Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-06-07
ENGLAND NO MODEL FOR US.
HON. THOMAS c. PLATr's VIEWS OF
THE MUGwUMP CIVIL SERVICE
HYPOCRISY.

HYPOCRISY.
Hon. Thomas {. Plat, in a recent
issuc Of the new Frank Leslie's NeUs-
,o,ey gives his views on the subject Of
practical politics very freely and fully
and as a man who knows what he is
talking about those views will command
widespread attention. Mr.. Plat does
not like the rot and rant Of the Mug
wumps on the subject Of Civil Service
Reform, and says so pretty distinctly IN
these words g.
1 am asked 70 give my views, from the
standpoint Of practical politics, as to
what i known as Civil Service Reform.
NV answer is that Civil Service Reform
so far as il secures a faithful and efficient
Federal officer in the tenure OF his oihce
during the term for which he is appoint
ed. is proper and right that sentimental
Ciyr Service, after the Chlnese-brltlsh
model, is good enough for docirntdues
who want to cheat themselves into the
belief that they are doing something Ia
the way OF reform.
For more than 10 years public at
tention has been sharply drawn to this
question. Ambitious men, who have
been unable to obtain q firm grasp upon
political organizations, have bitterly
denounced the so-called machine which
they could not control. Specious theories
have been advanced 10 show the dan
gers which threaten the people from the
political activity OF the oitce-holding
class.
Among the first utteranccs OF the kc-
publicans OF this State on the British
/ Civil Service was condemnation OF 1t
hv the Rochester Convention Of ISL
The platform Of that convention eX-
posed the nonsense of suppOsing that
the I. 900. .OOO people Of the state OF New
/ York were helpless in the grasp OF
.iG5 Federal oflice-holders, including
unimportant clerks and unknown sub
Ordinates.
The Presidential elections OF 1854 and
1855 have since proved how insigniiicant
/ In determining results Is the influence oi
the Federal oiiice-holders with the great
mass Of the people. II is manifestly inn
possible for one Federal oflice-hOlder TO
exert a controlling political influence
over hundreds Of unwi ling citizens.
Indeed. it may seriously be questioned
whether the distribution OF public offices
carries with It any considerable element
of political power. The sword that cuts
off political heads has a sharp blade and
a double edge. Every appointment to
office gratihes one TO the disappointment
of the many. A party ont OF power Is
concrete and manageable mass, In
harmony with party policies, earnestly
opposed to the party In power, ana
embittered by Its mistakes, stimulated
by the rewards OF public service, and
aggressive st every point. But when
the victory Is won, and 1t Is found That
there are not enough badges OF the
Legion of Honor to go around, there Is
often disappointment and apathy that
are as disastrous as defeat. This Is es-
pecially true Of party made up As the
| Republican party is-largely OF men
who are capable Of filling any official
place.
THE ADVOCATES OF'THE BRITISH sYs-
TEN
also contend that a change Of officers
impairs the efficiency Of the service.
There Is some point and force In this
argument, and II might be very emphatic
n clean sweep were made at the outset
Of every new administration. But the
fact Is. that where technical service is
required changes are made very grad
ually: the rules that successful men ap-
plv to their own 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 is practically life tenure. but it
is made so by that perpetual spurto high
and faithful seryice-the knowledge that
they are not Independent Of the people
or their superior officers. Remove this
Incentive, thereby creating an aristocracy
of ofFlce-hOlders, and the whole Govern
ment service would be demoralized.-
EMPLOYEES would become insOlent and
insubordinate, neglectful Of ther duties
the drones and thistle-dOwn OF Official
life.
As to the great mass Of places in our
Civil Service, there is no reason why
they cannot be quickly and efficiently
filled by intelligent men familiar with
the rules and routine Of ordinary busi-
ness. There is no royal bookkeeping
In the departments. no specialgeOgraphy
for the Postal Service, no arithmetic and
no code Of business rules and habits for
the sole used OF Government employees.
In disussing the objections to the
British system Of Civil Service, which
is sought TO De ingraited upon our own,
1t must be borne In mind that the world
has furnished us, as yet, no system OF
Civil Service which can safely be taken
as 4 model or a guide. We may attempt
10 draw parallel lines, but we immedi-
ately find distractions ia the way. The
English Government Is largely govern
| lmefit BY birth ours Is wholly a govern
nsent by election, and for fixed and
definite terms. The English masses ean-
not speak or be heard except in the
House OF Commons, The English
Ministry may be dissolved 10 an hour by
vote OF want Of confidence. A
dozen different Cabinets, each standing
for distinct and conflicting policies,
might be formed during a single session
Of Parliament. Manifestly, II a change
were made in the Civil Service With
every change Of the Ministry, 1t would
lead 10 disastrous confusion. ~
But the American system OF Civil
Service Is surrounded by no such un-
certain conditions. The people make
the Administration secure In It's tenure
for four years. If' the public officers
serve the people faithfully they are like
ly 70 receive a vote OF confidence and a
new lease Of power. II they are un-
faithful to their trust four years Is a
very liberal limit to their capacity for
mischief. -lt- t
THE BRITISH SYSTEM BREEDS AN
roFFICE-HOLDING ARIsTocRAcY.
A further and even stronger objection
10 ase British system Is that It's tendency
4 10 breed an aristOcracy Of Federal
ofFicer-holders, who will become an
oligarchy beyond the reach and con-
troll OF the popular voice, and will there
fore be superior IN their positions 70
officers whose continuance Of office de-
'pends upon frequent reflections by the
people. Uuder our form Of Government
the people should be able TO make their