The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-12
Bodnd TO Reform
The Civil Service

Special Correspondence of The Tribune
Washington, Jan. Il.
GPHE suppressed wrath, which seems
to have been accommodating and
gathering strength during the hoh-
day recess, against the question
able policy of continuing In force
during the present administration and
making respectable the celebrated hog
order of President Cleveland, by which
900 partisan Democrats were swept in
under the protective covering of the civil
service blanket by one stroke of his pen.
just prior to his enforced retirement as
chief magistrate of the nation found vent
in the house of representatives, almost as
soon as that body had settled itself down
to the resumption of legislative business
on Wednesday last by violent outbutst
Of indignation and savage hostility on the
part of those opposed to the fanatical the
ories of the class known as 'civil service
reformers," as well as TO the manner in
which the civil service law was admins
tered during the reign of the Cleveland
dynasty. In the debate which followed
Mr.. Lands, of Indiana, seemed to carry
off the honors. Among other things he
said that the class known as anti-spoils-
men advertised themselves as "the better
element" and this element, when not en-
gagged In getting office for itself was
exceedingly active in attempting to keep
deserving people out of office, and that
wherever one secs a crowd or clique in a
community calling itself "the better ele-
ment," look out for It, as a narrow, sell
fish, bigoted and dangerous class. who
have been nothing but political guerriilas
since 1850, bulldo2ing national conventions,
demoralizing senators and representa-
tives. hypnCti2ing presidents of the Unit
ed States and by q bold and audacious
policy of political piracy managing to sit
tf,,,, hnn
added that under the administration of
Logan Carlisle, son of Secretary Carlisle
| OF the treasury department, as chief
| clerk and official headsman, 1000 Repub-
| licans We're discharged and their places
| filled with Democrats, after which the
| blanket representing the so called merit
system" was at once spread over them
| and there they remain. The same condi-
| tion of things was true of the government
printing office where, under the regime
| of Public Printer Benedict and his man
| Friday, (Albert Baker, private secretary,
| 1,SOO Republicans were turned out ana
| their places filed with Democrats and the
| civil service extended TO cover them in.
o.
Mr.. Lands here produced a book kept
| by Mr.. Baker in which Il record was kept
| of the charges against Republican Of
| tenders, both male and female. These
| charges We're trivial and ludcrous, and
when read excited a great deal OF mirth
| on both sides OF the house. Nearly all
| discharges made were for partisan rea-
sons. "rhe strange sequel, however, to
| this burlesque," said Mr.. Lands, sis the
| most humorous part of the joke. Upon
| the advent of the present public printer
| Mr.. Palmer (Republican), Mr.. Baker had
| to walk the plank, but he wasn't out but
| a short time until he was reinstated un-
| der the one year limit and transferred to
| the treasury department, where he has a
| brother as chief of a division, and from
! thence to the civil service commission,
| where he today sits near the throne
| equally dividing his time between burn
| ing incense to those gods in the flesh and
| grading the manuscripts sent in by Re-
| publicans ambitious to hoiu office under
this Republican administration"
| Mr.. Lands then paid his RESPECTS to
party workers in the following terse and
| vigorous language: 81 believe in the par
| ty worker. l believe in standing up for
him away from home when not a candi-
| date for office, as well as at home when
a candidate for office. i like the party
| worker because he is generally keen,
| bright active and alert. Because he rep
resents the sentiment of the community IN
| which he lives, however small it may be.
He knows the peoples sympathies. He
| is acquainted with the peoples wants.
|
familiar with politics and / tell you that
in the political organizations OF our town
ships, counties, districts and state, the
best blood, the best brain, the best en-
thusiasm, the best citizenship, is repre-
sented on the township, county, district
and state committees. Party workers are
good men, brave men, courageous men,
Parties being essential to a republican,
form of government, coincident with the
birth OF the republic, and Fundamental
| with the constitution, the party worker
is the country's best friend in time OF
peace and in time of war, he would be
the man to orgeniZe a company in his
township a regiment In his county, anC
a brigade In his congressional district
And that's the reason 1 like him. The
professional civil service reformer who is
responsible for the perverson and de-
struction of this principle OF party loyal
ty, is the child Of the Pharsee. HC
would have us believe that public service
Is reproach, political ambition am in
fanny and political success the epitaph o.
! self-respect, and yet he is always holdinl
office himself. He Is never happy un!es,
he is writing reform phillipics on govern
ment stationery with one hand and af
fixing his signature to the government
pay roll with the other He is the mo
nopolist of wisdom, the self-constituteC
guardian OF the integrity and consclenc,
Of Christendom, IN gentle shepherd o
hope and progress. His library is the ricl
and fertile garden wherein the fad bloom
: and blossoms. Hi best argument is
sneer; to him histiry is a lamentation
! with him public auP private virtue begli
and end. He has Spking chills when h
thinks that posslblySome time the worl,
2 will be compelled t6tget along withou
! him. He is unreasonable, unjust, bigoted
: selfish. and malicious, md SO he plays hi
part"
%
, Congressman Grosvenor, Of Ohio. an