St. Paul daily globe., 1893-11-17
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

The present administration seems de-
terlnined TO insist that all persons who
shall assume Office during its term shall
devote their entire time and attention
to the performance of their duties. to
the exclusion of active political work.
The civil service rules passed during
the administration of President Hayes
were intended to work reform in our
political methods and in the civil Serv-
ice. Previous 10 that time political Of
fees were bestowed only upon those
who had been active in winning parti-
san advantage, and who were willing to
use the offices they received as reward
for their services for the further perpet-
uation Of the party domination. The
more offensive mans partlsanship
was, tie more certain was he of winning
recognition and fat office. PreSi.
dent Hayes songht to remedy this
evil, but after few spaSmodic at
tempts he surrendered absolutely to the
spoilSmen; and the last years of his
term were among the most disgraceful
in our history i'll the activity with which
otficeholderS obtruded themselves upon
political conventions. Matters,were little
better under Garfield and Arthur. When
Cleveland was first chosen he made an
honest epdeavor to enforce the law. He
refused to remove officials except for
cause, and, as result, many Repub-
lIcans remained in office up to the close
OF his term, and in the campaign of 1883
freely used the patronage of the govern
ment to accomplish his defeat. Harri-
son returned to the Spoils system with.
out an effort at resistance. Democrats
were turned out of Office by the thou
sands before their terms of service had
expired, and active Republican workers
were given their places. The result
was shown in the Minneapolis conven-
ion. when Harrison's denomination
was brought about by the blowing
and shouting OF his strikers who
were receiving pay from the govern
ment. And during the campaign the
business of the government was shame
lessly neglected. Every officeholder of
influence was Oh the stump or engaged
in house to house canvass. Local con-
ventions and caucuses were packed by
the offlceholders and compelled to make
such nominations only as should seem
most likely to help the national ticket.
Assessments were levied upon all gov
ernment employees, high and low, the
pledges being so wOrded as to evade the
strict letter of the law, and there was
everywhere manifested an utter disre-
gard of decency.
There is to be a change now that will
be hailed with satisfaction by all good
citizens. Secretary Carlisle has in
formed new appointee TO an important
federal office at Milwaukee that, ac-
cording to the ideas of civil service en-
tertained by the administration, it would
be we'll to leave himself entirely free to
devote all of his time to the duties of
his office. This intimation. 1t is under
stood, has been conveyed to all ap-
pointees in the civil service. aud they
will be expected to govern themselves
accordingly.
In order to secure an honest and eff
cient administration of the civil service
Mr.. Cleveland and his departmental
chiefs should lose no time in placing all
the federal offices in charge of honest
and competent Democrats who will de-
vote themselves strictly to business.
They cannot expect good service from
Republicans. Even if they should
chance to be honest. they would take no
personal pride or interest in making the
present administration d success. They
would probably take precautions to
save themselves and their bondsmen
from prosecution, but would not exert
themselves for the benefit of the service
as they would do if the government
was in the hands of their own party.
1t is too much to ask of weak human
nature, and for this reason there
should be no hesitancy in decapitating
every officeholder who is not in
full sympathy with the purposes of the
powers that be. Only by such course
can genuine civil service reform be in
angurated; only hy sach course can
the Democratic party perpetuate its
power. 1t cannot do so by nursing Re-
publican vipers who will take adyan-
tage of the first opportunity to sting the
hand that protects them. An official