Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-08-31


to That of His Predecessor--No Removals
Can BE Made From the Classified Service
Except For Cause.
The order of President Mckinley, re-
Gently issued, in respect to removals
and appointments in the civil service OF
the government will sensibly encourage
the advocates of reform and confound
the prophets who were sure that the ad-
ADMINISTRATION would take backward
step in this matter. Instead OF resclnd-
ing the order of the last administration,
issued just before it went out OF office
and intended to protect the partisans
who had obtained places, that regula-
ton is left practically intact, the CIVIL
service rules are extended to 90 custom
house offices not heretofore under the
classified service, and new rule pro-
mulgated which gives better protection
to competent officials than any regula-
ton vet established. The only appoint
ments taken out of the classified list are
one cashier and one deputy i'll each Gus
toms district and one deputy collector
in each SUPPORT or station, but even
these appointments are so hedged about
with rules that they are really competl-
tive.
This act of President Mckinley is
Justly regarded as the most distinct TIL
umph won for reform in the civil serv-
ice. The public has heard so many civil
service reform promises made by the
| lin and then seen them broken by the
| act that it is not strange that the conf
| dence of the country i'll the sincerity OF
pledges on this subject had become serl-
ously weakened. No more discouraglng
example in this way can be cited than
| the one given by the last admlnlstra-
ton. Entering office with great preten-
sions of reform, it was no sooner IN
| power than it threw to the winds all
| its pledges and began as sweeping
changes as were known i'll the best days
| Of the spoils system.
| In the consular offices larger num-
llber of changes were made than had ever
I been seen before in the same time, the
treasury department at Washington was
nearly cleared of its experienced clerks
in order to make places for Democratic
partisaus and in other departments
efficient Republicans had their standing
reduced for the same purpose, while
throughout the country the same policy
of removal and partisan appointment
was pursued And then when the coun-
try had condemned and voted out OF
office the administration responsible for
this travesty on reform an order was
promulgated putting all these partisan
appointees under tho protection of the
civil service rules.
This was the situation which con-
fronted Mr.. Mckinley when he came
into office. And the question he had to
ask himself was whether it would be
better to tacitly consent to the wrong
done by his predecessor by leaving I'M
rescinded Mr.. Cleveland's order and al
lowing his partisan appointments to re-
main or whether he should permit q
general wedding out of the incompe-
tents and then extend the rules anew.
If he took the latter course, he was sure
to be charged with partisanship and a
general cutlery would have been made
that another illustration had been given
Of the insincerity of parties in making
civil service reform pledges. President
Mckinley chose the former path, ano
the great majority of the intelligent
people Of the country will agree that he
has chosen wisely. A few years will SEE
the incompetents weeded out Of the
offices, but it would have needed goo(
many years to have restored the peo
pies trust in Republican reform
pledge had President Mckinley appar
emily violated his pledge. No one cal
accuse him now of even the appearance
of partisanship or of willingness tt
use the error Of his predecessor as al
excuse for gratifying the demand fol
office.
But the most distinct contribution
President Mckinley makes to civil serv
ice reform is his order covering re
movals from the classified service
), These cannot be made except for Gauss
> and upon written charges and after tn
J accused has had all opportunity for de
tense. This rule is really Of more valu
= to the reform than all those promul
F., gated by previous presidents. 1t puts
: stop at once to the many evasions Of tn
: other rules which have been eagerly re
sorted to by the enemies of civil servic
), reform, and it would alone define Pres
ident McKinley's attitude on the ques
!. ton. He has taken the right step a
' the right time and in the right way, a
he has done frequently since he becam
o president AS the Brooklyn Eagle says
}. ellis action is on the side Of civiliza
ton, Justice and the future. +" If h
! should do nothing else worthy Of nc
Z tice, this one act will gain him tn
!. plaudits of the country and the com
mendation Of history. ~ Philadelphia
|