The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-12
Removals and Changes Made at Rate Never
Equaled by Any Administration-What
May Be Expected the Coming Year.
The Th9be-Carlisle Contest Not Likely
To Be Reopened by the Committee.
Satisfactory Progress of the Great Work of
Converting North Carolina to Republic
anism-General Washington News.
THE F1FTIErH CONGRESS.
Senator Hale Tells q Few Plain Truths About
Democratic HypOcrIsy.

Senator Hale Tells Few Plain Truths About
Democratic Hypocrisy.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 11.-In the Senate the
resolution offered by Mr.. Hale, ON the 18th of
December, for select committee to examine
fully into the present condition of the civil SER
vice. was taken up. and Mr.. Hale addressed the
Senate in explanation aud advocacy of it. He
declared that his object in offering it was to
secure an investigation, with sincere purpose
of bringing before Congress the present actual
condition of the civilservice of the country, and
also the performances of certain high and low
officials of the government At the commence
ment of Mr. Lncoln's administration the public
Offices were filed with the adherents of that
party which the exponent of the
doctrine that to the victors belong
the spoils. Under that administra-
ton the chief test of fitness was loyalty.
Not few of those then appointed had within
the last three years been turned the cold
charities of the world to make place for men
who never had any sympathy with the princi-
pies of which Mr.. Lincoln had stood as the
great representative General Grant and Presi-
dent Hayes had. during their administrations,
recognized the growing sentiment of the coun-
try in favor of civil-service reform, and had en-
deavored to conform appointments to the reason
able demand of that agitation. The Forty
seventh Congress (Republican) had enacted tho
civi-service statute, and President Arthur had
with sincere good faith, appointed the civil
service commissioners and gave support and
couragement to them. But he was content to
do it in a quiet way. If he Mr.. HaleI were
to make any contrast between President
Arthur's course that subject, and the course
which had since been pursued, it would be SIM
ply to call attention to the fact that President
Arthur made no proclamation, promises.
pledges, but contented himself with carving
out the law according to its purpose and spirit.
Both the great parties, in 1884 declared them
selves, in their platforms, in favor OF civil
service REFORM but, as the campaign progressed,
it that considerable body of men
who had before that affiliated with the Repub-
lcan party had determined to oppose its candi-
date, aud it soon become clear that not only was
that BODY of men bent on opposing the Republic
an candidate. but was looking about for reasons
to support his opponent, Governor Cleveland
The candidate of the Democratic party had not
failed to observe this, and he accordingly pro-
fesssd adherence to the civil.service principles
in his letter of acceptance Mr.. Cleveland's de-
claratons in that respect had their effect In
the close States they had influence enough on
the voters to be decisive of the result and Mr.
Cleveland was elected President Mr.. Hale
quoted from an interview with Mr. Cleveland
pODl1SnoQ In bOSlOD, 1909. IN WDlcn -hr. Ol6V6"
land is represented as saying: Il have tried to
be true to my own pledges and the pledges of
my party. We both promised to divorce the Of
fees of the country from being used for party
words could give them. the pledges
of the civi!-service reforiners The
n 'ininistration had been elected, as Mr.. Geo.
VI. Curtis and others bad frequently asserted,
on the strength of such pledges. He Mr.. Halel
had never believed in the sincerity of the pledg-
es. because, if the Democratic party believed in
~ -, Ht,>
doctrine that ito the victorS belong the spoils."
He had before him a table showing the sweeping
changes in all the departments Of the govern
ment up to the 11th of June, 1887. That table
showed that ont of 1879 presidential postmas-
ters there had been 1000 changes; out of 50, 609
fourth-class postmasters there HAD been 40. 900
changes; out of 80 foreign ministers, 32 changes;
out of 2l secretaries of legation, 16 changes;
out of Ill collectors of customs, 100
changes; 80 surveyors of customs were all
changed; not one of the six naval officers
maned, OF thirty-six appraisers but two re-
NAMED; of thirteen superntendents of mints
and assay offices there had been eleven changes;
the nine assistant appraisers were all gone; of
the eighty-fve collectors Of internal revenue
eighty -four had gone; of the eleven inspectors of
steam vessels eight were gone; of seventy dis
trict attorneys Ia semijudical officel sixty-five
iicial ofices) twenty-five were changed; of Ter
ritoral governors all were gone; of eighteen
pension agents. two remained; every one of the
sixteen surveyors general was gone; of 224 local
and officers, i9O were gone; of ten Indian in
'pectors and special agents, but one remsined;
If fifty nine Indian agents but eight
If the General Land Office but four.
At this time (June. 1887 the Democratic ad- |
has been but little over two years |
q power. The best comment that he [Mr. |
Halel could make on the table referred to, was |
o quote the editorial headings of leading |
Democratic newspaper, when it exultantly pub |
ished thai list. These headings were: '.The |
Practical Exclusion of Republic |
ms from Employment Under the National Gov |
rnment; Only Small Class of Public Servants
Protected by the Pendieton Act; The Changes
Effected with as Little Derangement of Business
IS Possible; Spoilsmen Not Satisfied Mr.. Hale
'oped to have, in a few days, further table
howing how this conquering march of
had Paf DOWN a ,ss
eginnine of this year. This showing was amaz-
ne. He had not realized it himself until he
ot realized it. The country did not appreciate
hat under the banner of reform, with its
written every fold of the admin
stration banner. this ruthless prescription and
hese removals and changes in Office had been
DING at q rate unexampled in any other ad-
ninistration in American history It could not
70 said that most of those changes took place
ecause of the expiration of the terms of the
ncumbents. because scrutiny disposed of the
act that ninereen-rwentieths of all the cases
there changes had occurred in places where
here was fixed tenure of Office, but where
he incum bents were removable at the pleasure
{ the President.
Secretary Lamar had recently taken occasion
D commend John c. Calhoun for his position
gainst the spoils system, and had felicitated |
imself on the fact that he belonged to an adj
illustration which was carrying out, in that re-
pect, the principles of Calhoun And yet the
tern facts which confronted the Senate in the
apartment presided over by Mr.. Lamar were
nat every Territorial Governor had been re-
loved; sixteen out of eighteen pension agents.
very Surveyor-General; four-hfths of the local
md officers; nine-tenths of the Indian inspect
re- and agents; seventy nine out of eighty-three |
pecal agents OF the General Land Office and
no thirds of the special examiners in the Pen
on Once. And yet Mr.. Lamar stood to-day on
seord, by his uttered words, as against the
polls system. and posed a reformer.
Passing to the question of the participation of
sderal officials in political conventions and
ections, Mr.. Hale referred TO the meeting Of
10 New York. Pennsylvania and Maryland
tate committees. at all Of which prominent