The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-01-14
THE lNTELLlGENCER.
Z WHEELING. JANUARY IA. 1905.
Csc and Abuse Of clrn service Keforr

ticlc written for the North American Re-
view In 1882 on 1.-THE Use and Abuse o.
Civil Service Reform" by Hon. Richard
Randolph Mcmahon, OF Harper's Ferry,
ss this state, who was at tina. time deputy
Y comptroller Of the treasury. In view OF
the agitation OF this question at presen.
In Congress, and in political circles
Throughout the country. the publication
4 of the pamphlet is a valuable contribu-
ton TO the literature tha,is being issued
concerning the various phases q; the sub
jee,.
While the article was designed to up
hold the spirit and intent OF the civil SER
vice law. Mr.. McSlahon discusses the
question from that standpoint conserva-
tirely, and In the admirable literary
style which charac:erizes all his writ
!ngs. AT the time the contribution ap-
peared in the North American Review
many OF the abuses OF the Law. which
have since contributed TO create a feel
ing against some OF its features, had no:
appeared. Mr. Mcmahon adds an app.
! pendix, In which he quotes some letters
received at the time of the appearance
4 OF the article, from distinguished men OF
{ the country commencing generally the
& sentiment which inspired Il.
Among these.letters is one from JAMES
G. Blaine. written while tina, grea.
statesman was secretary OF state, in
Z which he used language thai, as the au-
thor Of the pamphlet admits. read in the
light Of recent events. seems almost
prophets. In this letter Mr.. Blaine,
while commencing the cause OF civil SER
Vice reform, as Il was then understood.
dclared: Tho danger apprehend Is that
zealots, who are never practical, may
overdo what should be done with the
greatest care and caution. They.are too
{ eager fora general expansion which
: would only, invite hostility TO the system
and perhaps result in a total collapse.
Civil service reform Is like tender
plant; It's growth cannot be forced; It
must mature raturally."s
The prophecy contained In these words
of Mr.. Blaine, written privately to Mr..
McMahon nine years ago, seems to have
been verified BY :he inconsiderata and
often unfair extension % the system. by
the administration th2: vacated Office
last March. In his appendix to the
North American Review article Mr. Nc
3 Mahon seems to admit this much, al
though pers!st!ng that the cause otc!rn
service is the cause OF right and justice
And 50 It is. when properly carried out
and the law observed In the manner IN
which 1t was originally designed that It
should be.
n The "inconsiderate extension" referred
TO, however. has in some Instances,
amounted TO an abuse. Referring to Mr..
Blaire's expressed apprehension con-
corning the zeaInts, the autho- of the
pamphlet says: "Mr. Blaine well knew,
and concede, that general expansion.
covering all places, would only Invite !
hostility and attack. There are certain
positions. especially those whereof The
incunDents, are appointed by and re-
Ssponstble 20 their immediate superiors
FOR the performance OF duty and the
custody Of money, which Should. in my
judgment. be exempted" s3
Possibly the late Charles a. Dana, who
also wrote letter complimenting Mr..
tAIcMahon's article, had this idea In his
mind when he expressed himself in some
what more vigorous language. and in his
own characteristic English. as follows:
81 am not, as you seem 10 think, hostile
TO civil service reform, but am opposed
TO the humbug and hypocrisy OF cranks,
theorists and Self-elected reformers who
are themselves the mos, pers!sten, place
hun.ers. The best way to test man is
20 let him prove VIVA: Is In him. II he is
qualified his work will show It, II :he
public offices are crowded with idle
.loafe:z who are. as You say, 'bentlicia--
les of the influence system scholastic
examination IS not necessary 10 discover
their wo-thlcssness.' +
Mr.. sMcalahon answers this last. obser-
walton OF Mr.. Dana's by saying tina, st
IS equally true that with proper safe.
guards and under the test OF proper and
examination. such characters
never would have come into the public
service" This also is true. but It is
equally true that in the past few years
'the tendency toward the !nconsiderate
expansion which Mr.. Blaine feared has
had the, effect to keep large number OF
such characters In Office. Under the last
Democratic administration thousands
were appointed TO offices no, In the
classified service, and for political re-
wards, Just as appointments we're made
under the old spoils system, and, after
they were safely housed by the party
they had helped elcc: to power. the "ln.
cons!deratc and general extensions Of.
tho law" were made for their protection
in Offices TO which they were appointed
without having to undergo cxamina-
lho1s Their appointments were rewards