The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-06-20
ClvlL SERVICE REFORM.

In declaiinr that Territorial Officials
must refrain from offensive puf .Iatu.
shin sov.rnor Dole simply applies ln,
Hawaii the Northumberland ptiuU'p
H ciVil service reform ul which Ifrrl-
dent Roosevelt has been lIf.-l1ne tN-
empiar Very lately the President
based IN order upon these lines. APP
plying II 10 United States officials aud
because of 81 Marshal iicndry resigned
from the serrptarNship Of the k"publl-
can Territorial Committee. II VIII b"
pleasing 20 the Federal Executive.
though perhaps not unauuylptted by
him, TO ind the Territorial administra-
ton of Hawaii I'm accord WIN the RUE
regarding the active work 81 local OIL
stockholders In politics which he. him
self, has so lately enforced ana has $"
long supported.
The question Of what oifensiN" paru-
sanship u.s. will now come in for discus
sion. Certainly the new rule does not
inhibit the exercise Of the political
rights uf % citizen, among which 's lhe
priviiece of speaking and writing Tor
his marty at times when he Is not en-
sloSed IN official duties. But II aSsur-
eddy rules out the official perpetuation
Of tricks which have made 50 much
trouble In the politics of HAWAII dur-
ing the past two years. No oti1ce-hold-
err may COLOMBO primaries log-roll con-
Nentions. put up jobs TO place the par
~ minority where the majority belongs
and make fractional bargains with the
enemy, and expect to hold his job. His
operations along such lines can only
lead to his dismissal Nor can he
plunge into the general canvass. how
ever patriotic his motive may b., and
use time for which the taxpayers OF all
parties pay him in an effort to secure
the victory OF one.
Under the old spoils system public
office was invariably political ma
chine and at that time the efficiency
and honesty of the public service were
at their lowest ebb. Men were put into
Office as a reward for political services
and their tenure there was determined
by the further services they could rem
der. Fitness was not the main thing;
dishonesty, If not too public, was over.
looked or condoned; and If IA man could
carry a primary or convention. his
chances of promotion in office were far
better than they We're when his skill
exhausted itself in showing a clean bal
ance sheet. AS an instance of the
spells system. whenever campaign
began II was the custom to stuff the
payrois with men who were bribed, IN
that way, to vote the ticket. The abuse
became so swollen and far-reaching
that the civil service reform movement
Of the latter seventies took shape with
results which have elevated the public
service to n plane which, If not yet
ideally high, at least commands respect
and confidence
1t is natural to expect from such a
man as Governor Dole an adherence
TO the highest and purest forms of pub
lie administration. Hence his course
in regard to the offensive use of polit-
zeal opportunities by office holders
causes no surprise. AS to its party eff
feet. one may rest at ease upon the old
maxim that he serves his party best
who serves his country best. 1t is bet
ter for Republicanism in Hawaii tC
prove its representatives are giving the
Territory a sound and useful govern
ment than It is to turn any number OF
brilliant political tricks. Politics as a
game means little to us; good govern,
nent everything