The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-10-05
THE NORWICH POSTOFFIOE.
From the N. Y. Evening Post.

''i> Az oSb'l
One of the most striking illustrations
OF President Harrison's devotion to
ciYil-seryice reform, and his adherence
to the prlnciI le expressed in his letter
Of acceptance, of making "fidelity and
efficiency the only sure tenure of Of
fice," is to be found in the recent ex-
perience of the Norwich, Conn, post
office. Under recent republican ad-
ministrations this office was the head
center for all local partisan work and
caucus dellberation. The postmaster.
as the proprietor and active manager of
large and fashionable boot and shoe
store, devoted his time and attention
mainly to his private business, and left
the office TO be administered by the
chief clerk, an ex soldier of fine mill
tary record and good executive ability.
No democrat was ever allowed place
as u clerk or letter carrier in connec-
ton with the office. Under President
Cleveland's administration, the boot
and-shoe merchant was allowed to
retain his place until the expiration OF
his commission, and two months ad-
ditlonal to round out the fiscal year, or
tor total of a year and four months.
The democratic appointee was rep
resentative of the So called "working-
classes" who, commencing life in a
subordinate capacity on one of the
Sound steamers, had elevated and ed
ucated himself in high degree, and
in republican city had been elected to
an honorable place in the municipal
government. Under his administra-
ton of the postof1ice there were no
wholesale removals. The ex-soldier
chief clerk continued to be chief clerk
for nearly three years, or until his cleo
ton TO and acceptance of another and
better paying office-tha. of city tax
collector. or the letter carriers, those
on the best routes-including one
colored man-were also not displaced.
Hardly, however. had President Har-
rison and John Wanamaker taken their
seats, than the work of office dispace-
ment commenced in Connecticut. With
in thirty days from the 4th of March
most of the pOstmasters in the little
towns of eastern Connecticut were re-
moved, and also the occupants of two
presidential offices, namely, in Bridge
port and Norwich a; the latter fourteen
months in advance of the expiration OF
his commission. Ills successor-the
ex chief clerk-who had been treated
with such consideration, signalized his
advent to Office by notifying, twenty
tour hours before his commission
entitled him TO enter upon administra-
ton, every democratic employee of the
office, with IA single exception, that his
services would be no longer needed.
We think the political records of the
country might be searched in vain to
find worse exhibition of indecent
partisanship. It's meaning simply is
that the spoils system has been rein
stated by the Harrison administration
to the fullest extent, and that, in the
opinion of members of the republican
party, no citizen differing from them in
respect to political issues and candi-
dates is worthy to hold even the hum
blest position of trust under Il common
government.
Steam and electricity are rapidly
sending the horse and the mule TO The
rear. Animals move too slowly tor
this age.