The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-15
ClVIL-SERVICE REGULATIONS.
comparison of of Carl schurz
and Cornelius Bliss.
E. Curtis, in Chicago Record.

o5O 4kNAOA0.
In discussing the order of the President
modifying the civil-service regulations ii
should be remembered that il was made on
the recommendation of several of his Cabinet
ofhcers after two years of practical expert
ence-men who stand as high for honesty.
integrity, intelligence and business capacity
as any citizens Of the United States. They
are the real friends of civil-service reform.
Ihey are not theorists, but men Of practical
common sense. They have not spent their
ilVes IN theorizing, but in actual practice.
Ineir love OF country, their anxiety for pure
government and their efforts for an efficient
CIVIL service are just as great as those of the
enthusiasts who meet in conventions and
ADOPT resolutions advocating this and de-
nouncing that without any Knowledge or ex-
perience.
III the sensible citizens Of this world were
to elect a man to take charge of a great
business enterprise Carl Schurz, Charles ].
Bonaparte. William Dudley Foulke. E. L.
Godkin, Edward Atkinson, R. r. Bowker,
the editor of the New York Nation, and
other great reformers would not receive a
vote. But men Of the ability and experience
OF Cornelius n. Bliss and Lyman ]. Gage
would be selected.
l do not believe that anybody of sound
mind would say that Carl Schurz had any
higher patriotism or any clearer appreciation
OF the practical science of government than
Cornelius n. Bliss. AS an agitator Mr..
Schurz has been a success on two hemi-
spheres; as a secretary of the interior he
was the most conspicuous failure that had
ever been seen in Washington.
Cornelius N. Bliss is one of the great bust
mess men of this country; He began as ar
Gilce boy In a wholesale dry-goods house in
Boston, without capital or other advantages.
AFTER thirty years of remarkable success he
commands the cotton trade of the United
states ana ls universally recognized as one
or the most honorable and able business men
OF this country. His mere promise will be
accepted by any bank or any manufacturing
corporation or any business house in the
United States. or Great Britain. 1t is not
necessary for him TO write his name or sign
always suftie Se give An a e eSne; His Terd- d Is
of1cial OF the Interior Department, any mem
per OF Congress who is familiar with its
AFFAIRS, any contractor who has business
with that branch of the government will
tell you that Mr.. Bliss was the most sue
cessful secretary of the interior they had
ever known and that Mr.. SchUrz was the
worst. Mr.. Schurz introduced many new
IDEAS OF his own and applied some of his
Iavorite theories Of government, but they
were miserable failures and created con-
FUSION and caused the useless expenditure OF
large sums OF money. Mr.. Bliss reorganized
brought into the executive chair a most
valuable experience and ability. He strength
ened the weak spots and reformed the in
efncient and awkward methods, abolished
useless offices, cut down expenses and in
creased the efficiency of the service to a
greater degree than was ever done by any
| of his predecessors. Mr.. Bliss was not seek
ing reputation or working for a salary.
From motives of patriotism he sacrificed a
LIE OF comparative leisure and luxury to
work twelve and fifteen hours a day for the
government and paid his whole salary for
house rent.
/ 1l1
in the civil-service organization were recon-
mended by Mr.. Bliss. after an experience of
two years. as necessary to the efficiency of
the service. They are opposed by Mr..
Schurz because they do not conform to his
theories. If you will ask a vote of conf
dence in the judgment of these two men
from the business community of New York,
Chicago or any other city. Mr.. Schurz will
not get votes enough to count, and yet
Schurz for a moment with the management
of their business affairs are now approving
his Criticisms of the recommendations made
AS an illustration let me relate one little
story in the experience of Mr.. Bliss as sec.
rotary of the interior. After he had been
nation Of a certain official. A
of the C1vil-Service Reform League came
rushing into Washington by the first train.
kilograms and letters of protest showered
upon him. Certain newspapers declared that
he had become the tool of the spoilsmen.
When the committee called upon Mr. Bliss
of the number had ever had personal
knowledge of the ability and efficiency of
PEELED TO admit that he had not: but it had
been represented TO them that an efficient
and faithful servant. was being removed
Who makes that representation" asked
Mr.. Bliss.
Nobody knew; the committee had come
to Washington at the request of the official
in question. who had himself informed them
of the facts Of the case. -
have tolerated this man for a year, and he
has exhausted my patience. He is perhaps
the most incompetent man holding an i'm
portant position under my jurisdiction, He
is not only incompetent himself, but he has
appointed his wife as his private secretary
lation Of the civil-service rules. and both
of them are still more incompetent than he.
His wife has never done anything. so far as
can learn, to earn her salary, and the
son is utterly worthless. / have instructed
him over and over again to remove them
and appoint competent eligibles from the
civil-service list In their places. but he has
refused to do so. He is insubordinate as
we'll as incompetent and if you will take
the trouble to make an inquiry you will
tolerating him as long as have. / have
given the public no reason for calling for
his resignation, In order to protect his repu-
tation and shield him from criticism, and
now you gentlemen come here to protest
against an official act which you know MOTH
Ing about; and ahs one which Is entirely for the
The committee made a brief inquiry, with
drew its protest and went home.
/ have selected Mr.. Bliss and Mr.. Schurz
for the purpose of comparison because both
are we'll known throughout the country. and
both have occupied the office of secretary of
the interior. I might make a similar conn
parison between Mr.. Gage and Mr.. Carlisle.
| The civil-service regulations were never VIC
lated so often. so openly and so generally
in the treasury or any other department as
during the administration Of Mr.. Carlisle.
They have never been observed so conscien-
Gage. Mr.. Carlisle was a failure as an adj
ministrative officer. Mr.. Gage is a great sue
cess, as he was in private life. Mr.. Carlisle
Endorsed the rules of the Civil-service Com
mission and violated them. Mr.. Gage OBJ
serves them. but points out their defects
and asks TO have them corrected. Which
policy is right?
Iron Is King.