New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-07
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT.
ISSUING THEIR FIRST NUMBER.
EX-SENATOR THOMAS @! PLATr DISCUSSES
CIVIL SERVICE. REFORM IN "FRANK
LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED
NEWSPAPER.'

The first number of " Frank Lesllc's illustrated
Newspaper under the management Of W. J. Arsell
and Russell D. Harrison viii appear tomorrow. Tho
purchase Of the paper by "The Judge Publishing
Company was made several weeks ago, but Mrs Leslie
retained control until last week. No alteration IS
made In the general appearance Of tho paper save the
addition Of richly illuminated cover containing fine
picture Of the Judge" building in Fifth ave-
There Is also about double the usual amount OF reading
matter and Illustrations, mostly OF the recent Centcn
NAL celebration The central picture represents tho
scene at the sub-TreasUry while Mr. Depew was de-
Hverng bis Grafton.
II is the editorial page that the change in
ship Is most apparent. The attitude OF the paper VIII
be independent or It's man ayers say in defining
their position, the paper VIII extend the hospitality
Of its columns every phase and form OF belief not
actually prejudicia 20 public morals or social ORDER
Civl Service Reform Is the subject taken up this
week. II Is handled by ex-senator Thomas c. Plat,
who discusses It nom the point Of view OF Practical
Politics" as follows:
point OF practical politics. as TO what Is known as
Civ Service Reform. My answer is that Civil service
Federal officer in the tenure OK hts office during the
term for which he Is appointed Is proper and right;
BRUSH model IS good enough for dOctrinaIres who
want 10 cheat themselves into the belief that they
ARE doing soemthng in the way Of reform.
For more than ten yeaS public attention has been
sharply drawn to this question. Ambitious men, who
liucal organizations, have bitterly denounced the
called machine which they could not control spc
which Threatened the people from the political ac-
tvty Of the office holding class
Among the first utterances Of the Republicans Of
this state the British Civil Service coDdemns-
ton OF It by the Rochester Convention of 1877. Tho
platform OF that convention exposed the nonsense OF
supposing that the 5000 900 people OF the state Of
Newiork were helpless In the grasp Of $50 Federal
nce.holders including unimpOrtant clerks aud I'M
The Presidential elections OF 1884 and 1888 have
In bnen pIyI,
Is the influence OF the Federal office holders With the
great mas: Of tho people II IS msnestly impossible
poHtal influence over hundreds Of unwilling citizens
the Distribution Of pGbe Office. Carries With "het anT
considerable element Of political power. Tho sword
1nat cuts on political hcods has sharp Hit and
double edge. Every appointment 10 Office gratiics
one to the disappointment Of the many. A party
out Of power Is concTUte and manageable mass In
harmony with party policies, earnestly opposed tO
n" party IN pnwer and iunbittered by It's mistakes,
stimulated by The rewards Of public service and as
T Won and Is fund that there are not enough
eadgCS OF ths l3gon Of Honor TO 60 around th"ro
asldGus as defeat This especially true Of party
VINO aTo capable OF t}ling any Official place.
CHANGES MADE ONLY GRADUALLY.
The advocates OF the British system also contend
that change VI officers impairs efficiency OF the
service There Is point ard force In this argu-
mcnt, and might be very emp hattie Il 4 clean sweep
were made At the outset Of every new Administrations
But the fact H. that where technical service IS
quircd changes made very gradually; the rules
that successful men apply tO their business have
generally been regarded thousands Of experts. who
have shown marked fidelity and efficiency. have been
retained for many years IN their respective positions
Their tenure practically life tenure, but II IS made
30 by that perpetual spur to high and faithful service
the knowledge that they are not Independent Of
the people thcr superior officers. Remove this
Incentive, thereby crauug all aTistOcJscy Of Office
hulcIs. and the whole Government service would b0
in'ubornMc, neglected. Of their dgiirs.-ihn drUurs
anu ihlslied. wu 81 ON Dil Iilc
- to the great mass OF places IN Clvn service.
caicienrly ailcd by inreiigcnt men faSliiiar viii,
the rules and routine OF ordinary business. Thorr
Is no roy bookkeeping in the Departments sDc al
geography for tho P0stuI service, arithmetic AMI
no code OF business rules and habits for the sole use
Of Government employees.
fortunately, tho branch u tho question am row
discussing Is no longer Of theory alone Tho
experience Uf the past fen year has demonstrated tst
tho British graft does not flourish IN American sOlL
-Four years Of trial Of tho present law by a Demo.
cratic Administration, under high pressure Liv ser,Ior
pirteuSiOns, has convinced nearly every Thoughtful
and observing person that the Law Is either
in practice OF fraud In fact It Is widely believed
ana conceded that tie officers selected by the Mug.
Wunp CNil Seyrc are not a. competent a. those
c1or t, ~ the 40 way ~ apg%nimsnt thrash elect,
nearly cyory department Of the Government have
been seriously iinpaed during the pact io4r year,
rules framed under the civil service Law.
No feature Of our Official affair." has done much
the Mugwump CiVil Service has shake the con.
hdchce OF tho people In the truthuncss, consistency
ana Integrity OF high public officials. II Ia, Csab
lished ruies and examinations thar practically dcbar
men OF experience and sense wLllo they admit hooks ~
political parrots who answer quc'tUHs which have
only the most remote relation 10 the position they
seek. II has swallowed machine politicians Of the
worst type ana removed hOncsI aud tried officials.
under tn" prctence that they offensive paru-
sans II has been honest In prsiensiOus, but far
more dishonest In practice than the frank. representa-
mask II hhs been demonstrated that # can b. used
cloak for favUriti,m, Ia shut those who de
serve recognition for services rendered the party
which cioc TED he appointing power and, therefore,
Gfdlce aud falschOOd IN high official places u-c
iuI or ornam"Htal " government By the pe1pl,
IpItuHa"N' I"c ,.1uE ""Hp 'NH nefNIt' J. NOT 20 |
dangerous ~ IT. friends pretend. It, hannflHC-,
lies I'm the CaF with which II can be cvaloi by |
fdyonusm hyp. cH,y and iasch0Ud II stmula'c, |
pubic lying, but IT, account with the public shows |
! r-once and a shaduw-a buCabUU TO keep back |
frank aud honest ambitions at tho gate, "a hole IN
the i"ar Of the tent 10 let In iurgcrs and iycEtur.
MY mai objections 10 the Mugwump CNil sr~yiCo |
crnincnt. aud while II rewards "a citizen with ono |
hand, II scoks with tho other strip him Of that
active inieIrst In public Affairs which N the privilege
of ovcry American citizen and il nj the same time the |
suTest shield Of republican Institutions
The safety OF The Republic los In the eternal vigil |
lance Of tho citizen. When mon 50 far hrg heir |
obligations 10 our form Of government a. neglect
their duties, the Republic II then IN danger. ENrry.
hing that stimulates political activity all appeals
ia patriotic spirit the frwari Of Office, The pride Of
the party In power IN carrying out the policies 81 tho
party out Of power, though have no higher motive
than the recovery Of public patronage all tend 70 |
make the people apprecatye OF their rights and dutc
and Watchful OF their public oao"rs.
Next week Colonel Elliott F. shepard VIII contrihu,o
the leading article. Tho title of It will DO Can a
Newspaper Editor be a Christian"
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