The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-21
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
THE MINORITY REPORT ON THE
LAWS OPERATION.

Senator Blackburn Submits the Vo-
luminous Paper to the Senate - a
Conservative Statement of Cold
Facts Which Voters Are Expected
to observation-disclosures Exposed.
WASHINGTON, Oct. Ex-senator Black
burn to-day submitted a voluminous minor
ity report from the committee on the opera
tions of the civil service, and asked that it
be printed with the majority report. The
very elaborate report of the majority, says
the minority, gives evidence of many
months Of careful preparation. No in
formation, it is declared, was furnished
to the minority of the committee OF
purpose to close the case, nor was it even
intimated that tho end had been reached,
and the matter summed up. For this reason
the minority was unable, in the few days
allowed them. to follow out in detail the
"tediously stated case" but it would en-
deavor 10 illustrate more fairness In deal.
ing with the testimony than the majority
had done. 1t is declared that an effort had
persistently been made by the majority
against the protest of the minority to limit
the inquiry TO the time covered by the
present administration, aud all efforts to
bring out the facts as to tho operations OF
the law under previous republican admins
trations we're invariably denied by strict
party vote.
INHERITED EVILS.
Despite the efforts of the majority, how
ever, the report declares il appeared from
the testimony of several Of their witnesses
that all the evils and abuses complained of
to-day came down to this administration as
an Inheritance. The levying of assessments
upon government officials for partisan pur-
poses, was in general If not universal prac-
tice prior to March, 1885, and discrimina-
tion in the matter OF appointment because
Of political views proved to be by no mea'
a novel feature, nor one which had been in
troduced by the present admlnistra-
tion. The testimony with regard to
the New York custom house, it
is declared, shows that nine-tenths
of the witnesses who testified were dismissed
officials called to air their grievances aud to
tell what an outrage had been perpetrated
by reason of their dismissal from Office.
The minority declare that after reading the
majority report carefully, the conclusion Ia
well-nigh irresistible that the Improvements
of the civil service of the country was not
the idea kept in Wow, and that the purpose
of the trainers was not to enlighten the
country as was proposed in the resolution.
AN EXHAUSTIVE ANALYSIS.
Nearly fifty type written pages of the re-
port are devoted to an analysis OF the testi-
mony taken with respect to New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Indiana, and
the points made In the majority report are
discussed at length. The report concludes:
II this proof, taken from four cities, or from
four states, Is to be accepted as evidence of the
present condition Of the public service through
out the country. intelligent men will realize
and honest men will admit that to-day, after
nearly four years Of democratic rule there are
ten republicans holding Office and drawing pay
fag
democrat in the service on March 4, 1895. Under
a democratic administration it is not to be-
wondered at If the conditions being equal pre-
ference has been given TO democratic applicants
for Office
AN AGE OF REALISM.
Plato dreamed Of an ideal republic, but the
world never witnessed its realization. No sys-
tenn OF government nor case of law has ever
been devised by human wisdom that was per-
feet. Whether the civil service law be good or
bad. truth and candor compels the admission
that its execution has been more just and fair
under this administration than ever before.
Whether the fidelity with which the President
and his subordinate officers have sought to
observe this law was wise may be-
he and they have endeavored to execute it can
not be truthfully denied. An army Of holding
over republican officials is to-day draw
ing it's maintenance from the treas
report be true, are contributing from their sala-
ries to the effort that is being made TO dislodgs
from power the party at whose sufferance they
hold their places.
DESPERATE EFFORT.
In the light of the proof, suppressed and in
many instances distorted as the majority report
shows IL TO bs, the question naturally arises:
Was ever more desperate effort made. em-
ploying more reckless and desperate methods,
to serve to save more desperate caveset Can
dor will not permit the claim to be made that in
every instance every officer OF the gov
ernment superior and subordinate, has
been exactly and judicially fair and
has acted without regard TO the natural and
inevitable bias that comes from sincere convic-
tion but fair minded men will take up the
record and will declare that this administration
has not been lacking ia honest, earnest, persist
ent and successful effort to execute the Law and
make good the pledges that it and its party
gave to the American people.