The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-20
The Civil Service Reform
Idea, Past and Present.
Readable Points Culled from a Recent
Speech by Hon. Marriott Brosius, of Lam
caster, Pa.
From the WASHINGTON Post.

The Congressional Record recently
contained a speech by Hon. MARRIOTT
Brosius, of Pennsylvania, upon THE
rise, progress, and present state OF the
merit system in the civil service OF
the United States" Mr. Brosius ranks
high as a raconteur among his collea-
CUES in the house, and this speech not
only adds to his reputation In that re-
gard, but places him in the front rank
as a historian. AS showing what great
institutions can grow from small be-
ginnings, he notes the first germ OF
civil service in Englard, and eXtortion
from King John by the Barons ht
Runnymede, of this provision for sec
curing duly qualified officers: I'VE Will
not have any justices, constables, or
sheriffs, but of such as know the law
of the realm and mean truly to observe
it,"
In the reign Of Edward III. 1907
1927. IL is said there was kept in a tow
er in Lndon six horseshoes and sixty
one nails. which, by an ancient custom,
the sheriffs of London were compelled
to count when they were sworn anto
office. Their ability to do so was re-
garded as proof of sufficient educatlon
for the office, as only an educated
man could count up to siXty-one. IN
1888 parliament passed an act which
provided-"that none shall be MADE OF
ficers of the King for any gift broker
age. favor or affection, but upon de-
sert.
These are historical beginnings OF
civil service reform among English
speaking people. Centuries or abuses
| in which extortionate levies upon the
people minstrel to the vices and lux
uries of the few and the pleasure ana
mower of Kings, Lords, and MOBILES
were everything, while justice, equal
ity. economy, aid the pGtsohal
worth of the citizen were nothing
were destined to elapse before the ap-
| nointing power ceased to be the IN
strument alike of revenge and favor,
to reward obsequious servility ana
compel acuuiescence in the will OF or
fetal despots. There is some humor
mingled with the sadness of the rea-
sons given by a custom-house officer
for his submission to the royal will,
reasons which to this day cause con-
tinuous reign of terror in the unclassl-
fed civil service of the United States.
"I have h, said, fourteen reasons Tor
chewing his majesty's commando
wife and thirteen children
EARLY REFORMERS.
George washington's elevation OF
mind and lofty patriotism is striklngly
illustrated in letter which he wrote 10
friend from which Mr.. Brosius makes
this extract:
NV friend - receive with cordial
welcome to my house and welcome TO my
heart; but with all his good quaNtles ne
is not a man of business. His opponent,
with all his politics, so hostile TO me- is
man of business. MY private leciiiis
have nothing to do with the case. AS
George Washington, would do this man
any kindness in my power. AS presi-
dent of the United stttes, 1 can do moth
ing.
So Jefferson, animated by the same
/ high sence of public duty, said:
| OF the thousands of officers, therefore
, | in the United States, very rev lndlVlu'
uals only, probably not twenty, wlll be
| removed, and those only for doing VIVA,
thev oueht not to have done. l know that
: in stopping thus short in the career OF
2 removal / will give great offense to many
f of my friends. That torrent has beer
pressing me heavily and will require al
/. | my force to bear UP against, but my
: maxim is fiat justitia, ruat coelum
= The origin of the spoils system, de-
: clares Mr. Brosius, began with the ad
= ministration of Jackson, concerning
t which Daniel Webster said in 1892:
As far as know there is no civilized
| country on the earth in which, on
| change of rulers, there Is such an inquisi
At Co., ni1- Wa n W
u this free republic. The same part!
selfshness which drives good men out o
- office will push bad men in. Political pro
= scription leads necessarily to the hllini
: of offices with incompetent persons, AM
: to q consequent maleNecution of ofiicia
duties.
6 Mr. Brosius, viewing the "in-and
n out" panorama of succeeding admins
i trations, which he speaks of as still eX
q isting is reminded of little story o
g a saloonkeeper at Winchester during
q the war:
4 The tide of battle swept back an
d forth through that little town seventy
?. six times during the war. When tn
v union forces We're in possession the sa
i loon-keeper wore a suit of blue, an
# when the Confederates returned
" changed to a suit Of gray, making tn
It changes with such promptitude as nc
% to disclose to the respective combat
ants the trick he was playing. Afte
lr the war was over. a neighbor aske
h him how he managed always to be o
the side that was in possession. II
n. replied that the changes of occupanc
a were pretty fast but they would hav
7 to be -. quick if they got ahead {
a him.
p GLADSTONE STORY.
;" Groundless complaints agsinst tn
civil service reminded Mr.. Brosius {
what Sydney Smith said to his frien
jeffrey
Ia - the SOAR system; bad light, plane
ir too remote; pestcred with comets, feeb
- contrivance; could make a better wit
ease.
r And the men who advocate civil sci
D. vice in theory and fail to apply /
I'd brought out a story which Gladstone
n credited of having told Of Lord Me
ne bourne. The latter was seen comm
he from church one Sabbath in great e1
d. citement. Meeting a friend, he e1
id claimed:
u 1t is too bad. l have always been a sur
H. porter of the church and have always u
BY held the clergy; and it is really too bf
IA to have to listen TO a sermon like that
heard this morning. Why, the preach