Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-10
Ciyil-Seryice Reform.

commenting upon tue euitOTlil NultH
recently appeared in the DISPATCH state
ing our objectionsto what is styled "ciyil
service REFORM" the "Index-Appeal
presents its views on the subject, aud
amongst other things says
"The theory of the reform or m crit
system is that, whatever partisan changes
there may be in administrations at Wash.
ington or elsewhere, there should al
ways be at hand competent and train.
ed body of honest men and women to
perform the clerical work necessary.
This theory is, il we are not mistaken,
in accordance with the actual custom or
practice of the heads of departments in
Washington. A person who has not in
vestigated the subject would be surprised
to find how many of these competent
and trained men there are in the various
departments Of the goyernment-men
whose tenure of Office is just as good as
that of old Mr.. BAssETT, who performs
the duty when Congress is about to ad-
iourn Of turning back the hands OF the
Senate clock, thereby preventing Il
o'clock from coming before the law
makers have finished up all the work
which they feel that it is absolutely nee
essary for them to do before allowing that
hour to arrive. Not because Mr.. BAs-
sETT's services are worth straw to the
country do we thus mention him, but as
illustrating how our Petersburg contem.
porary's theory conforms to the practice
of the high government officials at
Washington, or their practice to its
theory.
Does anybody ever hear that the gov
ernment's business suffers for want OF
competent and trained officials We
venture to say that there are numerous
clerks and bureau officers now holding
places in Washington who have been in
those places for years and years, and
whom nobody ever expects to see turned
ont. The supply of these trained Off
cials is always equal to the demand.
Under the operation of the law of the
survival of the fittest they remain in
office as long as their services are more
valuable than would be the services of
new men. But even these valuable
public servants would soon become
worthless if such laws as the
civil-service reformers advocate were
passed by Congress-namely, laws pro-
viding for the retention in Office of all
officials, good an d bad. These trained
officials who now stand upon their merits,
would soon sink to low level, if under
the operation of civilseryice reform
they could claim the offices because of
their occupancy of them, and not be-
cause Of official efficiency. Said reform
would soon defeat the objects had in
view by the theorist who advocates it
and convert the several departments of
the Federal government into so many
pension bureaus. The advocates Of a
nobility and House OF Lords in Eng
land argue upon premises somewhat SIM
liar and reach conclusions somewhat
similar to those employed by the civil
service reformers of this country.
Let us illustrate civil-service reform.
Two men apply for Office in Washington.
They employ all Of the usual and per-
missible methods of securing positions
The one who succeeds in getting place
not only keeps it during good behavior
that is. under the operation of civil-ser-
vice reform, during his lifetime-but be-
comes before many years a pensioner
upon the bounty of the government,
and the defeated applicant is taxed for
the support of the successful one. If
this would not be burlesque upon good
government and Democratic institutions
we do not know what would be. Civil
pensions will inevitably follow in the
wake of that sort of reform.
We dislike to see capable young men
put into government places. They can
not but become totally unfit for any of
tie ordinary vocations Of life.
But we forbear, leaving it TO the read
er to imagine the condition to which de-
pendence upon the government has re-
duced some of the brightest OF the
young men OF the land.