The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-10-04
Diam ond Chips.
Strikes, Spares and Breaks
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
MIR. Lucius E. Swift Contrasts the Record
of Presidents Cleveland and Harris on.

MIR. Lueius 3. Swift Contrasts the Records
of Presidents Cleveland and Harrison.
Mr.. Lucius B. Swift, of Indianapolis, a
neighbGr and friend of President Harri-
son, and editor of the CiUiJ SerUice Re
form Chronicle, voted for MI. Harrison
in 1888 because he thought that under
Mr.. Harrison's administration civil SER
vice reform would be better promoted
han under MIR. Cleveland's. He has
since had reason to change his mind, and
he supports Mr.. Cleveland this year for
the same reason that ne supported Mr..
Harrison four Years ago In the October
NUMBER of The Forum he sums up the
record Of the two administrations in
reference to the civil service, as follows
"When Mr.. Harrison was nominated,
the agitation which had taken place un-
der Mr.. Cleveland's presidency made sll
points of contention relating TO the civil
service well marked. The platform
promised to destroy the spoils system.
But the Indianapolis Journal at the time
stated. in effect, that the appointment of
Mr.. Clarkson as first assistant postmas-
ter-general was maze because he was
deemed the dttest man to divide the
fourth-class postmasterships among the
Republicans. The appolntee completely
justified the expectation and has perma-
nently earned the title of "Headsman."
"ln the mean time. in other directions
the President was in the full tide OF a
sweep with all of the unmauly and
vicious accomplishments. Presidential
| postmasters, collectors, mRrshals, the for
eiGn service, and all other departments
received his interchangeable attention. Cab
met officers were SO busy making remov-
ais and appointments that they had no
time to attend to other business. The
four years rule of Mr.. Cleveland was
swept away. The Presidents eagerness
male him descend to littleness.
''The President appears to have had a
carefully planned boss system, and to
have been ready to turn the full power
of the civil service to accomplish objects
! desirable to him. There IS nowhere in
his career a sign that he has acted with
reluctance; buf. on the other hand, the
evidence is conclusive that he has been
a willing leader with Il purpose to use the
full Owe of the Federal patronage to
ACCOMPLISH, first, personal, and. secondly,
party ends.
"For more than two years after his in
auguration no additions were made by
President Harrison to the classified SER
vice; then upon the heels of an Indian
war, and after an amount of urging, the
necessity of which seems incredible, con-
sidering the direct promise to make such
extensions, he caused seven hundred
places in the Indian service to be CLASH
fled Later he caused the employees of the
flSn COMMISSION, lo2 IN NUMBER. 20 be
classified. He has caused an efficiency
record to be kept in classified Offices, and
made the rule that promotions therein
shall be based upon merit. The con-
temptible size of this contribution to the
extension of the reform system esta b.
lished by law becomes apparent when it
is compared with the many thousands of
carriers. clerks, and other employees to
whom that system is applicable and
whom it does not embrace. The service
has many mora employees capable of
classification, but unciassified, than it
had when The President was inaugur-
ated,"