New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-26
CIVIL NERCENARIES.

The orgonizatIon of the public Servants vi '''''
c. ,,.o mutual benefit and protective asso'
oio,,on ,s an undertaking which may nave us
-, .,,o bpt u also has It's dangers Doth loi
tho office holders and the Cominoh"'"i''
inc will more surely reverse the P'''V"' 49,,
d,ncy toward permanent tenure IN the Wv"
service and give the spells system new 'o'ei
otto, than n widespread attempt o. puphc e"i
,,,oros IN exert organized power for their own
,onos, On the government of which they are ~
80 o,,,vons and servants No government can
90 ,i,to afford 10 endure selfish political ehor's
-. ,roopizad hands of Office holders as repuD-
lie A despotism can withstand unreasohao'e
aoroords from its clerks. for 1t does not rest on
choir favor. but when under a popular govern
ment any class of citizens can co"''n.
threaten their employer with overthrow II lie
does not raise their wages or otherwise uo '','"
will the public administration Is reduceu " III
potence and the State becomes the ihere 'i'"'
ure of permanent otticialdom
,rbe object of the association formed the o'iei
night in Brooklyn is avowed TO be to secure reg
MAR increases of salary and estaOhSh p'n''o
funds II is frankly admitted that legislation -
sought and in order that it may be more easily
.oo,,-od tho association Is made TO include EN-
n,ores NJ other cities so that people inhuehtlai
Nth more legislators NAV have a stake in the
enterprise SO far rs the plan 10 secure pen'io''
funds by contributions from the men ." Ii o''''
pensation or otherwise to devise means ior ii'"'
nal assistance II is to be commenced pu' 'no III
slant il becomes an organized engine I" ioiN0
salary increase and Government PENSIONS !. W.
comes n public danger which should DE resoiu'e'
Il. ounnressed The regulations prescribed lor
tho Army and Navy fix a standard OF propriety
which should bo adopted by other public ser
wants and the recent action of the Posto'hce De-
nortment in breaking mp a salary-raising com
binaton of It's employees Is worthy OF emuiat'oh'
In every department where office hoiders nave
been permitted TO use their combined influence
IN tbe Government for their own dement, rs OF
flee holders the results have been unfortunate
The cohesive power Of public plumber Is SUM-
GENTLY baleful when 1t manifes's nseh i'll inc
usual channels Of individual ambition ana part!
interest but when professional solidarity II III
raved 10 hold up the treasury the evl Is ih'enS'-
ned The nature Of service In the fire ana po-
lice departments naturally leads TO close Assoc
cia,ion and the character of the work Is such
TINT retiring pensions properly go with IL. Net
there Is a strong temptation for these assocIa-
tIons to go beyond the line Of legitimate ac'V-
ity. as is shown by the repeated scandals ABOUT
fire and police funds raised to influence leeiSia-
ton in Albany. If the system OF orgahlZeu
'hold-ups" and threats TO take whole PROBES
sions into politics as compact bodies is 10
continue and spread, our Government VIII De
much like that of degenerate Rome when the
Emperor was AT the mercy of his guards. we
enlist mercenaries TO serve us, and they imme-
diately organize to rule u.s.
This is a danger from body of permanent
| and protected office holders which the opponents
| OF Civil Service reform have often pleaded. ii
| the Office holders themselves begin TO show that
| the argument is we'll founded they may ma
their tenure seriously menaced. They may force
! Civil Service reformers to begin new crusade
| as the only way TO save what has been gained
already from ruin. The protected office holders
! i'm the lower ranks are already paid more Tor
less work than they would be In any private
employment 1t may be necessary to make
these places less desirable, so as TO exclude the
politicians and agitators who seek snecures