Litchfield enquirer., 1881-11-03
Reforming the Servlce,
N. H. pailadiam. Oct. asth.

5avFEz5eT 2H sqa{{9ts 9ee.ssFIHt. cvf5 sesa.l a The meeting called at room 5, Insurance building, yesterday. afternoon, for the purpose of forming a permanent state association of those interested in purifying the civil service of the national. government was in point of ! numbers and the character of the men in at- l tendance, an important one. Nearly every part of the state was represented bv these | whose names are closely connected with recent l state history, and the attendance was not con- l fined to those of any political party or creed. It was soon after two o'clock when Hon. Roger Averill of Danbury called the assem- bly, to order, and ex-Gov. Hubbard of Hart ford Was chosen temporary chairman. At that time there were about sixty persons in the hall Among the more prominent were ex-Presiden9 Woolsey, President Porter, ex- Gov. Andrews. ex- Mayor Sumner of Hartford, Hon. Lyman D. Brewster of Danbury, F. A. Warden of Stamford, Henry l.. Goodwin of East Hartford, Charles Durand of -Ansonia, David A. Wells of Norwich, Professors Fisher and Harris of the, Yale Theological school, Professors Sumner, Twining, Whitney and Baldwin of Yale college, and Revs. Messrs. Osborne of Branford, Thrall of Bir- mingham, and Williams, Lines and T. R. Bacon ofthis city. .ttou,.,. .,.., 4a,..o, -' sad he had no speech to make and should prefer to wait until the organization was per-, fected and constitution adopted, as that would form an objective point upon which to base remarks. 9t
 Professor Simeon E. Baldwin arose and said that perhaps it devolved upon him to say word concerning the object Of the meeting. The question of forming the proposed organi- zation was discussed at Saratoga last summer by some friends of the movement who met there., The present seemed an opportune time G. <h. 1& object civil service reform. The principle ina volved in the very name in which the meet ing was called should be practical system in the administration ofthe Government as we'll as in party platforms. He said he had no sug-' gestions to make in regard to the mode of pro- cedure It was evident to the thinking, intel
 igent minds of the state that party service was the poorest possible test for fitness for office. It was for the purpose of organizing this sentiment into a tangible form that the meeting had been called He then moved that committee of three be appointed tore port plan of organization. .....-..,.. ..- Il On motion of B. w Naples of Norwalk a temporary secretary was chosen l.. D. Brewster and Isaac Bromley being nominated and declining, E. D. Robbins of Wethersfield was nominated and accepted the position, The chair then appointed as a committee to draft plan of organization; Simeon B. Bald win, David A. Wells and Roger Averill. These gentlemen retired and soon afterreturn- ed and submitted constitution which, was adopted. It reads as follows: ... ..,., ".
 Article I. The Connecticut Civil service Re form association, believing that merit and not merely party services, should determine ap pointments to minor offices in the civil admin istration of the United States government, is formed to promote the establishment of sys- tenn of appointment, promotion and removal which shall make this principles 8 rule of practice. .....,s.,........,...i. N,A.,.u g;
 Article H. The officers of the association shall be 8 president, four vice presidents a secretary, a treasurer and an executive commit tee of five persons besides the president and secretary who shall bt members co otciO.s 3r
 Article III. The executive committee, of whom three shall be quorum, shall direct the active work of the association and have the general management of it's finances and affairs. They shall call it together when and where they deem it desirable, and may fill any vacancies among it's officers until the next meeting of the association. '.~' s- r Article ". Any citizen of Connecticut may become a member of the accociation by sign ing this constitution an-. ,a r..gq ~. Subsequently an additional section was added on motion of B. w. Naples, as fol- lCws:ls aHa#Gs 4 .% ,adg nja. ss# .Ha -
 The constitution may. be amended by two thirds vote, at any regular meeting, after giving weeks notice.
 2, The same committee was appointed to nom-
 mate permanent officers of the association. While the committee was making up report, an invitation' was given to those present to sign the constitution. , y9 ,Ne .7-gi '''
 This took some little time, during which the contemplating reporters of the evening papers improved the time copying series of resolutions which they found in David A.
 Wells's hat but which were not presented to the meeting and formed no part of it's delib- erations. The committee reported the fol- lowing list of permanent officers: aoa 3c
 $, President, Charles B. Andrews of Lltch8eld; vice presidents, Theodore D. Woolsey of New Haven, Richard D. Hubbard Of Hartford, T. 'Halsey of Norwich, Nathaniel Wheeler of Bridgeport executive committee. William Hamersley of Hartford Francis Wayland of New Haven, David A. Wells of Norwich, l.. D. Brewster of Danuury, Frederick J. Kings bury of Waterbury secretary, B. D. Robbins of Wethersfeld l; treasurer, George w.. Curtis of New Haven. ,ti.,g34 is. ,,. .>s,.; ,s.,, .,ts i4
 The report was accepted and adopted B., w. Naples making a motion previously that the officers be elected by ballot separately, which was voted edOwn. zeflafG..l fsYkH ea F. z. Ex; x;Goyerner Andrews in taking the chair said he was deeply in, sympathy with the ob- iects Of the meeting. He was willing to serve r the organization in, any capactY.s As the members had chosen him president he should not resign, being much of the mind of Gen. Jackson who said he never sought an office and never declined one. The speaker thought ', that all appointments to office should be made upon business principles. l do not care, said be- whether the man who delivers my letters be democrat or republican so long as he fos |, ,e,,l s,,f As of I,,k;a TA should make no difference whether. he voted for me or for the gentleman over there Gov. Andrews pointed to Gov. Hubbard and Gov, Hubbard replied ''There were very few who voted for me-" .. l.sas .as;g. ...A
 A committee was appointed to draft a series of by-laws to be reported at the next meet ing.eE1sist as8hlUh 1is -isy Ya's-r3g : h
 Governor Hubbard was called for, but at that point a telegraph messenger summoned him and he left the room and did not return!a Ex- Governor Andrews said there was one person in the room who had given the subject much thought, and called upon David A.
 Wells. of Norwich to- address the meeting.
 I Mr. Wells said :sI 3 have never made cIvll service reform hobby and must still be con- sidered a learner. think that at the present time we should realize that by our action tor day we have cut out a large piece of work
 With the bulk of the people civil service re- form is largely sentiment. The assassina- tion of the president called the attention of the people to our system of distributing the minor offices of the government. But in eff fecting permanent civil service reform we have insuperable obstacles to overcome If understand the constitution aright, congress has no power to pass law that shall take from the executive of the government. With this great obstacle many may say what IS the use of attempting anything I think wes should take the position of General Garfield. and yet General Garfield did not live up to his convictions, and if he had lived I am satisfied he would have disappointed many of his best friends. It was not possible for him to act out his convictions because of the pres sure brought to bear upon him. The object of this r association and kindred societles should be to produce a popular public senti-. inenti that would back up president. The