Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-10-21
E~L-I.IGENCE SATURDAY. FrOBER 81, 1882.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Tho following letter has been sent
to all aspirants for congress.
St. Louis, Mo-, Oct. 1882.
Dear Sir:-The civil service reform
association OF Missouriswas orgauiz-
ed in May, 1881, by citizens Of this
state. of both political parties. l
have been directed by the executive
committee of that association, to
respectfully ask your attention 10 the
statement of its objects contained in
its constitution, and iu al address to
tho people of Missouri, heretofore
published, copies of which are sent
you herewith. Briefly, its purpose is
to promote tho publication aud re-
form of the civil service of
the United States, and also of this
state. by actively opposing that meth
Cd of appointment to and tenure of
civil office commonly known as the
''spoils SYSTEM" aud advocating tue
substitution therefore. by law, Of
the ''merit SYSTEM" The essential
conditions of the latter are the fol-
lowing:
1. Appointment to all subordinate
civil offices the nature and duties of
which render such action practicable
and appropriate, only by selection
from the persons graded highest at
public competitive. examinations
appropriate to the duties to be per-
formed; competition to be open to
every citizen duly qualified; all per-
soual or political favoritism to be ex-
cluded; original entrance to the
public service to be at the lowest
|
2. Every appointment to be on
probation. aud confirmed only upon
tests of fitness; promotion to
be from lower to higher grades on
the basis Of merit and competition.
8. Removals from Office to be only
for viz: dishonesty, incompe-
tency, neglect or violation Of duty /;
absolute freedom Of all persons in
the public service from obligation to
any political service or contribution,
and from political coercion. direct or
indirect. by any oficial-these require
ments to be enforced by law.
You are doubtless aware that SINH.
lar associations now exist in more
than twenty of the states in the
Union. whose members have also
organized a national civil service.
reform league for the purpose of
advocating these principles through
out the country, and ascertaining the
views of candidates of both parties
for the next congress. 4
1 am further instructed. IN behalf
of the association, in view OF your
candidacy for congress at the ap-
preaching election in the dis
trlct of Missouri, to respectfully
request of you an expression of your
views with reference to the reform
above indicated. To that end. and
referring to tho foregoing statement
OF the proposed reform. l respectfully
solicit from you an answer to the
following inquiries: :
l. Do you favor, Or would you
oppose, the enactment by congress- of
laws concerning appointment and
promotion to civil Office such as
above indicated?
2. Do you favor. or would you
oppose, the enactment aud enforce
mento of laws which will prevent the
removal of any person from civil
Office except for reasons such as above
stated?
8. Do you favor, or would you
oppose, the enactment by congress
and the enforcement oflaws prohibit
ing and Furnishing what are COM
monty known as political assessments
upon off ials. in aid of any political
pasty,-whether made or requested
under the form Of so-called "volunta-
~ contributions" or otherwise?
4. Do you or not favor the adoption
of the measure known as the "PeH-
dleton BILL" being the bill entitled
"a bill to regulate and improve the
civil service of the t.Unlted States"
which was favorably reported by the
senate committee on the civil service
on May 18th, 1882 -
5. Will you, if elected to congress,
actively promote and assist in the
enactment by the house of represen-
tatives Of the "Pendleton bill" al.
ready mentioned, or some measure of
substantially similar provisions?
6. If You should answer that you
are opposed TO any of the measures
referred to in the preceding ques-
tons. will you kindly state the reas.
enable grounds of such opposition on
your part, as to each?
In view of the great and manifesth
increasing interest exhibited in all
parts of the United States in this
important subject, I would respect
fully, but earnestly, express the hope
OF receiving from you an early and
explicit reply to the foregoing ques-
%tions; And remain. Dear Sir,
Your obedient servant.
(signed) SAMUEL CUPPLEs,
President civil service reform assO.
citation of Missouri.
10 the above interrogatorles MIR.
Graves. democratic candidate from
this district has returned emphatic
Affirmative answers, and SAID that he
will do his utmost to carry such q
measure as the "Pcndleion BILL" the
following statement is annexed:
Dear Sir:-It affords me the great.
est pleasure to give the foregoing
assurances of my hearty sympathy
with the aim and purposes Of your
association. May God speed thu
good work, for certainly upon your
success depends the safety of ouI
institutions.
Your obedient servant,
ALEXANDER GRAVES.