New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-03
THE WORK OF SPOILSMEN.
CHANGES IN THE TREASURY DEPART
MENT on a PARTISAN BASIS.


MENT on A PARTISAN BASIS.
LOGAN CARLISLE. THE sECRETARY's son. AND
HIS AEETTORs IN ALMOST ABSOLUTE con
TRoL-No QUARTER FOR REPtBlI-
CANS AND UNION VETERANS
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TaBvxr.J
Washington, Oct. lit is exceedingly unfortu-
nate mat in making the changes and reductions
required in the clerical force of the Treasury
Department. in order to comply with the terms
of the new law relating to the organization Of
that department. little ring If small and I'M
sCrupulous politicians and spoilsmen. headed by
Chief Clerk Logan Carlisle. should have exer-
cised. virtually almost absolute control. The
law was enacted as a non-partisan measure. as
the law authorizing the joint commission
which framed it, the latter being in substantial
accordance with the recommendation Of Secre-
tary Foster in his last annual report. The bill
which became the law to authorize the reOrgan-
iza,ion now taking place in the Treasury De-
partment unanimously approved by the
joint commission. consisting of four Democrats
and two Republicans and was reported to the
House Of Representatives by Mr. Dinghy. Of
Maine who was one Of its ablest and most in
telligent advocates.
One whose only knowledge Of this legislation
derived from perusal of the democratic
Campaign Book would conclude that to the
Democratic party alonc-and especially to Mr..
Dockery, Of Observation-Disclosures whatever credit
Is due on account of the appointment OF the
joint commission and the series OF measures re-
ported by IT and enacted by Congress and he
would be gr!cvousy deceived. The first step
could not have been taken without the consent
and cooperation OF the Republican minority in
hvan Cf
that if that minority had forcseen or even
dreamed that an unscrupulous. ignorant and re
vengefu partisan like the present chief clerk
OF the Treasury Department would exercise the
influence he has cXerted, and still continues to eX-
ert in making promotions reductions. transfers
and dismssals. the joint commission never would
have been authorized. The law has enabled HIM
to humliate hundreds of clerks who are Repuh-
leans. and To drive many Of them out or the
service-Tcn and women who are competent ana
faithful. and whom experience and training had
made highly efiicent-simply and solely because
they were Republicans in order LAT Democrats
might be promoted or retainc; IN the service
simply and solely hecaus' - "ere Democrats.
That Is what the law .'nn2'ey permits 10
be done. and tina: Is WI. 1t The son Of the Score
tary of the Treasury and his pals have done
and are doing.
The first effects Of thes, acts will be Injurious
To the interests Of the Government 10y lowering
the general tone and efficiency Of ne service ana
nullifying to a great extent the purposes Of the
new law Another thing To he considered Is
the effect upon civil service reform which FOR
A time at least. must be injurious and may uiti-
mately prove disastrous. On this point an
ardent advocate Of reform to-day said;
These changes have mainly been UNJUST Inc
plea that they have been based on ef'icency records
been for momcnt-and know whereof ! SPEAK
serious c lex ST out ." the e m pnF' wSo shou re
their places any other ground than Their poiii-
their claims and their twadde about .watcnng
the records" and 'ehciency' ana capacity" That
badly now. But am sure that the present BAD
effect Of the Injustice thai has been donc Wi. IN
time produce reactIonary result. his j. W.
edged sword that Logan Carlis.e ana his as,2c'atcs
day is not far away when the people viii awaken
to the truth that under a.. THIS pretfnce ~ bong
and lis meaning Then Will come he votes that
viii bring about the reform for which w have
been so hard al work
Another friend and advocate Of civil service
reform said:
fear tins VIII greatly pqsrone n i4e S S2%" say si
been DISPLACED and reduced 4 ,aG ,her t sto5
a acre 'h be s change i OF 6cc
mere viii bc-,hesc men VIII demand. ana mink
moval Of the men who take their places now. and
SO it Will ~. each Adminztration trying, - even
same bad state Of things that used TO exist.
Whatever the future may have in store as the
result Of the outrageous proceedings under cover
Of the new law. nothing can be- more certain
than that Logan Carlisle and his aidcrs and
abcttors have done and doing everything IN
their power TO break down the Civil Service law
Moreover they are doing everything thcy can
10 null!fv the laws enacted for the benefit and
protection Of Union veterans in IN" Government
service In this respect there j. nothing -
choose between the Secretary ana the ch!ri clerk,
or between either Of them and llokc smith. Soc
rotary If the Interior II Is a subject OF general
remark that Southern Democratic officials VINO
never saw service in the Confederate Army ar"
usually quick and willing to humiliate ana OPP
nr.ss Union veterans in the public service,
whereas Democratic officials who served under
the Confederate flag are usually careful not 10