New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-22
PROMISES AND PRACTICE.
HOW REFORM IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED IN
THE CONSULAR SERVICE
TIE "vALUABLE' WORK JOSIAH QUINCY is
DOING-sOLEMN PLEDGES AND THEIR
FULFILMENT.
10. TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNE.l

ipS TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
Washington, May 21.-The doubleleaded dispatches
from Washington which have appeared In several
Democratic newspapers within the last week. setting
forth President Clcvcand's intentions and purposes in
regard to Civil Service Reform. may have been taken
seriously by ccnlding and unsOphiscaed people
in the rural districts but they have served only to
anusc persons ut the National capital, who observe
the daily perfO within n miles radius Of the
White House. The civil Service policy policeS-for
there appear to be several OF themof this Admnstr
ton OF The future. but distinctly of the
present. and open to everybodys inspection. Tie
work Of reform" Is being prosecuted with exceed
lng vgor, but not In the direction osteDtafiousiy
indicated by certain Administration newspapers. Far
from IT, some features Of it n tract more or less
public attention. Maxwel's axe makes Itself heard rs
we'll felt and the charges OF offensive partisan
ship rather loud, MT to say noisy But whether
noisy Silent the result, equally effective. and
the work Of turning out Republicans and putting In
Democrats goes bravely on: bravey. In fact that
the Administration feels compelled frequently to make
a rule or promnIgac order" each Of which Is
accompanied by sly and significant wink Tor the
benefit Of the hot and hungry while at the same
lime 1t is spread broadcast through the press fresh
evidence true unSclfsh devotion TO the cause
OF Civil Service Reform. These false prctences GER
lanly do not dignity the performance. but they may
deceive people who have not opportunities TO
observe tho actual operation Of each 81 rule" and
ORDER
Not so long ago that 1t need to have been Tor
gotten II was announced with u great flourish OF
trliupeis that the consular service was to De re-
formed Josiah Quincy was Installed in the once
OF First Assistant Secretary Of state TO do the work.
,uls Ii was said must BE- business m'n-meh not
only OF intelligence and capacity. but men OF bus
mes, experience and aptitude. The Administration,
II said. had determined to do It's utmost 10 pro-
mote the Interests Of American trade and commerce
with foreign lands and in order to carry out this
policy the greatest care would be- used to place the
consular service Oh business basis. E'er'ouy
said this would be- great thing, and everybody
IrobabN remembers the unhappy fate OF MI
Oulncy's first essay In the work Of REFORM lie
mas been more careful since-careful to the extent
that none of the cOmmi sions since Issued nave pech
revoked But both he and the President have either
forgotten the inltlatory proclamaiion-the new pol
lcy-or they have been most outrageonsly deceived
both AS to the merits and efficiency OF some OF tue
consular officers whom they have displaced, and the
character and abilities OF the men whom they nave
appointed Among the latter are men who not ony
do not possess the least OF the qiahhcatohs WHICH
were to be insisted upon. but who are notorousiy
unn, TO hold any place whatever that requires o'e
mes, ability. experience or aptitude In ihor" 'nh
ON. case have such men been appointed To coh-
,l,.. ~, Nigh rank and great responsibility, ana
! ia. facts are notorious In Washington generally II
not in the state Department and "h''e houSe'
Erakcl-down party hack. cross roads lawyers Will
mn, nractlcc even men without visible means OF sup
mort Aaye found their way into the consular srrn"e
unocr policy which was I" p",r mt M ,raS, and
"A business footing and promote N'ne,,i'|" ~ ' ,n
commerce" come Of Mr. Ccvcland's consular up
plintmcnts eight year, ago We're open 10 aeID Ire
r tici,m. but the worst oi them WAS ho' 10 pau ~,
many degree, rs some that he has nlauc tlh' Hc'r
,,n' M Mr. Ouncy's recommendation. backed by 'he
Solicitations OF Democratic senator, ann ~ ~ ~
taiycs. and th"s ayeraf Is .T' yorm- procIa
nation was issued. much for the prlh'lpns "'
Iivi -.ryicr Reform ~ applet 10 consular appoint
mcni, by ihi, Administrations . ,..,,c,or oro
In the Executive Department" III Nn,hur,o" , 49,,
several hundred employ OF ulN'slohs, EM
clerks chief clerks OF BUREAUS, etc are ous'u
what Is known aS the d" ca' ,hea s rrN"r ,ac." iy
means OF w.llrarned promotion, iiV" ui" NV W
clerical grades after years "f Id,hiW seh"e. ,,G
no stretch of CONSTRUCTION coN W ,TeS.,,nd.s trst
administration many Of them were allowed 10 retai'i
their places. During the last two months may "
these have been diSniN'elI,hnt, o. cnc,ercy
W. o,'an 81 offensive pnrtislnshp." but SIMPLY anu
SOLELY in order max" vacancies to be- rlra pi no'
and hungry Democrats. FOR the me-, p' No nuii,
been done 80 rictly 20 attract niue or no Ph,lo
attsn,on ard most Of the comment e\tltd mas p''h
dine 10 tho fact that the President and Inc ine"in'r'
nf inf. CnI met with TWO exceptions, hrr sup
no.cd to be devoted the principles OF tlNli 9'rNr
Hrfcrm II such high AID mighty professors nv IT,.
bcen made IN their behalf these acts N"uui p'opaui
ina, the interests of the public ScNc" arr ioI "cil
IN no nromced by wholesale changes every iour years
In the clerical places which have been described.
" in mo same. the proof CT the padding i IN IN"
oot,nr and n l. exceedingly amusing e. read solemn
statements of what the Administrations i gS.ms 10 ON, uo
ri some future time. ard t. contrast then, WIZ.
viii be- somewhat more than amusing H. liter naNins
filled every office and place with I"nocrat w
President Shall justify The predictions 3' hS De' p o"
odmir.r, and spread the aegiS Of Cvl service keior
..trp