The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-31
SECRETARY cox.
Battle Agnlnst Political PatrouaRe-NO Forced
Assessments In His Department..

Battle Against Political PatrouaRe-No Forced
Assessments In His Department..
Three letters frem Secretary COX to leading Re-
publican politicians, who desired to control the pa
tTonage OF his Department in the interest of the
ing letter was addressed to the Secretary of the Con
gressional Republican Committee, the Hon. j. w.
Clendennng, after Mr.. Platt had asked Mr.. Cox for
list of his employees and given promise that the
calls made upon the clerks should be for voluntary
contributions only
"DEPARTMEST m M OF THE INTERIOR WASHINGTON. d. O.,
J9y 49, SiomDear SrIn sosordance with your requess
to yourself and Mr. Piatt VIZ That in my efforts to
they hold their places subject to removal for lack Of
efficiency or integrity and that NO sub T,
rctention capacity or Industry be lacking
with him that the list was only desired order to give
% ut the to invite such as felt en-
committee undertaking. and not TO impose
they to make bare existence Of their salaries
a ON pc Sor 5 Il did no a
na 1Ry % sGnd be than ham
benSft 40 va, 80 ,o ponn,,i,, n,r,u
pIoye putting each clerk bis merit alone for
sSa serSsn to contribute Very & G4x'
Under date of August 10 Mr.. Cox addressed let
ter to the Hon. II. D. Harrison, Chairman Of the
Republican Executive Committee of Ohio. The
committee had requested list OF the names Of those
pointed from Ohio, with amount Of salary, name of
county, etc. The Secretary declines in very cour-
thous language to comply with the request, on the
ground that would be right to do so there
fore not for the interest Of the Republican party.
S n IN & Ina TPs scR
4s e DIRECTLY to the civil service
reform 11 which believe to be 50 imperative i necessity
FORMS cannot longer delay to make part Of their plat
oPS
mittee, is an innovation in a bad direction"
el,r fHoa Of
political assessments and the of department
patronage for partisan purposes the Secretary
says:-
ment peculiar have been endeavorng to correct
Competitive examinations to test the capacity Of app
% n Or w sT SaYs 3 a
Examiners and from that time their own character and
promotion Under these circumstances the circular of
m s
receiving the circular though am Informed the oom
endanger their places the most demorazing thing
sincerely taken and would rot remain ip the depart
%ss ~.
sa e to do " 10
and now would respond to the n extent OF their
tary ZEAL but the best officers and the best Republicans
whole system of levied assessments"
The letter enclosed check for $50, as mark OF
the writer's personal confidence in the good pur-
poses of the committee and the value of their work.
General II. V. Boynton, Washington correspondent
Of the Cincinnati Gasstte says that the ONO commit on
Cox while the Congressional and Pennsylvania
committees joined in battle against him. In lett er
to the latter committee the subject, dated
September S, the Secretary says, after refusing
request 'to call upon the PennsylVanians in the
Department.
1.-THE Republican party is appealing to the county to
support it for the honesty and admins
tration among other things regard civil service
form which shall put the emploges OF the Departments
upon the rule indicated by Mr. Webster when Secrets
of State 1S41, being essential to honest and
thrifty administration of the Department, and have
deepy regretted what 1 regarded a danger of
losing the substance of political for the shadow.
Jhe Republic party will preserve its and
tge only by continuing to be the party OF the right and
needs to be exceedingly cautious of innoyatons in
| directions, lik q ne have alluded ton