The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-05-11
Relief From Ofllce.Seekers.
The Boston AdUertiser says:


The imperatively necessary thai
something should be done, and done
quickly, to relieve the President and
heads Of Departments at Washing
ton from the intolerable pressure o.
o1ice-seekers. 1t is Of little use tC
cry "shame!" upon the hungry hordes
Of applicants for place. What is
wanted is some effectual safeguard
against the onslaughts which
they make upon the time, strength
and thought of high officials, whose
proper duties are those of statesmen
and not spoilsmen. All accounts
agree in describing the crowds Of
ficeseekers at the White House as
immense, continuous, and Emporium
ate. President Harrison is under
stood to have expressed the hope
that, when the Senate adjourned, The
pressure would abate. Itnow seems
that the hope is doomed to disap
pointment. There are still thous-
ands of offices to be filled, and, ac-
cordingly, there are still tens of thous,
ands who clamor for permission to
fill them.
Mr.. Harrison is quoted as having
said, in 1888: 81 assure you that
| am an advocate of civil service re
form. My brief experience in Wash
ington has led me often to utter the
wish, with emphasis l do not often use
that might be forever relieved OF
any connection with the distribution
of public patronage. If unwonted
emphasis were needed to express
his sentiments then what force of
language would be required to tell
what he now thinks on the subject
The AdUertiser is not alone in dep
recating the greed of office-seekers
and calling for some method of re-
lief TO the President. There has
never been such importantly for of
fee since the Government was es.
tablished; and they, who come from
Washington. Republican as well as
Democrats, say the rush and clamol
is disgusting.
A stranger looking on, and moi
understanding our political system
would be justified in believing the
President is only an agent to dis
tribute office among the men who
voted for him. When and where
must this thing stop? The Presi
dent, as well as heads of departments
are charged with duties far too i'm
portant to have so much of theil
time occupied in distributing offices
to hungry partisans. Besides if 6
way Of relief be not found, the time
will come, and that before long, wher
the President will not be able tt
stend the pressure for office. If W.
are to believe what we hear from
Washington, President Harrison
health is impaired-from this cause
The only real way out is to establish
system of Civil Service that shall
be far-reaching in its effect. TIL,
tenure of all officers, except thos,
who are factors in shaping the poll
cy of an administration, should de
pend on efficiency and good conduct
They should be independent of tn,
army of bowling partisans who tlocl
to Washington after each Presiden
tial election. In a proper Civil Ser
vice system parties should be recog
nized, and the offices divided fairl'
between them. If it were known tn
ms could only be turned out 70
cause, and the outs get in to fill
vacancy, and that after proper ex
animation, great deal of the hea
and bitterness of our elections woult
pass away. AS the management o
public office is only a matter of bust
ness, why should it be made to de
pend on a mans politics? 1t is jus
as ridiculous as it would be to Sc
lect clerks for bank or a countin,
room on account of the ticket the,
vote What would be thought of
new bank president, were he to turf
out all the skilled, experienced clerk
as soon as he took his seat.
The Brompton Hospital for Con