New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-28
STEPS BACK UARU.

IL is a question whether President Cleveland
cares any longer TO be considered 1rlend 10
Civil Service reform. He has now tolerated
SO many violations both of the letter and spirit
of the law. and of his own orders, and for so
long a time. that no one can be blamed Tor be-
hcving that he has dropped the role OF reformer
entirely and would like, as the election APP
nroaches, to be considered more and more as
an old fashioned Jacksonian Democrat. What
ever his notions may be. the evidences multiply
that the reform of the Civil Service, which was
so auspiciously begun under the last Republican
Administration, is likely to 90 backward, and
not forward, so long as Mr.. Cleveland is Picsi-
dent.
Several important illustrations Of this have
been given lately. a few weeks ago he re-
fused to allow an addition to be made to the
rules which would require the reasons for the
removal of clerk to be recorded by the officer
removing him. 1t will be noticed that this
involved no restriction Of the night Of removal.
TIE TRIBUNE has always commended that this
should be absolute with regard TO the clerical
force. Otherwise the chief would be held to
responsibility where he had no control. The
only effect Of the proposed rule was TO create
a moral check upon removals. If the reason
was to be recorded, there would have to be at
least a pretext for removal, and this it is not
always easy to find. 1t is difficult to see what
good ground could be assigned for the Presi-.
dents action. AS he has made no attempt to
assign any at all. the inference is fair that ne
did not propose to have any obstacle in the way
Of the removal Of Republican Oficc-holdefs.
He is in the wholesale branch of that line OF
business himself and likes 10 sec it prosper.
After seeing the way scrrcs Of oilice-holders
safely dcfed his "ordci'' against "pcrncious
activity last fall al tic Allentown. Saratoga
and other conventions, 10 one need have been
surprised to see the same performance repeated
at the meeting Of the Democratic National
Committee the other day, almost within the
shadow Of the White House. There was show
Of Difference to public opinion in the appear
ance of proxies for the Office holders, but there
is an old law provcrb which says that he who
acts through another acts for himself. Two
members Of President Clevcands Cabinet the
POstmaster-G General and the Secretary OF the
Interior, were present by proxy in tho commit
tee meeting. No more significant testimony
could be needed that the so-callcd "order" is
one nobody need obey.
the Public Printer at Washington and the
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury Of circu
lar "requcst' to all postmasters in New-Iork
State to forward list Of all persons receiving
mail at their offices with indication of their
poltics This is shameful violation Of the
spirit, II not the letter, of the law. Under
Section Of the act it is declared that "no per-
son in the public service Is for that reason
under obligations to contribute to any political
fund, or to render any political service, and
that he will not be removed or otherwise
prejudiced for refusing to do so also that emo
person in said service has any right TO use his
official authority or influence to cocrce the
political action Of any person or body" II
docs not alter the character of this offence that
the service called for is likely to be rendered
by all Democratic postmaStcrs-and there are
very few of the other kind lcft-without protest.
If it can be held that these lists are "thngs Of
value" the Office holders who furnish them
can be prosecuted. Now that the text Of the
letter has been published the President cannot
profess ignorance Of it. VIII he rcbuke his
officious Public Printer and Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury. and viii he cause notification
to be made to the Ncw-York postmastcrs that
they must disregard the letter? We shall see.