President Hayes, we are sorry to see, has been defeated
in his, first great effort at Civil-Service reform. He had removed the- Collector and Naval Officer of New York for interfering in elec- tions, and encouraging their officers to subscribe the regular per centage in favour of some State " ticket," and nominated in their stead Messrs. Roosevelt and Captain Prince. The Senate, how- ever, must confirm these nominations, and on the 12th inst. the- Senate refused, rejecting the nominations by 82 to 25, only six Re- publicans and 19 Democrats voting with the President. In the United States, as elsewhere, dismissed officers remain in office to carry on business until their successors arrive, and the result of the Senate's vote is therefore to confirm the officers dismissed in their places.. The Senate was guided by Mr. Conkling, who holds the system of official interference in elections to be essential to the working of the Government, and who has a personal quarrel with Presi- dent Hayes ; but there can be no doubt that the Senate is utterly opposed to Civil-Service reform, and will not sanction it until, the body of the electors interfere. These latter are in favour of the President, but are nervous about allowing appointments during good behaviour, as they think officials appointed for life would be a sort of aristocracy. The President does not seek re-election, and will, it is believed, remain firm.
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