The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-11-28
In Order to Avoid Sweep
ing Changes in Future.
Revenue Service and Gov
ernment Printing Office
Would Probably he the First of the
District of Columbia May Also
Come I'm the List-How Party Lead
ers Would Regard the Matter.
BUREAU or THE SENTINEL.

N ANl1ANAr IN. -. g.. NOV. %
Those who are interested in the cause OF
civil service reform. and particularly the
commissioners. find much to encourage
them IN the present political situation.
They argued that 50 long as the democrats
had control Of all branches of the govern
ment and had every indication Of retain
ing this control there would be a strong
disposition to keep control over the patron
age and not put too many classes Of
government employees under the civil serv-
Ice rules. But now that the party has lost
the control Of the two branches o. con-
gress and simply has a fighting chance OF
gaining the presidency in 1896. the leaders.
almost without exception. viii be in favor
Of making the government service as
democratic as possible during the two
years the administration IS 10 be in power
and then place as many departments as
possible under the classified service.
1t will be remembered that the reform
IN this direction received its first great
Impetus through the action OF President
Arthur, and that President Harrison,
when he saw the failure Of his own party
to hold power for another term. followed
the example. President Cleveland, IN his
first term, also placed several Departments
under the rules. In fact the civil service
commissioners consider the changes in the
political complexion Of the country as
productive Of great good TO their system.
During the next two years they viii
recommend and make strong efforts to
have the revenue service and the govern
ment printing Office ss-vell as the bureau
OF engraving and printing and some higher
OFF In a
ments. included under their supervision.
IN these various directions there Is a great
opportunity, as over 5000 employees would
be Included IN the change.
liz was hoped also that il would be pos
sible TO place the employees OF the District
Of Columbia under the system, but the
proposition Is being holly criticised, as the
residents of the District are chary OF al
lowing an encroachment on what they con-
slider their right of home rule. They say
II the barriers were once thrown down and
the commission given jurisdiction over tho
patronage Of the local government il
would necessarily have TO be divided
among the different states. just as the
other patronage IS But there is another
field on which the president could work;
that is the navy yards where the skilled
worl1men could be submitted to COMPETE
tive examination ana a high standard or
excellence established.
II the president should proceed as he IL
expected 10 In this matter, not necessarily
as a matter OF political eXpediency, but as
a matter Of vitalizing his we.l-l1nOwn ideas
on the question, il is doubtful IL his acts
would be und0ne, as the sentiment Of the
people Of the country on the subject OF
civil service reform has been shown with
such strength that Il is doubtful II either
party would undertake a backward step.
A section Of the democrats made the at
tempt TO take the railway mall service out
Of the classified list during the last ses-
sion of congress. but 81 was impossible to
obtain the consent Of the house on the
question. and il is felt that under the next
president IT would be practically impos-
sible 10 succeed.