The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-11
GREAT REFORM MEETINGS.
TEE NOV. FERNANDO WOODS PRE-
SENT1IION or THE FACTS.


| the Government Under Repubiica. Rule.
The rooms OF the Young Mems Demo-
| cratic Union Club, at Union square, were
| crowded last night. The walls were hung with
banners. and bore portraits Of Gov. Tilden. MIR.
| Memo Diefendorf, President Of the Club called
the meeting TO order, and introduced Mr.. Mott,
who congratulated the Democracy Of New York
upon the fact that, In this city at least, they
would present an unbroken front to the enem v.
The Hon. Fernando Wood was received with
| enthusiastic applause as he entered the rooms,
and. when the President introduced him, the
members Of the Club rose to their feet and
Rreeted him with three hearty cheers.
Mr.. Wood said that amid the commercial
gloom arising from depression Of trade there
was one cheering sign-the emphatic declaration
Of both Republicans and Democrats that q
change had become necessary. Reform was To-
scribed on every banner. and purin cation Of
| the Administration was the war CRY everywhere.
Now. whom people Of opposite political opinions
were agreed upon one great public question,
that question must be Q very important one In
deed. The general demand for reform In the civil
service could only have one sianinoation that
the existing condition OF the civil service is bad
for II good no reform would be necessary. 30
when the Republican National Convention de-
olared for civil service reform It admitted the
inef1ciency Of the Adm Illustration, and In 80 do
ing placed the Republican party before the
country self-convicted for that party had con-
trolled the National Government for nearly SIX
teen years, nllina every ofloe with its own fol-
lowers and rigidly excluding any man Of oppo-
site political opinions. tApplause.l The Repub-
lican party. then, confessed Its own maiadmn-
istration Of the Government by demanding
reform whore II had ruled so long.
Hut this apparent Welding OF the party In
fp Ar
salt, should be received with extreme caution
coming from such q source. IL was never s-fe
to trust mere declarations of princip iples made
by parties before election. for It frequently hap
nened that they did not live up to them.
cially distinguished for its disregard OF reso,u-
tions passed IN ITS National Conventions. IL
was All easy matter for National Conventions TO
say what their candidates were Ia favor Of, but
u should not be forgotten that President Grant
hid been faise to nearly every one NJ the orin-
ctpes that we're set forth for him eight and four
years 90.
As twO-thirds Of the members Of the last Re
publican Convention, Mr.. Wood continued. were
Federal OH enOlders, who would -etain their
places " their party won, it might reasonably be
| tue eivil service was inslnce. 9. [Appl iuse. ]
Win tho President, as the Cntef Executive on
Ger VI the Government. lay the power to cleanse
ana purify or to corrupt and detsriora Q the
| entire service, civlI aud military. He should
be the original dspenser VI the personnei Of
Constitution .of tns United States. dur
tnan merely PresideDti i had c 5ntr0lled the ap-
nointments. ani through fear or weakness tue
Executive had permitted Senators ana Repre
soutatiyes OF ths dominant party to exercise "a
right which should have been exclusively bis
own. tAppisuse.1 A. few leading R.puOiioan
Senators constituted. 10 reality and In fact, tue
executive authority Of tho nation. In addition
to their own legislative powers, .s far as nilins
placos OF pront was concerned. Tuey had their
srasp upon the Treasury, and It would requir
sonethins more tnan u mild. aniabIe gentle
man. like the Republican candidate for Presi-
dent. 70 IN axe tnsm relinquish their hold. LAP
Now" said MIR. Wood. "look At the action OF
the Democratic Convention. tCnesnl It not
only declared for reform. ssrnestiy ana sin
by putting forward as a reyresentative = man
whose whole private itie mad been 4 bold. az
or outside OF ths Democratic party" lUroat Ap.
piausoI -
ing all tho elements OF positive nsn. 0eutle
az u girl. and unoOtrusive as reciuse In private
life. ne was great warrior IN battle. wieIuing y
.hether emanatlng from ftieni or from foe.
