The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-07

ourselves all the greater BY acknowledging
that we were the comrades of brave, true
men. Yours in F., C. and L.-C w. MCKAY,
Co. C, 154th N. Y, Fergus Falls. Mimi.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
A Comrade Makes Some Pertinent Remarks
Regarding Real Reform.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Your per
tinent editorial comments upon points raised
by a New Orleans comrade, as to certain
features of the Cleveland variety of Civil.
Service reform, are timely and especially In
teresting just now. The sentiments therein
expressed will bear repetition and widespread
circulation.
''No prating about Civil Service Reform
now should be allowed to fasten upon the
public mind the idea that either Cleveland or
his subordinates have honestly administered
the Civil Service laws, either in letter or spirit.
Indeed, thousands of cases can be cited to
show that the reverse of this is true.
"A reversal of the conditions and things
which were made to follow the victory OF
the present Administration in 1892 is surely
incumbent upon the soldier President to be
inaugurated next March. And that means
that the veterans upjustly removed from
office should be replaced very early next
Spring.
But it may not be generally understood
that under the construction of the law given
by the present Administration no "perma-
nency of position is vouchsafed any officer
in the civil service. even though the place
held be distinctly enumerated as among
those in the classified service"
Every mothers son Of them may be dis
missed summariiy, upon the veriest pretense
as to cause" if only the head of the De-
partment in which the officer serves and the
Secretary of the Treasury be in accord as de-
string to put the in" "out" that some
"out" may be put I'm" That may sur
prise many not conversant with the devious
ways and flexibility OF the peculiar system
which Tom Reed once aptly characterized
the Swivel Service Reform" but it is the
exact situation as all know who are con-
yersant with Cleveland methods. The law
covers only the avenues of approach to the
| civil service of the Government; those as to
exit" are as fully under the control OF the
appointing power as in the old days of 1.-The
spoils SYSTEM" SO violently assailed by
Daniel Webster during the Jackson Ad-
ministration.
This is the process: A place in the CLASH
fed service desired for a personal or political
favorite is held by member of the opposite
| political party, and if the in can be got
"out" the road to appointment is clear. No
valid reason can be assigned for removal, as
the man holding the place is a faithful and
an exemplary officer. Nevertheless, there is
"a way out" Suppose'it he in the Customs
service. The Collector and the Secretary
are of the same party and of one mind as To
hostility towards Republican ofice-holders
under Democratic Administration.
The Collector writes confidentially to the
Secretary that A. B., holding such and such
Office, is not agreeable to him, and he de-
sires the place for another man. He may
give some alleged reason. The officer may
be cross-eyed, have red hair, be tri1e deaf,
near-sighted, a little lame, etc. Very well
whether he be or no, permission Is given to
retire him, and the officer forthwith receives
the stereotyped communication: Sir: BY
authority of The Secretary of the Treasury
have the honor TO inform you that youl
services as at this Port are no longer
required. -, Collector"
Ali But why is that? And that is fol
the removed official to ascertain if he can
The Treasury Department will give nj
other information upon so interesting a sub
ject that "all correspondence touching the
removal of an official is regarded as In
the nature of confidential correspondence.
The removed official may be a man Of mos
exemplary habits and strictly temperate
| and vet should the Collector have charged
in his private letter to the Secretary thai
he was a confirmed inebriate. and the re
moval were made upon that accusation, tint
ex-officer could have no redress. 1t was :
stab in the dark No one that can be re
quired to tell knows as to the weapon! AnG
the towards do moi dare to reveal the subject
matter of these communications.
And this is the bepefcent system which
Cleveland has so generously extended, and
under which Democrats hope TO retain theil
appontees in positions thus won, and at the
same time heraldng to the world that they
wear their badges solely and purely by
virtue of the merit SYSTEM"
As to MISUNDERSTANDING soldiers " sepa
: rated from the service for no fault of theil
; own" the Civil Service rules specifically
provide for righting the wrong. This jus
provision the new President will, of course
enforce to the letter. But why should no
the same measure of justice be melted out a.
to the wronged ones who are not ex-soldiers'
Others have rights no less than we. Let III
insist that all such rights be respected unde
the incoming regime.
Quoting the admirable proclamation 20,
indite for the new President, let this be TIN
shibboleth: q Restore to their places the mel
who were uniustly dismissed-and thel
right merrily will we push along the cause Q
genuine Civil Service Reform. "a COMRADl
, WHO ABHoRS SHAM REFORM.