Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1888-01-13
Senator Hale Insists On an Investiga.
tiOn of the Workings of the Civil
Service System. -.
Remarks Very Uncomplimentary to
President Cleveland and the
Administration.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Senate
THE CIVIL. SERVICE.


of December for select committee to ex-
anime fully into the present condition of
the civil service was taken up and Mr.
Hale addressed the senate in explanation
and advocacy of it. He declared that his
object in offering it was to secure an in
vestlgation with the sincere purpose of
bringing before congress the present actual
condition of the civil service of the country
and also the performances of certain high
and law officials of the government. Both
the great parties in 1884 declared them
selves in their platforms in favor of civil
service reform, but as the campaign pro-
gressed it was seen that q considerable
body of men who had before that affiliated
with the republican party had determined
to oppose its candidate and it soon became
clear not only that the body of men was
bent on opposing the republican candidate,
but was looking about for reasons to sup
port his opponent, Governor Cleveland.
The candidate of the democratic party had
not failed to observe this and he accord
ingly professed adherence to civil services
principles in his letter of acceptance.
MIR. CLEvELAND's DECLARATIONS
i'll that respect had their effect. He (Hale)
had never believed in the sincerity Of these
believed in any one thing more than any
other it was the doctrine that "To the
victors belong the spoils.'' He had before
him table showing sweeping changes in
all departments of the government up to
the 18th of June, 1887. That table showed
that out OF 1879 presidential postmasters
there had been 1900 changes; out of $1,000
fourth class postmasters there had been
10000 changes; out of Of 80 foreign min
lister, 81 changes; out OF 2l secretarys of
legation, 19 changes: out of Ill collectors
of customs, 100 changes; the 81 surveyors
of customs were all changed; not one of
the naval officers remained; of the 36 ap-
praisers but remained; of the 13 super
intendents of mints and assay offices
there had been IL changes; the assistant
appraisers were all gone; of the IS col.
lectors of internal revenue 81 had gone; of
gone; of the 70 district attorneys "a semi
judicial office), IS were changed; of the 30
territorial judges Judicial officers), 20
were changed; of the territorial governors
all were gone: of the 18 pension agents but
remained; every one of the 16 surveyor
generals was gone; of the 224 local land
officers 100 were gone; of the 10 Indian in
spectors and special agents but remained;
of the SO Indian agents but 8; of the SO
special agents of the general land office
but4. At this time (June, 1887 the dem
Ocratic administration had been but little
over two years in power. This showing
was amazing. The country did not ap-
preciate that under the banner of reform.
with its watchword written on every fold
of the administrations banner
THIS RUTHLESS PRESCRIPTION
and these removals and changes in Office
had been going on at a rate unexampled in
any other administration in American his
tory. It could not be said that most of
these changes took place because of the
expiration of terms of incumbents, because
scrutiny disclosed the fact that nineteen
twentieths of all the cases where changes
had occurred were places where there was
no fixed tenure of office, but where incum.
bents were removable at the pleasure OF
the president. Secretary Lamar had re-
Gently taken occasion to commend John G.
Calhoun for his position against the spoils
system and had felicitated himself on the
fact that he belongs to an administration
which was carrying out in that respect the
principles of Calhoun, and yet the above
stern facts confronted the senate in the
department presided over by Mr.. Lamar
Passing to the question of participation OF
federal officials in political conventions
and elections, Mr.. Hale referred to the
meetings of the New York, Pennsylvania
and Maryland state committees, at all OF
which prominent federal officials had been
active participants. Mr.. Hawley asked
whether Mr.. Hale was sure that there had
been no removals in these cases. Mr.. Hale
replied that he has yet to learn not only OF
any removals, but OF any censures. In
some cases officials had been promoted and
In no case had there been change made
except accidentally or on account of some
thing entirely disconnected with the ad
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