Morning journal and courier., 1881-10-26

the following 'tW. l.. L." and under it. 'Let Smile, one, two, three, W. l.. l., Boom, ah, ah." This is the room where the banquet is to be served tomorrow. The streets of the city are covered with bunting, flags. notices, etc. Strung across from the Charleston Hotel is the motto-''Qui Trans. Sust. ."-of Connecticut. The officers of the First regiment and Foot Guards dine with the Mayor to-day. There is reception at the Mayors this evening. B.
 Civil Service Reform. Gathering of NotabIes-AdoptinEn n Con-
 stitution and Arranging for By-LnVvs-
 David A. Wells Leads Of-Work and
 Public sentiment-The Way to Secure
 the Prfze--The PendletOn Bill.
 The civil service reform meeting held in this city yesterday, in room 3, Insurance building, opened at p. m. with quite gath ering present, including notable and infuen- tial men from all parts of the State. The line of benches on each side of the hall was entirely occupied, and three or four benches with backs to them in the rear of the hall were also fully occupied. The great majority of those present were old advocates, or already committed to the civil reform cause. The minority was composed of persons waiting to OSpOuoO tAO cause OE udlC1uR GO S00 WQAG would be done, and few had dropped in out of curiosity, hearing that it was good chance to see and hear some of the men of mark in the State on subject of more or less interest. Among those present were ex-Governor Hubbard, ex-Gov ernor Andrews David A. Wells, ex-Lieutenant Governor Rog. CT Averill of Danbury. President Porter and ex xPresident Woolsey of Yale College, and the following from Yale Professors Whit Baldwin, Farnam, Platt, Honey. Also pres ent were the following pastors: Thrall of Birmingham, T. R. Bacon c. H. Williams and B. s. Lines, New Haven, and Rev. Mr. Osborne Branford. Among others there were Hon. F. J. Kingsbury Water bury Charles E. Mitchell, New Britain William Hamersley, Hartford; George w. Curtiss, president City bank New Haven; F. A. Warden, Stamford ex-Mayor Sumner, Hartford; ex-Senator Charles Durand; Judge Brewster, Danbury; ex-School Fund Com missioner Miles, Milford; H. L. Goodwin, East Hartford, noted for his railroad efforts and speeches in past Legislatures; Isaac H. Bromley, of the Tribune ]; H. P. Goddard, of Hartford, correspondent of the Springfield Repu6ItcGn Captain John c. Kinney, of the Hartford COu7a'at; E. D. Robbins, Wethers- field; Eli Whitney jr., New Haven Judge John c. Hollister, New Haven B. w Naples, of the Westport Hour :: Wiegand Schlein, of the Repet6hka7aea'; Lawyer J. F. Colby, New Haven; Dr. Henry Todd. Ridgefeld; Law yer Henry G. Newton, Durham; s. R. Cramp- ton, George L. Fox, New Haven High school.
 Ex-Lieutenant Governor Averlll called. the meeting to order and Governor Hubbard pre- sided. E. D. Robbins, of Wethersield, was secretary.
 Simeon E. Baldwin, David A. Wells and Roger Averill were appointed committee to report plan for the proposed organization During their absence Governor Hubbard was called upon to favor the meeting with re- marks The treat was, however, deferred by the Governor in order to hear from the ab- sent committee. The committee reported a constitution which was adopted. It is as follows:
 CONSTITUTION.
 1. The Connecticut Civil Service Reform associa- tion, believing that merit and not mere party ser vices, should determine appointments to the minor offices in the civil of the United States government is formed to promote the establishment of system of appointment promotion and removal, which shall make this principle rule of practice.
 The officers of the association shall be a p,esi- dent four vice presidents, secretary, treasurer and an executive committee of five persons besides the president and secretary, who shall be members er-oTtca0.
 be quorum, shall direct the active work of the sociation, and have the general management of it's finance and affairs They shall call it together when and where they deem it advisable, and may fill any vacancies among it's officers until the nexneetng of the association.
 f. Any citizen of Connecticut may become a mem- Der of the association by signing the constitution
 Signing the constitution now in order, and the  to the constitution adopted providing for amend ing it when necessary.
 The following were appointed committee to prepare and bring forward bylaws at a subsequent meeting:
 R. D. Huddard s. E. Baldwin F. A. Warden John c. Kinney, David A. Wells
 The following were elected officers of the association
 President Charles B. Andrews, of Litchheld. R. D. Hubbard, of Hartford; Jeremiah Haisey, of Norwich; and Nathaniel Wheeler, of Bridgeport. Hartford; Francis Wayland, of New Haven; David A. Wells, of Norwich Lyman D. Brewster. of Dan
 secretary-Edward D. Robbins, of Wethers6eld
 Tressurer-George ". Curtiss, of New Haven.
 Governor Andrews taking the chair made short speech expressing the view that men in office should be retained if efficient and competent and endorsing civil service reform.
 David A. Wells, of Norwich, was sum- moned to open the talking. He demurred to being specified as an authority on the sub- ject, and asserted that he was but 8 learner The association had stirred feeling in favor of this reform, but thus far the feeling was only a sentiment There is big task taken ln hand by this association. There are great difficulties in the way. The Constitution of the United States has no law to prevent the President disposing of the offices on the spoils system when he chooses. Read from the Constitution on this point. But the Pres ident can institute this reform. General Garfeld's speeches and addresses showed him to be decidedly in favor of this reform, but had he lived there would have been intense disappointment among those who hoped to see him carry out civil service reform The reason was there was such a pressure upon him that he couldn't do it. We ought to have law or system which shall provide for the appointments and removals, then President so backed up will be able to sus- tain the reform. We can pass an act so that 8 President having a desire for the reform will be backed up sufficiently to accomplish 1t.
 Prof. Fisher asked the speaker question to which MT. Wells replied: There is noth- ing whatever in the Constitution that limits the power of removal by the President. It would seem as if the power of appointment carried the power of removal. The tenure of office act, at first thought to be possible remedy, It IS believed would be swept out and rendered negative if tried. We have no remedy now for the evil in hand, but to keep alive public opinion we should do what we can to support the Pendleton bill It is not just what we would wish, but it is the best we have. If passed we will learn it's defects. Nothing better can be done, as things are than to give hearty support of that bill. I think President would be bold to contra vene it, but that Presidents would be dis posed to act under it. Each man must con- stitute himself a missionary in this work
 Prof. Harris, of Yale, stated his receipt of circulars showing the intent to urge forward this reform. He was satisfied that by per-