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Congressman Gorman On Civil Service

Congressman Gorman On Civil Service image
Parent Issue
Day
3
Month
February
Year
1893
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A Washington dispateh of the Detroit Free Press, Wednesday, containa the following: Kepresentative Gorman this afternoon introduced a bilí for the repeal of the civil service law of 1883, known as the Pendleton act He will press the measure actively during the remainder oí this congress, and if unsuccessful this year will introduce it next year. ïhere is much discussion oL ch'ange and repeal of the civil service law, and Mr. Gorman's bilí attracted much couiraent today. Congressman Gorman saidinreply to questions this afternoon : "I introduced the bilí in gobd faith. and 1 believe when the people once understand the real import of the law and its qperations they will concur in the opinión which is manifestly erowing daily that t,he law is decidedlv" uuAmerican and essentially uudemocratic. Iu the lirst place, its origin was from an element in our citizenship which really belongs to the Haminon school of politics. Second, it is contrary to the principies and teachings of the Democratie party iii that it niakes a lile ten ure of office from which arises a class of citizenship which can be denotninated as an official class. W'nen once placed in a position they are enabled to not only retain their own places, but, by means best known to themselves and advantages that can be taken by any class of people against any well-intended law, to also secare the appointment of their (rienda. This is evidenced by referring to the blue book, which will show thattbe District of Columbia furnishes more clerks in the varions departments than the largest state in the unión, thereby making it an official class, often of family relations, which. according to the experience I have liad here. makes a very indifferent and sometimes weak class of office-holders, in that they reahze when placed in position and held there by a law they are practically marters of the situation, dependent on no one, shirk their official duties to the limit, do just what they are absolutely obliged to do, and there end, while if their retention in office depended entirely on their efficiency, their good conduct, their obedience to their superiors and their willingness to do their work, it would at once build up a class of office-holders that would be subservient to the will of the people and their retention in office would depend entirely upon their official conduct. I am purely democratie in this matter. I believe in trusting the people and placing all offices subject to the will and determination of the people. I don't want any la w-made class of officials. A continuance of the present civil service law will, in my mind, within a few years precipítate another question upon congress, and that is the placing of government employés on what might be called the retiring list, with part pay, after a certain period in the public service."

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News