New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-09
uoW no REFORM.
in1periIIed

After slowing away in the railway mail SER
vice a small army Of the most inscriptions
party workers, whose incompetence as public
officers contributed greatly to the shameful
decentralization of that service, as every bust
ness man has been compelled to realize, Presi-
dent Cleveland proceeded to fasten these party
tooIs In place as far as he had power by max
ing rules shortly before he went out of Office,
including these persons in the classified Civil
Service. And this Is but one Of many acts by
which he endeayored TO make IL more difficult
for his successor 60 displace the incompetents
and the partisan workers whom he had re-
warded for political services by public Office.
One of the things which President Harrison
may well consider early Is whether he should
not begin by revoking every order or rule
framed for any such purpose. His heads Of
departments will soon. be able to advise him
what changes have been made in, the Civil
Service regulations and methods by his prede-
cessor, and for what public or partisan reasons.
IL would seem not out Of place for the new
Administration to wipe out with little delay
each and every regulation or rule which has
been promulgated for partisan ends, and not
for the good Of the service.
II is the fact that no genuine reform Of the
Civil Service can begin without getting nd Of
the persons who were appointed solely for the
sake Of party work, past or TO come. Partic-
ularly where Republican officials who were
skilled and trained and faithful were turned
out, to make places for Democratic partisans,
Il would be an act Of justice as well as step
toward reform to clear them out. Nor win II
BIO forgotten that the appointments OF Presi.
dent Cleveland were to surprising extent OBJ
jectionable on account Of the personal char
acter Of the men selected. The number Of dis
reputable, dishonest or worthless persons who
were chosen for honor and trust by him or his
Cabinet officers went far 10 convince the pub
Lie that his professions of zeal for reform were
hypocntical. When THE TRIBUNE Glled more
than twenty columns with a record Of jail
birds, scamps and other unworthy persons who
had been appointed, only one out Of several
thousand individuals sent to call for q cor
rection.
The men Of that sort would not reflect credit
upon President Harrison II he should retain
them any more than they did upon President
Cleveland when they were picked out Civil
Service reform, II it means anything whatever
except dishonest disguise for Democratic par
tisanship, means the speedy roofing out Of oil
such persons from the public service, no matter
by whom they wore put in. More broadly, II
anybody can imagine that real reform can
be promoted or helped by the agency Of PreSi-
dent Clevelands partisan tools in public Office,
he is egregiodsly mistaken. II is not q time
for Republicans to be inpatient about changes,
which ought 10 be made with deliberahon and
care, nor for applicants to deluge the President
with their petitions or crowd the departments
with their personal opportunities. But the
principles upon which real reform viii have
10 be sought may as we'll be considered at an
early date