The Honesdale citizen. [volume] (Honesdale, Pa.) 1873-1908, 1908-07-02
90 happened that an apt


himself. Gen. Black. While performing
the duties and dra wing the salary Of the
Office, he was receiving pension of tiOO
n month-the highest rate given by law
-as "a physical wreck" II was also
quite well understood that the bill wac
prepared and carried through Congress
by q combination Of pension attorneys,
claim sharks, and others OF like proles-
sion, and that when it went into effect
the Pension Bureau would be flooded
with doubtful and spurious claims. While
the veto was savagely denounced by the
interests that suffered by it, the best ele
Inents of both parties, with u large pro
portion OF the veterans, gave il "A cordial
Endorsement. Even Matthew Stanley
Quay, who had just been elected L. Is.
Senator but had not yet taken his
seat, and who, during the war, had been
colonel OF the 134;h Pa. Vols., expressed
his hearty approval OF 1t. While the bill
had passed the House by a majority of
1O4, when the vote was reached on the
question Of passing 1t over the veto the
public condemnation OF its provisions
in lite favor WAS only fifty, aud the veto
was thus sustained.
Mr.. Cleveland, while Governor OF New
York, was n strong advocate OF "civil
service REFORM" by the adoption OF the
merit" system Of making ,appointm snts,
and aided in the enactment Of statutes
giving effeot to the plan OF competitive
examinations. Upon taking the Presi
Dental chair, he endeavored to put the
same principles In operation in federal
appointments, and announced that, with
the exception Of heads OF departments,
foreign ministers. and other officials
charged directly with the execution OF
the policy of the administration, there
would be no removals without cause.
He soon found, no wever, that while
President might be better than his party,
1t was far more difficult for him to be
stronger than his party. The Democ-
racy, which had suffered the hunger for
Office for twenty -four years, clamored to
be fed; as one western Congressman
bluutiy expressed 1t, they were "squeal-
ing for swill." No one could question
the Presidents sincerity in demanding q
satisfactory standard OF fitness In official
appointments but the political oondi-
tions were such that he was unable to
resist the party pressure for disregard
OF any standard beyond party demands
After period OF backing aud filling, the
classification OF causes recognized 'of-
fensive partlsRnship," "obttusive par
tisanship." and "pernicious activity" In
politics as satisfactory grounds for the
removal OF Republicans, and the appoint
ment in their places OF Democ rats OF not
less offensive, obtrusive or pernicious
partisanship and activity ia politics
There were numerous grotesque exam
pies Of the applioat OF Mr.. Cleveland s
revised Reform principles. For in
stance, District Attorney Stone, OF Penn.
sylvania, q Republican, and District At.
torney Benton, Of Missouri, Dem ocrat,
we're sN3en''i for making political
speecheE tn rsupon Mr.. Benton ad-
80 sega lettrr - the Attorney General.
rseHhg forth his services during the cam
pQsgn, with list OF his appointments,
WHICH, he declared, were 80 arranged
that he could look In upon his official
business once in each week; and Sens
| tor Vest made n wrathful demand on the
President to rescind the order of suspen.
sion. As result, Mr.. Benton was rein
stFztsrd, though with sfdFP~ 1asactlFs- by
the President. Then Mr. Stone, encour.
aged thereby, made application for re-
lnstatement, showing that he had made
but two speeches, both In the evening"
leaving his office after the adjournment
OF court, and returning before 1t opened
Ia the morning. The President, in re-
sponse, admitted that Mr.. Stones course
did not result In any neglect of official
duty. Yet there was a marked difference
between the two cases : Mr.. Benton's
speeches were LII ide In the cause of De-
Inocracy, while those OF Mr.. Stone were
In opposition to II, aud, as Mr.. Cleveland
pointed out, were calculated to Offend
aud irritate the friends Of the adminis-
tration." Therefore Mr.. Stones sus.
pension was made a final dismissal, aud
ne Was succeeded by a Democrat. Au-
other case showed that the rule In rsla-
tion to cause" was retroactive, and with
no statute OF Limitations to bar removals
under it. In the summer OF 1886. ]. b.
Hill, the Republican Marshal OF the
Eastern District of North Carolina. WAS
removed la reply to Senate resolu-
tion OF inquiry as to the cause, Attorney
General Garland stated that Mr.. Hill had
been a delegate to the Republican Ma
tional Convention of 1884, more than two
years previously, and five weeks before
Mr.. Cleveland had even been nominated
for the Presidency; and for that act of
obtrusive and offensive partisanship and
pernioious activity, under previous ad-
ministration, his official head was suiu-
Inarily whacked OF.
The cases referred to were typical of
the general course pursued in the matter
OF appointments during Mr.. Clevelaud's
administration. They show the diff
cultles connected with the work OF begin
Mug civil service reform, the obstacles
with which the President was confront
ed at every step, the prodigious pressure
to which he was subjected by his party
~A@N NHS cAiAbb " lie WAS driven In
order to maintain working relations with
the great body OF those on whom he neces-
sarily depended for support, aud who
bitterly opposed any infraction OF the
nall century old rule that 40 the visitors
belong tue spoils." H struggled earnest-
~ to establish the principles OF civil
service reform, but found himself con
fronted wish conditions that crowded
theories into the gutter. 80 far as prac-
tIcabie, lie gave effect to those principles
by eularging the classified lists OF ap-
poiutiuents TO be filled by competitive ex
animation When his first term began,
these numbered about 10, ,OOO, aud at the
lose OF his second term the number had
risen to about 81, 90
Through the Greater part OF Mr.. Cleye.
lands first term, little Interest was mani
Tested in the tariff. In 1855, Mr. Morrison, q,
Limos, reported from the Ways aud Mean,