The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-12-11
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The Meeting of the Deering Association

REFORM Association was held Saturday even
ing, with President Elwell in the chair.
There was marked increase in the attend
ance over preceding meetings, and lively in
tereSt manifested in the discussion of the Pen
dleton and other reform bills
After the records of the previous meeting
had been read and approved, Mr.. Elwell made
an address of much interest of which the fol-
lowing is brief abstract
MR.. ELwELL's ADDRESS.
lie began by congratulating the club thai
the efforts OF this and similar organizations
were already powerful for good, as evidenced
oy the recent elections, a grand overturn large
iy due without doubt to growing desire for
civil service reform, and further evidenced by
the prominence given this matter by the Pres
ident in his message, and the favorable atti-
tude OF Congress in the present session regard
ing clvil service reform, contrasted with their
attitude in the last session.
one OF the most encouraging features of the
recent elections was the election in Massachu-
setts OF Lyman Qndependent) over Candler.
Mr.. Gambler was a retired manufacturer, never
identified with any great political movement,
never had brought himself prominently before
the people, but suddenly conceiving a desire to
go to Congress, began to plan and maneuvre
to that end The people did not desire Mr..
Gambler to represent them in Congress, and
were content that he should remain in OBSCURE
ty. He employed regular attorney to further
his purposes, and succeeded il getting elected
to Congress, where he carried out the methods
which ha1 proved SO serviceable in securing
tho affn tinr. of ksc
ents having been called to civil service reform,
inquiry was made as to their Representatives
attitude, with the result of the triumphant
election of his opponent Col. Lyman, whose
total expenditure during the campaign we're
but $l72, showing how little funds are requir-
ed for legitimate purposes. And again, look
at PenDsy ylvania, where elections had long
been controlled by Simon Cameron, who as
Secretary of War under Lincoln made so
many dishoDest contracts at that critical time
that the President was obliged to remove him
This manwith such an unsavory history finding
himself becoming too old for the duties of pc
litical boss, named his successor-his own son
who laid upon the people burdens so heavy
as to be u endurable and led to the overthrow
of ring rule in that commonwealth.
The indifference of citizens generally to DO
ital matters is adverse to the spirits of our in
stitutions and makes the opportunity for polit-
ical monopolists like Cameron. We should at
tend the primaries and neglect no political du-
ties. and above all reserve to ourselves the sa-
cred right of "scratching'-no in q spirit of
malice, but to mark our dsapproval OF unfit
nominations. Especially should we be on the
watch against the evils of bribery. class of
men who will sell their votes is being cultivat-
ed by politicians who are as willing to buy, the
latter being the most culpable as creating a
market for such votes.
One of the great bugbears in the minds of
opponents Of civil service reform is that if you
put men into Office On their merits, you will
| establish r no
to conceive of a more complete aristocracy
than that which has for so long dictated nomi-
nations and appointments. The Pendleton
bill appears to be the one most likely to give
relief. A bill introduced to-day is defective
from Its recommendation of a fixed term of
four years, and is thus inferior to the Pendle-
ton bill which defines no term of tenure.
Mr. L. b. bennett stated that he had exam
ined the Pendleton bill, and that his chief OBJ
lection to that measure was that it does not 90
far enough, merely lops off few branches,
and does not differ materially from the present
statutes which require examination of candi-
dates for subordinate clerkshlps. 1t is conced-
ed that it is for the President to appoint heads
of pension and other bureaus, and the Pende-
ton bill does not touch these 1t would take
away great responsibility from the President,
to let each place elect their own collectors and
postmasters. The people of Portland, for in
stance, must be supposed better able to decide
what kind of man they want, than the Presi-
dent can decide for them. cannot see, that
the present law is not as eficacious as the PEN
dleton bilf. The latter is not an honest meas
ure, as it provides that Representatives shall
designate the men to be appointed, the polite
lans thus virtually retaining the appointing
power As to the mattsr of political assess
meut, money is necessary to carry on cam
paigns, etc. Every party that appeals to the
people must raise funds to present their case.
Even meeting like this present one for dis
cussioD, must raise the means for light, fnel
etc. he thought those VIII hold the offices
should be willing to pay, not waiting for Mr..
Hubbell or anybody else to assess them, aud
could not blame the heads of departments for
Kicking out those who refuse to pay. The
shortest cut to civil service reform is to have
the people elect the officers.
Mr.. III. L. Blackstone in reply to Mr.. Den
nett's assertion that the Pendleton bill does
not go far enough, would say that it goes SO far
as to take 0000 offices out of the domain of po-
litical patronage. These could be no advan-
tage in the plain proposed by Mr.. Dennett of
electing collectors, etc, by the people,
as Democrats and Republicans would
vote for the nominees of their respec-
tive parties, regardless of qualification. There
will probably never be another Con ressional
con. mittee with the object IF political assess
ment. | am interested in the success of the
Republican party so long as it has principles,
but when it has only Offices why then only of
nee holders may he supposed to feel an interest
in its success.
Mr.. Elder stated that he had read the PEN
cleton bill, and admitting its good features,
yet could not endorse it in the mai He agreed
with Mr.. bennett that those holding the Of
fees should contribute literally to campaign
funds.
Mr.. Blackstone thought that the case of Col
Lyman in Massachusetts, who was elected by
the expenditure of less than 5000, over a
wealthy opponent who spent large sums to Sc
cure his own reelection, evidenced that but lit
tie would be required for legitimate purposes.
Mr.. Blackstone commented upon the false
economy shown in extinguishing lights upon
our dangerous coast to effect a Saving of some
$4,000 a year, while the very superfluous office
of surveyor of the port of Portland is continued
at salary of $4,000 year, the incumbent hav-
ing only to sign his name few times in the
course of the year in the way of duties-the
greatest snecure in the state-and deputy to
do all the work furnished him at further sal
ary of $1,000.
Mr.. Elwell expressed his surprise at Mr..
Dennett's endorsement of political assessment,
even to. the extent of discharging from office
because OF refusal to submit to such assess
ment, and thought Mr.. bennett had missed
the core of the question-which is that it is un-
derstood by incumbents that portion of their
salaries is to be employed to retain themselves
in office.
The following resolutions were presented and
adopted:
Whereas, common justice requires that, so
far as practicable, all citizens duly qualified
snail De allowed equal opportunities, on grounds
of personal fitness, for securing appointments,
employment and promotion in the civil service
of the United States, and
Whereas, in the administration of the gov
ernment of the United States, more than 100
600 persons are emplcymed in its civil service,
who, as victims of the present spoiis system
are practically without hope of promotion,
are liable to dismissal without cause, and are
exposed 70 the corrupting influences polticaI
assessments levied upon them for influencing
election, thus undermining the very founda-
tions of political liberty and morality; there
fore:
We, the members of this Association, re-
spectfully ask that such laws be enacted as
shall effect thorough and systemetic reform
in all branches of the civil service of the Uni
ted States: and we also respectfully ask that
such additional laws be enacted as shall pro-
tect government employees from demands for
contributions or assessments upon salaries for
political purposes, by forbidding any such de-
mands upon them by whomsoever made, with
cuita h1n