New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-18
THE CIVIL SERJICE.
extensively


"The Ncw-York Sum prints conSpcuou>y
Washington dispatch forcshadowlnS an eX-
mansion of Civil Service Reform under the pres
ent Administration. The President is said to
be contemplating the substitution OF the Eng
li.h system for current methods Of bc>towlng
nubic PATRONAGE in return for political services
The plan which he is credited with favonng
i, one for reforming altogether the practice OIL
appointing men to Office on party grounds.
Some details are outlined such aS iccoinlncnda-
ton 10 Office by commission a removed from
rartisln considerations As the United states
supreme Court tenure for life and good be-
havior: fitness the sole qualification for Office
and the division of the Civil Service into grades
on stlici business principles. it is stated that
the President has already consulted members
of the Cabinet and other Officials respecting this
matter. and that he intends II make it prom
nent feature of his first message 10 Congress.
The President has undoubtedly been hara'Scd
and evaSpeltcd by the impoitunilic> OF me
hungry and thirsty Democracy. The Office
seekers have taken up a great deal oi his Time
and interfocd seriously with his physical com
fort and peace of mind. We do not doubt that
he denounce, their selfish greed and lamcnfs
the degradation Of the patronage scandal when
visitors like General Schun call at the White
House and share his confidence. But stepped
10 the lips a the Democracy now is with pledges
10 revise the tariff and to undo all the Kerub-
lcan policies of generation, we do not be-
lieye that the President win assume new re-
sponsibtics and undertake AZ once the
reformation of the Civil Service on English
lines. The Chicago Convention marked ont for
him last wear a. much business Is he will want
during his second term.
Moreover. his own practice speak more loud
" than his whispered professions OF yea a.
Civil Service Reformcr in the receptive ear 81
General >chuiz. II he were convinced that
tenure should be- for l;fc and good conduct. and
that poltic, ought 10 have nothing II d. with
appointments. he would not have sanctioned
the removal Of C,nsul-Gencral AdamSon, the
oldest member of the Consular Service. mat
was an utterly uniusiiliable and unnecessary
act. Mr. Adamson had been IN the service
thirty-two wears and had served the Govern
ncnt with distinction and honor. His removal
i, the pane>i possible indication that the Pres
dent has not advanced very far in the dircc-
ton Of a reformation Of the Civil Service. In
deed. the methods by which the consular Offices
have been filled during the last two months
have wildly illustrated the old Democratic
doctrine that "to the vctois belong the spoils'
Mr.. Quincy. who was occupied at the National
Democratic Headquarters last year, has con-
vcytcd the Consular service into a clearing house
for the liquidation of political debts incurred
in the canvass Other confidential brokers are
employed in other Departments, and while there
i, viruous show Of antagonizing politicians
ana Office seekers, political considerations have
determined removals and appointments. II the
President be inclined next December 10 make
radical recommendations to Congress respect
ing the abuses Of the patronage system, he will
find in the record Of the early months Of his
second term the strongest possible argument
for taking politics out OF the Civil Service.