New-York tribune., 1891-10-15
A GREAT PRACTICAL REFOR IT,

The Massachusetts, Democracy has undertaken
to arraign the Republican Administration for
&" the hypocrisy of its pretensons in favor OF
Civil Service REFORM" The accomplished AS
sstant Secretary Of the Navy, in speech de-
livered yesterday in Boston and reproduced in
the main on another page Of this issue, most
effectually quashed that Indictment. He dis
closed the fact that in one of the most important
departments of the Administration radical
change had been effected for which not even
the most sanguine of the Civil Service reform
ers have ventured to hope during their recent
years of phrase making and rhetorical agita-
ton. We hope that our readers will not neg
lect to examine this excellent speech, which
contains rrcfutabe evidence of a great prac-
tical reform accomplished under Republican
administration.
The reform 10 which Mr.. Soley refers is moth
ing less than the abolition of political patron
age In the employment of labor in the navy
yards. The old system of hiring gangs of work
men On the recommendation of party leaders
having close political relations with the Federal
Administration has been swept away. This has
been done at time when a large amount OF
work in constructing new vessels as well as in
ordinary repairs is in hand, and when the APP
proach of the elections offered a temptation to
the Administration to have recourse to Old-tme
methods Of securing votes as well as wOrkmen
All the positions Of foremen in the various navy
yards were declared vacant, and Board OF
Naval Officers was appointed to examine all
competing candidates and to recommend sue
cessors. In this way the best foremen were Sc
cured after thoroughly practical examination.
A permanent board of commissioned officers
was then authorized TO receive, classify and
register all applicants for work, and to supply
such labor as the heads of technical depart
ments might require.
The general effect of this reform, which has
been in operation since the opening Of Septem-
ber, is to exclude political patronage and per-
sonal favoritism and to regulate the employ
ment of workmen in the navy yards upon strict
business principles. Government work in those
yards is done on as practical basis as the build
ing of ships in private yards. The best me-
chanics are employed without reference to pol
tics Their skill and experience are alone con-
Sidered Inferior workmen with political
pulIs' no longer have places at their command
Skilled work is needed for the new Navy, and
it is obtained on business principles The old
abuses of nayy-yard patronage have been re-
formed out OF existence
Mr.. Soey gave in this admirable speech a
clear and incisive account of the progress in
naval construction under the present Admins
tration. From beginning to end Secretary Tracy
has made a remarkable record for efficiency and
sagacity in his Department; but nothing, per-
haps, has been more striking than the clear
common-sense and businesske methods shown
by him in putting this greatly needed refOym
into practice. His example is worth thousand
!heoric. essays and addresses on Civil Service
reform. It is one of many convincing proofs
that the Republican party and its AdminiStra-
,ion are agencies of practical reform.