Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-12
THE WAR UPON CIVIL SERVICE
REFORM.
The Effort of the Commercial POliti.
clans to Break Ii Down.

To the Editor of TIE EvENING STAR
In defending the rider to the appropria-
ton for the civil service commission, Mr. Hol-
man assumes that the essence of civil service
reform lies in the use of examinations simply
to test the fitness of candidates for the duties of
the particular place in question. But, what
ever may be thought by Congressman whose
monopoly of spells is attacked by the genuine
reform, nothing can be clearer, from the history
of the movement, than that the mere ascertain
ment of sufficient fitness is but a secondary
function of the competitive examinations
which alone are relied on by disinterested re-
formers as being the only ones adapted to
achieve the essential object of the reform
namely, the destruction of the spoils system, by
preventing corrupt or demoralized politicians
from prOStituting their official influence to
secure their own elections through the use of
usurped patronage as a "stoen bribery fund"
with which to purchase or reward the services
of henchmen. In the words of President Cleve-
land. 1.-The allurements of an immense number
of offices and Places exhibited to the voters of
the land, and the promise of their bestowal in
recognition of partisan activity, debauch the
suffrage and rob political action of its thought
full and deliberative character. Doubts may
we'll be entertained whether our government
could survive the strain of q continuance of
this system, which upon every change of ad-
ministratiOn inspires immense array of
claimants for office TO lay siege to the patronage
of government, engrossing the time of public
abroad the contagion of their disappointment,
and filling the air with the tumult OF their dis
content" This and not the "incOmpetency" of
clerks is the real disease to be prevented, and
against this mere "pass' examinations would
be about as efficient hygienic precaution az
would be the external application OF yaseline
during the prevalence of cholera. For pass ex-
aminations make eligible many more than can
be appointed, inasmuch as a very large propOr-
ton of the population Qncluding henchnien)
can manage TO get through the minimum
basis OF qualification. Such examinations ac-
cOrdngly, practically determine nothing, but
leave the real choice among candidates to be
decided, as before. by the illegitimate, usurped.
corrupting and corrupt dictation OF Congress.
men. many of whom have little or no other
capital with which to carry on their huckster.
ing trade OF so-called politics"
These politicians-'of commerce" as the text
books say-talk about starving out the com.
mission by way of getting rid OF the once
despised check on their nefarious and disrepu-
table traffic in stolen salaries. In their palpable
ignorance of the law (of which, like certain
others in the old rhyme, they naturally have
a very 'poor opinion'D these gentlemen seem
unaware that, in view of section of the act
they will likewise have to impose conditions"
on the President and the first Ontroller In order
to compel the dtlo'Odnce OF salaries to any hench-
men who may be "appointed" without the
assistance of the institution over whose threat
ened ruin they are gloating, but for which /
predict q longer life than Is to be enjoyed by
enough to commit themselves against it The
rectiOn, in SO many words forbids appointment
TO any place within the rules save In accord.
ance with these rules. Reform DEMOCRAT