The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-02-11
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
An INTERVIEW WITH CONGRESS-
MAN n. X. cox.
Cen. Cox Commits III i'm self nre>ervedly V
to the Advocacy OF Civil Service Re
form.

ton opOndeut TO interview ten toA,
Chairman Of the Civil Service Reform Com
mttee Of the House, is 70 his views about
the las. As We have not yet received the
account of an interview we are glad III lieu
thereof, to present an interview with Gen.
Cox, which appeared few days ago IN the
Brooklyn Union. The following are his
views:
There is much general misrepresenta
ton and prejudice in regard TO what IS
known as the civil service law, which Is
simply an act 10 put into effect the Old
.jeffersonian doctrine of honesty and ca
pacity for public trusts. This msrepre
sentation arises from the employment of
what il is insisted are mpractlcable scho-
laStic tests for admission into the service,
and the rule in regard to the age of ap
plcants 1t should ever be borne in mind
that the law does not prescribe these quail
fic,ttiOns, but expressly declares that such
examinations shall be as practical as may be
and such as will test the fitness Of the per
son for the service he seeks to enter, and
it is silent as to age. 10 repudlate the law
for the manner Of its administration is
unreasonable as to condemn statute be
cause you find fault with the judge.
''The time al which the law was enacted
aroused the apprehension, If not preJu-
dices, of many Democrats, from which
plead no exemption, and preconceved
opinions are most difficult to combat. This
IS eXempllfied even among enlightened
members Of the Bar, where, as a rule, the
old members will cling to the most crude
and obsolete precedents, from which they
are only emancipated by the new and yig-
orous blood of their Juniors. Even parties
are often disposed to linger in old ruts and
cling to useless theories until dispossessed
by those who present living reforms and
vital issues.
s.Many members of the now dominant
party fear that this law may prevent them
from obtaining that equitable distribution
of the offices to which it is entitled and de-
mand its absolute repeal which would be
like one who should take his own life be
cause, forsooth, he was disappointed in
some love affair. Every rejecting man at
all familiar with the abuses of the former
system will concedc that the purpose of
the law is good. Then why not amend in
stead Of repeating it This law does not
prevent the dominant party from getting
its full quota Of offices, but it does pre-
vent individual members from forcing
their fayoritcs into the classified service.
1t provides a test of merit and not politi
cal Intrigue among party friends. |, as
Democrat, believe that parties are indis-
penSable to wholesome administration of
public affairs,
,sWhen the people invite Q party to sur
render the rcins Of power TO another, the
chiefs of every bureau, at least, should be
in accord with the administration, to Sc
posure of abuses which may exist, and
that the people may know that nothing is
held back, nothing concealed.
''This law does not prevent the Presi-
dent from making all such changes as he
NAV think proper. 1t would be uncOnSti-
tutional if it did There are over 80, 900
offices to which this law does not apply,
and which may be filled as heretofore.
These embrace all the local offices, such as
poStmasters, route agents, etc, and the
higher and lower positions at Washington.
There are about t, 000 clerkShips at Wash
ington, New York, and other important
points to which the law applies, and the
Democrats will get a due proportion of
these. This laW will not keep the rascals
in, of whatever class they may be, and |
would rcpudiate it if it did.
Again, the law does not prevent the
President from removing any officer,
whether he comes under the civil service
laws or otherwise.
Both parties have time and again gone
before the country as advocates OF genu-
inc civil service reform aud ii this IS not
such it behooveS us to endeavOr to make
it 50, which cannot be done by repeating
the law Governor Tilden, in his letter
Of acceptance, earnestly and forcibly de
nounced the mercenary traffic in offices,
and showed the necessity for some reform
SO did President Cleveland, whose elec-
ton is believed to be largely due to his
convictions on the subject.
H. II X,
my purpose to sustain the President III Civ
ny this law far triad, and by proper
legislation covering such defects III 1t as
such Il trial may disclose. | should as soon
think of deserting friend whom had led
into battle as to hinder one who is endeav
oring to fulfill my political pledges
The Civil Service Commission is to aid,
not control the President in making prop
CT selections for clerical duties. 1t has
been changed recently to conform to the
views Of the dominant party. | Will not
embarrass but aid it and the President IN
all proper efforts to purify and elevate the
public service, for the more capable and
efficient are the public servants the lighter
Will lie the burdens of the taxpayers. But
few, 1T most. can obtain public positions,
and the government must be administered
for the benefit Of the people and not a fa-
!
No one Claims that this law is perfect.
F, 1t would be singular if such a tentative
measure should be. 1t needs amendment
/ perhaps important amendments, and
! they will doubtless be made.
Its repeal, however, is impossible, and
! a serious attempt now looking To such an
accomplishment would result in division
| if not disaster, to the party attempting it,
! For the people are not forgetful of the fla
grant abuses practiced under the spoilS
system Of the Republican party.
Good Augury for the South.
Under this caption the Union discusses
the attitude of Mr. Cox and the South OF
civil service reform. Our people Nil be
| glad to read the opinion of a Republican
paper, which supports and sustalnS PresI
| dent Cleveland and fayors low tar riff The
CHRONICLE gives it to lis readers, believing
it will interest them as much as it inter
ested the writer:
Since Mr. Cleveland was elected ther,
has been no danger that the Civil Service
| Reform Act would be repealed: but afte
Congress had met; and even after Mr.. Car
Isle had announced his committees, thcr
was no assurance that the Democrats
House would not tamper with the law s.
as to give encouragement to the SpoilSmen
The Select Committee on Reform in tn
Civil Service was not so made up as TO in
sure the cause of reform against insult
the most of its members being compare
lively unknown men. Its Chairman MI
Cox, of North Carolina. was an lndeter
inmate quantity. and he comes from
State where opposition to reform seem
yet to be a cardinal Democratic doctrine