New-York tribune., 1890-05-26
CRITICISING MR. CLARKSONS SPEECH.
FORM AND GIVES HIS REASONS.

Washington. May 2j.-Representative Henry Cabot
Lodge here this afternoon by representative
Of the Associated Press in regard 10 the speech OF
ASSISTANT Po. o.mastcrGcneral ClaIIson at Boston
Friday night tie subject Of Clyl service reform.
Mr.. Lodge said
have rad sith ntr.st Mr. Clarkson's Boston speech
especially that part which related Civil Service REFORM
Massachusetts always been strongly favor Of
reform and the body Of her people have TO
believe thoroughly In taking the routine Offices out Of
politics. This is shown by her legislation, by the
resolutions Of her LEGISLATURE by the Of the Repub
lean press by attitude Of all Republican leaders
and by in which her representatives, both
in the House and Senate sustained the reform by
their speeches and their votes. / suppose # was on
account very that Mr. Cakson took occasion
to make an attack OH reform Boston. Mr.. Clarkson
made careful and serious argument lie l., OF course
too able a man DO otherwise 10 indulge IN the
cheap which with most opponents Of the reform
does duty argument. lie could not refrain from
making good Old JAe about asking astronomical and
scientific questions Of the average canddlte for the Ciy
MI Clark,on incapable Of misrepre the
fact, these examinations, and he knows that what
he said about tho Questions joke But others less
weliniC 80 might be mIsled Questions about The stars
asked candidates place OF Assistant Astrono
at the Obs ryatory and ought to be asked They
asked coy,s and letter carriers because they
would De- gIOtesque. The examinations Of copyists.
carriers. etc. to-day simple and practical as human
ingenuity devise and such any business man would
asa OF his clerks.
sss Of three propositions the Oces should BE- held
power that the present scheme
civil pension list inevitable and that the true
way o carry the Government = by having chiefs II
department, select their ,bordlnatos Let us take
points IN order. Offices ought to be and must
be hold by members Of the party in power such are
Cabinet their assistant foreign Min
listers, law officers and all VINO engaged IN carrying on
policy which is that OF the ruling party In the
routine bushes, Office, Of the Government which form
Of the civil service politics are OF no con-
sequence would be thought tha; connection
the hold OF those places had Lot been taught for years
that the rgt 70 carry letter, cTrands the
pended their political activity 1t is, more
over deIa,ion To suppose uat the distribution Of this
mass OF olit,, is anything OF weakness
party patronage in Office Is source OF strength how
does it happen that it did save last fall and
that the lack did lose Massachusetts 10 tne Re-
publicansl reverse was the case
The second point. civil pension list is always
held up a, bugbcar by the opponents Of the reform.
10 never ha, been and Will De advocated by any
supporter OF reform. Here and there some rare
person Ike President Eliot. whose mind runs in tho
channels o English thought advocate civil pension
list for al ciyl servants ana ior MtiltoroCs persons
generally but no one who di,cusso, subject with
knowledge II American thought history and conditions
would dream @ a thing. NJ. ClatkSon himself,
indeed only person who has discussed the subject
seriously who advise, anything Of the sort as he co"s
in thi, speech a pension for railway mail clerks. No
man need concnue IN the Government service
unle,, he chooses and there need OF promising q
len a
list is utterly at variance with American ideas ana no
one ever suggests except those VINO wish 20 cast oaipm
on the reform. In my opinion there not only ought not
TO bs civil pension list but there ought to be an age
limit
Tn, third and point Is that heads Of departments
and bur,,l, ought to select subordnats They
r. suuuo,ed 10 now and they really did ue:c would DO
lttle need OF reform for with hardly an exception these
chief, Of the service ambitious only OF good alnins-
.ton The trouble 4, that those ucn do lot select thef
avn subodnates have done Their suoordi-
a are selected them hy senators. Coner'snen and
er lam, great and snail, who are not responsible
for nor primarily interested IN having the best admihs
,,tlon The object of civil service reform Is not to
X, appontmtnt, the heads of departments VINO DO
NOT now make thcn take them out OF politics ana
out OF tho hands OF poltc .ans who do MAKE thel"'
Mr. Carson does not appoint lostmasters "hon ne
commissions. They appointed by Co"sressi'eh'
baye int otuc-d bill g,e absolute control ol ue sp
rontment OF fourth-class pouaors to MI OaSoh anu
hi, successors from any importantly or hHuehoe
on the part Of congressman IL Is in the precise line Oh
what Mr. Clrkson the true system OF CNh SERVICE
and Vet have not heard that 10 meets with the approosoh
or support Of Cakson or any other opponent oil tno
presen. system OF Civil Service REFORM