Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-23
Curtis on Civil Service.

r'yBIuL ht nav sCCil Vi LIt EtScCDS COL-
.. Of this undertaking. 1t is such free
.r3 cay talk as might be ex pected between
H.ud reporter and the HOwadji.
SIR Curti.-S0me of the journals seemed
t,t.ke t far granted that my letter of resig-
,.an was intended TO reflect upon the
President. The fact is that the President's s
view, Of the character and requirements of
tie reform differed from my own. Had |
.ge.toned his sincerity in this matter |
should certainly not have assured him of the
.utnuance Of my support. The President
found that this was a more severe and diff
caIt Undertaking than he probably supposed
E.uorter-D.d You not mean to say by
vop~ letter that the President had abandoned
reform
Sir. Curtis (sPeaking leisurely) oh,
lear. no Ny letter showed simply dit
fr.uc. Of opinion between the President and
myself ! did not say the President had
aIniouod reform, but | said that this
-aemed tn me to be an abandonment of the
rogllations 1t isn't at all my view that
THE p esidcnt has mace any pledges which
he has violated. | haven't the slightest i'll
a.ung against the President, and | hope
there Is none on his part Oh, no that's
Perfectly absurd.
R-r3rter-You 30 not think that Presi-
tdr Grant was elected on the ground OF
civil service reform
lr Curtia-Oh, no, no. You must re-
member this.-The persons who demand
elYII service reform are not a powerful ele-
meut IN politics, and here is the proof. AL
.Au.h tbere was Il plank of evil service
reIorm in the republican platfOam which was
a.9prcd in Philadelphia, there was probably
not single representative elected whose
yews on the subject Of this reform were
.-ktd bv his constituents. LIS very fool
i-H thing To represent that the p. esident was
elected on the ground of civil service reform
Ecportcr -N hat are the differences Of
at.u!n bctwe n General Grant and your
seL
Mr. Curtis lie regards the transfer from
ae)urt OF tie service TO another as a pro-
u.tlau within the meaning OF the rules :;
and tleu think that the President is more
ntIntd To carry 1t more strictly within par
ty uucs han | think Is consistent with any
genuine rc0rm. | thipk it very possible
c.c the President interprets the power oil
au.uIlag and changing the rules in a more
arbitrary sense than | think is allowable
ua4yr tie system. You see, therefore, that
the President and | may honestly differ; but
ta-4c Is nothing III my resignation that con-
vel- Il G i5hteeU lmputation upon the Presi
death purpose and sincerity.
AcuutlT-W hich are the " several i'm
n1-.ul appointment. that seemed to show
t.4aa abandonment OF the reform
}r. Clrti>-l referred to the appointments
TT q SuGgcyocshIp and Post Office Of New
I..E 4uI to others | consider these two
..-.luJiuents c,-ar violations of the rules
lr mes, the new Postmaster, is friend
f ui4e. md although don't know much
a.at General Sharpe, the new Surveyor,
Al5w very l5c.s 20 hIs prejudice. My objec
t.a> arc uyC u the men but to the prlncI-
I'D. think the rearpoiutHlent OF Mr..
L~.F in New Orleans was a mistake in view
.ft- report made by the Congressional com
rgr,,r-Why?
Ir. Curt.s-Bacaus, civil service reform
c9a.cup atcs tie removal Of these officers
fu tJAtlcs. au1 also because Mr.. Casey
lot ony taken a conspicuous but even IN
.4r,.Ie- part 10 the politics OF Louisiana
H.. wa- why the President ought not to
a.e. app Iat.d hm, and not because ne was
Tie PrsiIeui's br)tfer-In-law. (OH-handed.) }
]. ats master of taste. The appointment
u. siIv y,r yI New Orleans vas d violation
la lNlt1 " Nu.CI HlSClAGI thC kdAtlCuldt Il
uaucl 10 which certain Surveyors, includ
ID. tn-Jo New Orleans, should be appointed,
and let the Surveyor New Orleans was
appointed in disregard o. the provisions.
Ee{octcr-GOu OBJECT more particularly to
tlD apIontu ents in New York?
1Ir CurtIs-Ies, | think the chlei ap-
riutmeu:s in New York showed that what
i, called poll i'ai nd renee was stronger than
"a!
ReIorter-Do you think that the Presi-
dent Is stll sincere in the matter of civil ser
vice reform?
Nh Curtls-Oh, fully.
Rerouer-And that 1t will be ultimately
established ou a firm basis
Mr. CUrtis-l think that it viii be; but
it must lie in different way from that
which has been pursued during his admins
tltOu. | tbiuk the essential principle oi
civil service reform is filing the Offices with
honest and capable mel in manner which
stall put them
BEYOND MERE POLITICAL PATRONAGE.
O. course when that reform is undertaken by
tie President alone, unless the principe Is
s.girt!y adhered to, there will be no real
c.af ge Of tie - stem, and Consequently, there
wo.Ii be n adequate reeult at the c.o;e Il
BIS administration while If the system were
-tuct.v adhered TO there would be at the
close OF the administration no party 10 the
country that woud d dare TrJpOse to return
t. the old system. think that as mere
matter Of poncy tie President is in the posi-
ii I 10 enlorce the system entirely.
Lcp rter-Are the members OF the Cabl-
net in symTat y with the movment?
Nr. Curtis-fhe members of the Cabinet
! . no -,,1o faIt h nlIv
without. think, auy great faith in the sys-
tenn, to.h n regard to its advlsability and
racucamhty. Their opinion Is, | think,
Iaat with change of the administration
c.c Office in the country. large and small
from tue President down to the messenger at
lis door, ought to be changed | know that
t.at is their lcclug and that, from the point
d. lew os civil service Ie!Orm, simply makes
every election scramble for plunder instead
o. weat It should be-a choice
BETWEEN GREAT PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT
L gland would lie our nearest model in re-
SlrJ % this subject. Although the Execu-
ave i, permanent, the government is carried
oG by i4r.ics rs with us, ard The system
wrAs admirably. There they have the
,lr.e principles which are indispensable to a
CIV sc yice-namely, entrance at the
lower grades, probation and promotion.
Reporter Have You conversed much with
tie Pres dent on this subject?
Mr.. Curtis-I copversed with him Ias'
January, aud our conversations were always
very agreeable and friendly A year agt
ia>' winter SAW him very often and talked
very frankly and freely with him Their
nothing had been tried as yet, and there
was generally great agreement between US
l"Hh mcrgy) Any one who knows Gen
esal Grant would never accuse him of sham
ia ~ or iaIsitY in this matter. You kno"
What mean II he had not been sincere h'
would not have renewed his pledges in hi
mausur,l address.
Reporter-Au1 Is the reform an entir'
failure?
NJ. Curtis-No, it is not an entire failure
I'M II La IL haAed IN nriI cinlc. and | cal