lie b Id force, WI. aoion, brain. nerve. ana
dot. teu moral courage. (ADpIauss
Mr.. Wood read from . tsoui.r statement,
showing Conclusively that tho expenditures hDd
Appropriations 0y tue Ad ninlstralion were
suUrInOusiy increased dunnx toe past eiguI
ysars, notwithstandinR tue inmeDse reduction
u the war ap. r"pr, ton. whlon In 1855 wss
Sl23.24s.5tS. aud Ia 1873 only tb,J2.l57 ~ Nor
was .uus Kcner L increase Of oxDeuuIt 70 tho
ODiy uroof Of the extravAganco U, the Govern
ment under tue Republican party. The more Sc
In the ci,ii list furnished sdaitiona al evidence OF
IL. A larger Dumoer OF EMPLOYEES nad beon
borne on tue pay-roiis sinoe tue war than during
the war, And IL was not unch aritAD.s to suppose
that tDis nordo Of paid depondents was, ia tue
m.in. only an auxiliary to 20 general wOrxinV
OF the poiiticii Diacnino. devoted more 20 ths
continuance OF the ruling power tnan TO Tue
public We L
giving tho numb OF emploYees borne on the
cIyIl lirt OF tho United States fr n 1859 to 1875
,nsis's .aS p;slSe w.a aoSasx w5s s
fost Once. ana Lexisi tive In 1859 tners were
45s7 IN 1851. uie7 In 1893 t7s75 10 iSaa So lsI:
1873, os8U aud in 1875, W.ll9.
For 1bs nist time ~ sixteen years, Mr.. Wood
continued. the Demooisllc parry recently OBJ
tanned . majority IN tho House Of Ksprsssnts-
tivos. anu the immediate result OF tbis sucosss
was seen In me onenk glven 70 tue reckless ex-
punishment moted out 70 disnonest Ofhcisls.
When the Administration asked for .ppro-
propri ttuns amounting III tue aRgregs,e "
s2J5Uye, ,Uso-ts, Tue House reduced t.e sum to
SLyo 1v...otij.A-, SAVING OI t6t,J48. .6as o. Tho
osns,e iuAue rcs neDt 10 " ont t1is reform,
Ins PrcsIuunL sout IA a sthItlILg mess ge tbs
hepuOIican press t"rou<hous the county
aOuseu .ud caiutnni 4tou tus DomOcra q If tue
House, but tno Later reuuiued la session uIgu
and day. tnrougn ths summer usat, IN their ef.
iOrt Iu aintdin what tuoy DeiievoJ e. DO rlgnL.
They unaIy suCGeeued ~ tOi CIug "A reduction OF
ABOUT sJJUOJ,UUv. hp.rvpriati Sl4I.7lpUI4HJ 80
aSAinst el, ,ooJ'S..I loo tI0 preceding Year.
lApplduseI
Ins speaker read abatement OF estimates
aud aupIOi rlations tor 1875 aud 1877. Inc 90
jeCts inciu OF wore peusiJus, AIAtAry Aoaue-
nY consular ana dipiOinatc services, fUIun
cauous. legislative, exeoulive. anu Judlci /,
liver and h.IrUUr. deBclency, Post OffiOo. naval
service, Indian, army, IA sunury civii. Tue
tIuit,s lOr 1871 were S2JjU9y,, ~ As. lac tiOuss
C0mmitIee Approximations recommended for
lbI, l3l -Sjj. lJJ.IL he am unL 80 assed tue
mouse lur 1871 Mas Sl3S 75!.3i3+;. The amount
as passed tnv ocualo CoHini.tee for 1877 was
Sl6S o.. 6I2oS. Tue amount as passed. tns Son.
Htu Mas Sl1o, ,20O, ,59o.Uj. Law iUr tue wear 1877.
$li7,7ly,Wi.o5. Aud law ior tho year 1876, SIN,
O6j-3-77l.
"Inus." said Mr.. Wood, "the people may see
| "A praouo application II The Democratic policy
10 ne natiOpal Government. lApplause.l We
mean reform, ana snail accom- .iisn IL ia III tue
departments through AT tho whole ufhoiA Ser
Hce-ln its pefsOHnd, IN It's efficiency IN its in
1 grlty, anu especially IN ia Il yoliOn u the
great interests Of tue people. Tue election Of
Mr.. Tlidon " III secure substantial i'm mpruvemenLs
throughout tho whole pOliJ'oai organization"
lAppiause.l