The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-05-11
C1v1L SERVICE REFORM.

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Cleveland's admiseTation is COM
mitted to an extension OF the classi-
fed service. The civil service idea
has been prominently before the peo-
pie for some twelve years-oatIng
from the time of the inception of the
National Reform League. The idea
was repugnant to the professional
politician who was always eager 10
use the Offices that belonged to the
Government as if they were his own
to distribute them in such a way as to
strengthen his position in power and
make easy of Accomplishment the
schemes he might wish to advance.
1t must be admitted that it is 10"
and base idea that makes political
Offices a matter of barter and sale as
they frequently have been, especially
in large cities. The other idea-that
persons shall be appointed to ofhce
because they have merit to fill them
and are removable for cause-is GER
tainly the more patriotic. Ofeourse,
the Offices included in the civil service
reform idea are not administrative
Offices where some policy Of govern
ment or party is to be carried out,
but those that are clerical Inc
American people, as one OF the popu-
lar Chicago papers points out, are
sick of the eternal clamor for Spots.
Office seeking is the main cause OF
delay after every national election,
and the President is supposed to
neglect the affairs of State and the
great problems of government and
give his time to the opportunities OF
the of the office seeker. The impos'
sibility of giving due attention to
applications for office and at the
same time considering the higher de
mands of government may be seer
in the fact that there have been over
10000 demands for consu'ships anC
the daily applications for postmast
erships exceed 1900. With what
delight must the President welcome
| the approach OF a Congressman who
calls bringing with him as manY-@s
| twenty office seekers at time
| And with AII 1nnunlii,e President il
SIIdll lied.
utIce Act beca me opera
YSS3 and during the year
D.nat have followed the law has re
1 ceived additional sanction an
| strength. 1t was seen long ago tina
the use of the service for politica
ends must become a menace to lie
publican government. Men OF WIS
dom and foresight discerned I'd
danger; men of patriotism advance
the idea that would prevent tn
danger.
We are induced to think that til
next steps in the system will be I
take out of the hands of the Excel
tive Department the choice OF fourth
class postmasters. The easiest va
to do this would probably be to al
ply the primary and let the poop
choose the postmaster as they q
their mayor or other officers that al
many times more important tina
postmaster. President Clevelan
seems to have already sanctioTe
the primary as a means of settlin
such mat tiers. However, there al
some objections to the primary sy
TEN in this regard-the most pop
lar rather than the most capab
man would get the place. But tia
generally happens in contests for
offices.
: President Cleveland has just issue
a formal announcement that "a oil
regard for public duty which mu'
be neglected if the present condition
: continue, and an observance OF Il
1 limitat tons placed upon human e
3 durance, oblige me to decline fro
i and after this date all personal L
5 terviews with those seeking appoln
5 ment to Office, except as l, on n
own motion, may especially lnvl
| ~ -