The Washington critic., 1890-02-19

before anv such scheme can be enter
tanned, It will he absolutely necessary
to assure the country that its operation
will be wholly apart from politics, and
that It's management will be uudcr the
control of n perfected civil service.
Accordingly, before Mr.. Wanamaker's
proposition can be considered IL is nee
cssaty that due attention be given TO re-
forming and peifecting the civil service
of the country ON non.parisan basis.
In the nature Of things the American
Government must become more and
more thoroughly bureaucratic and a
prime essential of such u system is an
efficient and non partisan civil service
1FTER 7IiE UNION P1CfFIC
That the Union Pacific is to have
neither easy nor plain sailing in its eff.
forts to evadc the payment of It's obi.
cations TO the Government is seen in
the formidable movement against itin
Nebraska, which only transplred TO the
public yesterday.
Petitions are in circulation in nearly
every county in the State, asking that
the time be not extended in which the
Union Pacific is now required to meet
ifs obligations TO the Government.
They ask that that corporation be
compelled to make its payments as
they become due Every farmer in
the State, to whom the petitions have
been presented, have signed them.
When they reach here they will prob
ably be the largest ever sent out of
Nebraska. The people of the
State know the Union Pacific.
1t is not to be wondered at that they
want the company TO pay its obliga-
tions precisely as they have TO pay
theirs. And why should 1t not be com
PEELED so TO do? Why should not the
company pay as well as the individual:
j DTSHONORABLE PR1CYICE.
While Judge Miller was doubtless
justified in law in dismissing the
charge in the Police Court against
NJ aior David Essex Porter, that action
could not relieve the accused from
| the dishonor Of mean and
utterly discreditable action. 1t was il
every way unworthy Of a man bearing
his name and boasting his distinguished
ancestry to abuse the confidence of {
credulous colored man and to take from
him the paltry sum of $50 withou
! giving any equivalent whatever.
This case, however, is simply an in
stance of thoroughly discreditablC
practice which has arisen in con
nection with the demoralizing sys
ten of appointment to Office which
prevails at the National Capi
tai, and which produces horde o
unscrupulous Office seekers. Some eX
periences and a variety of clrcum
stances have given color to the sus
picion that the influence" of certai
parties is of material avail in affectin
the action of the dispensers of oilicia
patronage. There are in this cit
men Of some social standing, and
through such standing, more or les
intimately connected with what ar
called "oflicial circles" The impres
sion obtains more or less widely tina
these men are sort of Office broker
that make gain Of their influence. Tha
il should have come to be believed thf
the appointing power can be so infr
enced, or that any men, however hig
and intimate their relationships, dare
exercise such influence and make
commission on it, shows to what lo'
ebb of esteem our civil service has bee
brought
Some instances of this sort have CON
to light before now, but there has bee
no meaner confidence game ever playe
in Washington than that in whic
| Major David Essex Porter took s.
( from f. w. johnson.
In ACCUSING THE Washington bureau
the New York World of having approp
4, I'm 80 ;,,ta L..