAY
while in the party there are many honest
and conscientious reformers who are
anxious TO uphold the law, the majority
are clamOrous to defeat its intentions. So
persistent are some Of them in this in
IGNITION, and knowing that to repeal the
law, with Republican Senate aud
President firm in his conviction of
right. and faithful to his pledges of reform
would be absolutely an inpossibiIty,
they endeavored few days ago to have
passed through the Ilous, of Represen-
tatives on the back Of the Legislative,
Executive and Judicial bill, as rider,
a prOviso, that the sum specified in the
bill as appropriated for the salary Of the
Civil Service Commissioners. should not
be so used until the rules Of the Civil
Service Commission were so altered as to
permit the names Of all applicants for
official appointment from any one State,
duly qualified, to be sent to the APP
pointing power instead of four as now
provided. The following is the clause
to which we allude:
''I'rouided tnat this appropriation shall be
available only when the Rules OF the Civil Ger
vice Commission are so framed as that the
names dHapplicants for official appointment
from any one stats, found duly qualified on e1-
animation, and without regard to age, shall be I
sent to the head ola department or other officer
charged with an appointment"
Luckily however, this nefarfc@ meas
lre has met with opposition. Opposition
from Republicans; opposition from the
better element of their own party, and
The measure met the defeat il deserves.
The spOils system is wrong in principle;
It is injurious to the people, aud no
party will succeed. that adantaAs4s
Civil service reform the people wanl
md will have. The Republicans acted |
wisely when they allowed civil service
law to pass, and they will do even still
better, if. with the balance ofpower, they
use it to uphold the law by preventing
its repeal, an abridgment of its pro
vision S, and violations Of its Intentions.