The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-06
The American System.

There are some remarks worthy OF atten-
ton in an address delivered last week by
Mr. CHARLES JEROME BoNAPARTE OF Balti-
more at the annual meeting of the Mary
land Civil Service Association.
There is question which goes to the bot
tom OF the falacy on which the civil service
reform humbug rests, even In the minds OF
intelligent men like Mr.. BoNAPARTE.
Mr.. GARRISON recently inquired OF the
so-called civil service reformers whether in
the administration OF private business af-
fairs an employer "is not more able to as
certain the fitness of an applicant to per-
form the class of work that belongs to his
department than man who not only has
no interest in, but no knowledge Of what is
required in his department"
Mr.. BoNAPARTE replies, Ivory possibly
he Is" and then he proceeds to argue that
In many cases the responsible executive OIL
Ger does not exercise his function as an en-
ployer with proper care. knowledge, and
sense of responsibility. Wequote at consld-
cradle length from the Baltimore Suns re-
port of Mr.. BoNAPARTE's speech:
"ltis occasionally startling to nud how completely
principle which no ono ventures to repudiate in
many words Is ignored by our oficehoders, The Gov
ernor and Comptroller of this Rtae have certain
fecty and strictly defined legal duties for tho
lection Of the States funds These duties the present
incumbents by their own confession have utterly neg
lected and by reason of this neglect tho State is
threatened with heavy luaS On every principle
of commercial honesty the unfaithtul officers
ought TO make up this loss, when ascertained,
out Of their pockets; in almost any country but
ours public opinion would at least have forced them
already to resign Yet II seems natural to every
else AZ to themselves that they should calmly draw the
salaries which ey have sgnaly failed to for
tho remainder OF ther terms and tho Governor with
candor which would be ludicrops II 1t were not really
alarming exGulpstes himself by saying that he
read much Of the Constitution prescribeS his
duties And yet why should be surprised at this II
is chosen high oioe not because thinks
him 1T tho State but because certain political
intriguers think him Nc TO serve them It for
wonder that he thinks hrs Of doing what he was In
very truth selected to do and only afsrward II at ALL
Of his nominal duesi So long American voters sub
NIT to choosing pubic officers 10 do tho bidding when
chosen OF the ISaat esmabe aud trustworthy class In
the community. they must put up with officers willing
to accept such mission and with the consequences OF
having such officers.
~" well that they should learn this by experience
1t Is fortunate for tho people Of Maryland not Indeed
that their Treasurer should have tapped the States
and their Governor and Comptroller looked the other
way while he did It but that they should know at
Rome cost, what manner OF men are raised TO prom.
inencs and power by the schsme of politics which made
these men what they were When we are told By Mr..
CLAREsoE that tho business of our Government Ia
| transacted more accurately aud at a lower per.
centsRe of loss than in any other public or pri-
Vate business IN existence, because of the fact
| that there is rotation in oiico. because 1t ID
patriotism more than money seeking that RotuAtsS the
who take interest in our political life We
lucky In having before our eyes so striking an nSrs
ton Of these truths How clearly 1t was patriotism
more than money seeking which inspired Mr.. ARcIRR,
dam int in IV
would any private business in existence he ronducted
how low percentage Of loss would be incurred in II
ifit had Governor JACEsoN rs manager ana MI BAuGn
as bOokkespeE and they attended to It they have
| attended 10 the business OF the Siatel'
II this means anything as an argument
for civil service reform by competitive liter.
airy examination, IL means that the Gov
ernors, the Comptrollers, and the State
Ireasurers ought to be- selected by the Chi.
nese process, and not elected by the people
and that they ought to hold Office, not fol-
any limited torn OF years, but for life, or al
least as long us thoy behave themselves.
If that is not what Mr.. BoNApARTE means
his statement OF the Maryland case merely
signifies that occasionally under the Ameri.
can system OF election and rotation in,
Competent and careless and even dis,
honest men are elected to public posts
We do not imagine that anybody will
dispute that proposition. 1t is histoli,
cally and psychologcally true. 1t is only
what must he expected as long as human
nature and human character remain
what they are, The American system
which produced ABRAHAM LINCOLN auc
john A, ANDREW, also evolves now anc
then public officer with wooden head OF
black and swindllnG soul
| Nevertheless. 1t 10 the best System OF Gvv