The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-08
THEORETICAL AND REAL REFORM

The theoretical reforfner has been very
much in evidence in recent years. He is
devoted to himself and his theories. Those
who do not fsn down and worship Tim
and hold hi- theories as the emanations
OF infallibility are bad-bad in every
way. Some years ago. when a President
desired a plan for the lettering Of the
civil service. he appointed three gentle
men, two OF whom were efficient, to con-
slider the subject and present a plan.
They did not spend much time,
they took the whole amount which Col
gress had appropriated for expenses.
which was. in fact, a liberal sum. Of
course they denounced the salary graz.
but the taking of more than a Thousand
dollars each for two weeks serv-
ices was right and proper in reformers.
In this city, as well as elsewhere. there
are a few professional reformers. Those
of them who belong to parties excuse
themselves BY giving out that they arc
really better than their associates, and
are with Their, chiefly to convert them to
better views and higher aspirations.
They always prattle about reform. They
yearn for reform with an official annex
and a good salary. Thus fixed, their
goodness exceeds even that which Dick
ems portrayed In Pecksniff. A practical
and for that reason a repreheusible pa
per. in an adjoining county. recently ex-
posed n of these reformers. He went
to that county ostensibly to perform an
official duty. He was gone a few hours.
but practically charged for three days
service In addition to a regular and
large salary in this county There is
very much Of that sort of reform whose
true name is disgusting hypocrisy.
There are those who do not claim to
be reformers, who do not attend reform
clubs. read reform essays or attend re-
form banquets at which three kinds of
wine are served. AS officials they are
simply satisfied to do their duty. They
have intelligence. integrity. and a high
appreciation Of their official responsible
ity, though they never speak If 1t. They
do not overwork the prom ,un of the
first person, singular. They are not al
ways agreeable persons. There has
been such an official in the office of
city controller for nearly twp years. lie
has been a strict construc-t)n,st in the
matter of expenditures. What law. or
dinance and reason sail should be al
lowed was allowed. He has refused to
allow pay for twice as many days serv-
ice as were performed, he has refused to
allow expenditures which were not COW
cred by items In appropriation bills, he
has refused to approve three or four
prices for service. and any price where
no service was rendered. This is not
a pleasant duty. Many theoretical re-
formers disapprove such a course. The
result, however, has been most ~salutary.
Not only have thousands Of dollars been
saved, but the growing and demoraliz-
ing practice which came with Sulli<
van and reform has been stopped. There
will be no more of it so long as that
controller has a voice in city affairs.
This. however, is not labeled reform"
Nc club has approved it in the beautiful
nomenclature Of reform. 1t is nothing
but the application of business ideas in
public affairs; still. there has been no
more timely and salutary public act
than hat which has for the present put
an end to loose and demoralizing ex-
penditure of the peoples n
The amusing thing in. connection with
this matter is that so-called reformers
who admit that the controller has done
all this. are not yet fully persuaded to
vote for him for Mayor. but a year hence
they will write pieces to the papers urg-
ing citizens to vote for the first official
referred to on the ground that he is bet
ter than his party and is the all-time adj
vocate Of that intangible thing called
reform.