Civil Service Reform--theory And Practice

On tlio ltith of April last tho Presi ont the following messago to 'ongrees : Washington, April 16, 1872. Tho Advisory Board of tho Civil Sor vico, having completed the groupinj, cmtemplatod by the rules airead; odopted, have reconimonded certain provisions for carrying tho rules into offoct. The recommondations, as herowitl pubHshod, are approvod, and tho pro visions will be euforcod as rapidly ab tho proper arrangement can bo mado and tho thirteonth of tho rules adopte" on the 19th day of December last is amendud to road as pubh'shod horo with. The utmost fidolity and diligence ■will be expected of all officors in every branch of tho public service. Politica astessments, as tliey are called, have been for bidiJ-en irithin the variota Departmmts ; an whilo tho right of all persons in officia position to take part in politics is acknowlodgod,, and tho olective franchise is ivcognizod as a high trust to bo dis charged by all entitled to its exercise whether in the employment of the Government or in private life, honesty and efficiency, not political activity, -wil determine the tenure of office. U. S. GRANT. By the President. Hamiiton Fish Secretary of State. A bilí for Civil Service Reform, in troduced into the House of Representares by the Ilon; C. W. Willard, was defeated by the Administraron major ity, and the rules and regulations pro mulgated by the President were denounced by the President's friond Gen. Butlor, as "a slander upon Con gress, a violation of the Constitution and a wrong to tho Government.' Nevertholess, the new rulos, as reported by tho Advisory ttoard, w )re accepted by the Executive, and became, until suspendod by the same authority which proclaimod them, virtually part of tho laws of the service. The llth of theso rules is as follows : llth. No head oí a Department, nor any subordínate officer oí the Government, shall, as such officer, authorize, or permit, or assist in lovying any assessment of money for jolitical purposes, under the form of vohmtary contributtons or otlwrwüe, upon anyperson employed uuder his control, nor shall any t.tch person pay any such money assessed. There has never been an honest attempt to enforco tliis rule, and there was never meant to be. Gen. Butler was quite right when he called it "a political trick, sprung upon tho eve of a Presidential election." Assessments for pnlitical purposes are made as much as thoy ever were, and w-o learn from a credible source that the Republican Congi'ess Committee is now preparing oirculars and recoipt books for a general colloction among the Federal officeholdors. Wlictlior it will be made openly, or under soiae thin disguise, we cannot say ; but the Administration might as well bo frank about it. A letter which we publish this morning explains one way in which the Reeloctionists break tho rule while pretending to keep it. Circulars are sent to tho Department clorks, not in the name of the Congruss Committee, bnt of State Associations, demanding a contribution ty the expenses of the eampaign. The Washington clerks are all assuined to be members of these associations, and the secretarios or chairmen aro bureau officers. Of course it is very wcll undorstood what the consequences would be if any man ehould refuse to pay. And now to mako the farce completo, the Washington Chronicle, organ of tho President's particular friend, Senator Hurlan, givos formal notice to tho placo-holders of the capital that heresy in the Departments is to be rigorously exposed and seterely punished. " Thero may be many persons in office hero who, somehow or othor, manage to survivo the most radical political changos. It is au active poiitical season that can cliange an Administration quicker than your wide-awake professional can change his coat. We are on the lookout for that class of gentlemen these days, and shall not fail to note any indications in that direction from time t time. Like the sinner under conviciion who prayed 'good Lord, good dovil,' thero are those equally amiablo toward Grant or Greeley, not being altogether certain into whose clutches they may fall. We shall tako particular dolight in announcing a.l efforts of these political acróbata to maintain their official equilibrium during the trying scènes of Summer eampaign. Thero are a few who aro already practicing in private beforo their more intímate friends, and we shall watch their progresa and give it to our readers, as it cannot fail to fumish interesting reading." Civil Service Servië Reform in theo ry eays that honesty and efficiency, not politieal activity, wil determine tho tonuro of' oílico." Civil Service Reform in practico saya that tsvory office-holder wln fnils to show his zoal for tho President's r(!-olection shall bo published as a bad subject, and must face the consequences. Civil Service profossions declare that political assessments, " under the form of voluntary contributions or othorwise," shcdi not bo lovied, or if levied shall not be paid. Civil Servico practicas compd clorks to pay their Wt:it' Associations, and tho State Associations turn their monoy over to the treasurios of eampaign organization. Wo do not bolieve this fraudulont pretenso of reform decoives a single man in tho United Statos.