St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-01-14
Our Washington Letter

vice reform, in which the whole coun
try should feel interested and be well
informed.
Civil service demands public con-
sideration as well as the others, al.
though many suppose that it only
effects government clerks at Wash
ington. A recent writer states that
one hundred million Of dollars are
paid out for such service and nearly
seventy million comes under civil
service. Thus we see that taxpayers
must of necessity be interested. The
question arises how have the clerks
at Washington been appointed? We
are told that there are three classes
OF clerks in service. In the first place
they were appointed largely through
their personal acquaintance orfriend-
ship with some senator, representa-
tive or one of their political allies,
and they, in turn, have promised to
lend their influence to help re-elect
this man for office when his term ex-
pires. The question of superiority
of education or special qualification
for certain position as a clerk had
not been brought to the front. But
it was simply the mercantile give or
take. Later the subject of patriot
ism in public service received recog-
milton by rewarding ex soldiers with
clerkships. When civil service was
it only covered portion
OF the Offices in Washington in the
departments, Thus positions could
still be obtained through friends in
the lower departments with smaller
salaries and then through service or
(avoritism could be promoted to
higher positions. Now civil service
covers all departments. There seems
to be no doubt that to certain ex
tent and when rightly administered
it is good thing; but it is claimed
by many that it has been shamefully
abused in its application and meth.
DDS. 1t is this abuse that has given
rise to such severe criticism and de.
veloped such hostility among both
people and representatives through
out the whole country.
Before the expiration of President
Cleveland's first term of office many
republicanJhad been turned out of
Office, the Vacancies filled with demo-
Gratis and then those departments
put under civil service, so as to Sc.
cure their permanence in Office.
Greater al d more sweeping changes
were made curing his second term
and then President Cleveland placed
remaining departments under civil
service, so that democrats should be
secure throughout a republican adj
for they argued "the
republicans inaugurated civil service
and they must abide by it, and we
shall hold them to it; we are there
fore secure" When many adherents
Of President Mckinley came on from
the west they were much disap.
pointed to find that civil service COW
cred everything and all of the weeks
and months of their service for their
country was for nothing so far as
office was concerned. This they felt
was unfair. that hundreds of clerks
who had been appointed by favorit.
ism with one sweep of the pen should
be placed under the cloak
OF civil service to remain there, they
claim, until their death. Congress
men were besieged by hundreds for
weeks last spring to no purpose.
Western republicans were thoroughly
and returned to their
homes fully resolved that there must
be some change made.
Not only do the clerks claim that
they now are secure in their posi-
tons for the rest of their lives, but
they have had a plan under consid-
Grafton for several years to receive a
pension in their old age. They have
had two or three bills with this pur-
pose in view, which they expect to
pass through congress sooner or later.
This is more far-reaching than many
would suppose in its scope and one
that every taxpayer needs to scan
and fully understand. 1t sounds
very plausible when you hear the
statement that lew old clerks who
have been very faithful in working
tor the government should not be
turned out, like old horses, to the
charities of cold world in their old
age. Is this an actual fact? AS YOU
look at this or that superannua ted
old man pointed out to you and ask
IL he is 60 feeble danf o.l Il l.