New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-03
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM

THURS COURSE.
NEWPORT. r. L, Aug. 2-The attendance ~ the
first annual meeting of the National Civii service
Reform League to-day was unusually hs0'
Among the delegates present were Oeorge " iih@ui
Curtis. Carl Schurz, Dorman b. Eaton Everett l.
Wheeler John jaw. Charles Collins, George haven
prtnam William Cary Sanger, William Potts,
Henrv II. Hitchcock. Judge w. w. Howe. Sherman
& Rogers s,las W. Burt. Frederick Cromwell,
y W. Comstock, Thomas s. Moore, W. w.
Montgomery, Charles Theodore Russell. Charles l.
Russell. IT.. Morrill, o. Wyman, James X
Reed Arthur Hobart, Bancroft c. Davis JOSIAH
Quincy. IT,. Ira Bursley and Edward d. ROBBINS.
After an executive session address was deuV-
.red NV George William Curtis The address, Id
large part, was as follows: =. -.
In welcoming You the first annual inee,n8 ~
@ rnop tbe bright prospects Of the cause. We NAV
well cali the last year the year OF Ss co~stany
non fbe subieet After dcsultOry DEBATE constah.y
Increasing in interest and importance anu & 80 NJ
through fifteen years or since me nrss aped
like sudden fash OF electric light revealed the naue
III verdict non that ira gical event prompt
So,y nv the strife for patronage spos, the Pres-
dent ,TonId not have been murdered HIS
death has fixed general public attention Upon upon
the character and tendency OF abuses OF auInln .
sfraton inherent IN the present system OF appointment
and removal in the subordinate own service, tn
which have been rapidly developed since the war 1hs
ayaLeping of interest half the victory FOR Wne1
once the shrewd and goOd-natured American MIMI I
clearly perceives political evil It's correeon nns
ready begun No prominent public man IN me county h
the danger OF the spos system Ue denly the ne
cessty reform, and in his inaugural a1idress ne am
pounced his intention OF asking Congress 10 TX tne
of the minor Offices, and TO prescribe the grouus 1e
mOyaL
PRESIDENT GARFTEID's POSITION.
His rosition however, was Of extreme difficulty
he was strong partisan and he had been elected ny
marty in which as in both the great parties the EVIL
tadi,ion was very powerful The general opinion OF
his marty would have supported radical REFORM as
the experience of his predecessor had shewn ana his
ofca closely restrained Dy tht Constlttloh
s president felt doubtless, that he held power In
trust for parry and for general Pehey upon which II
was agreed and that he was bound I'd honor not 70 I'M
,er that poicv He knew. indeed. that the convention
which nominated him, like previous conventions OF
all parties, had adopted DECLARATION OF REFORM
Rnt h. knew also the significance Of such declare
lions They meant TO be polite Dows 10 tne Willis
sstbont committing the party Robert owen said that
when he waited upon Prince Meterch 10 UNFOLD 10 h
teStvelv shook his head gTavely and remarked impress
lively. Mr.. owen, your interesting suggesIo9s merit
SIrSeid shsred tbe CONVICTION TO which the platform
bowed He knew that it deep, growing senii- !
W NJ @ natrio and he knew also when the word re
FORM Is svpon vmOus with the patriotism. Trust
ing his couDtrymen, he foresaw their approval and sup
mort of a vigorous reform of abuses strong partisan
be wac yet stronger man, and strong man
uses a party and is not used oy IT, Amen,
rans love vigor ana courage. Lhat is a tne
sole secret Of Andrew Jaeks0ns popularity CARRIED
and ad
life that leader makes brave followers and that
the men who cOmplscenty can themselves PracucaI
with all his amiabinty and love OF peace MS sense OF
amy was supreme and he heart hero. Doubt
sss M 81 he cief executive Office would have
made action inconsistent But, doubtless also ms
course even had be been unable To bring her Into port
Death takes Us by surprise,
And stays our hurrying feet;
The great design unfinished lies
Our lives are incomplete"
THE VIEWS OF PRESIDENT ARTHUR.
President Arthur who succeeded Garfield, brought to
the duties Of the Office the amiabe temper and
SINCERE patrotism But he politically identified
with the spoIs system and he undoubtedly honestly
vared il as the basis Of effective party organization Yet
ina, he Vas deeply impressed by demand for reform
and mai ne Of lts increasing significance is
cusses Tie subec deliberately than any OF ms pred
ecessors. His arguments against the comPeuu1Ee
system Of minor appointment prov, enI,, "a LIE Jul ~
ment, had become serious public question . ne
pledged his games; supP sny eveUt he urgepfy
recommended an appropriation OF $4,000 to en-
section under which the present ClvlSerylce Commits
sion wac established, Of which Mr. Eaton chairman;
and he further pledged himself 10 observe the nrovi-
sions Of the both in letter and spirit The compeu-
tive system which had been recommended IN pursuance
M thar law had successfully applied under the ad
OF President Hayes 10 appointments IN the
Interior Department and III the TWO CHEZ nees OF Their
~ ba moi yer been disturbed undeT the present Adj
rninistrIton But 1t has not been extended elsewhere
nor has tie general of the Administration
that IT approves the reformed system
HOW Mr.. BUTTERwORTH PROVED TOO MUCH.
On the eth Of July MI Butierworth Of Ohio made a
statement in the House OF Representatives in regard
executive appointments and removals which is under
stood official From this statement appears that
during the nine months Of official term the President
has made ga appointments and 40 removals. Assum-
ing the removals 10 have been made for legitimate
siMir rson. there nave be ~ nnai5tments 70
u q of Ter IL |
VOusy cardinal principle OF efficient service that the
dismissal Under system OF appointment by favor ! /
fng the eerry and tue of an incumbent moi noon the
duties o. his place. but upon securing reaHpOntment
bent, and not TO reappolu an honest
competent officer position which is in
saeyer political position ls virtually 10 remove him
Mr.. Butterworths figures show that Of s25 officers
whose generally of four years. have expired. the
President has reapponted 42S, and has not pponted
S7 The conclusion from this authoritative statement
Ii inevitable Nearly hail or the late tEcumbents have
not been reapponted Either therefore hall OF the mum
Der were unn Tor their places or 3S out OF so Ocer
being III for their places were practically removed
y Ae former suggestion De eorrscs InSt nearly
present system are found at the end OF a few
be unfit for theT places, Is conclusive
domination OF that system OF appointment as utterly in
adequate and d-graeeu Or the latter suppOsitlOn
removed not because they are unfit obviously some !
than the welfare of the caused
lug OF Nj. ButerwOrtn The present system STANDS
temned either admitting nearly 80 per OF unit
personal reasons the proportion Of hon
est and efficient public servants.
TIE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF RADICAL REFORM |
During the year, al the opening OF the session
Df Congress. the late POstmasterCien IA
efficient and experienced officer presided
that DEF ment-DOre testimony TO this necessity l0f
radical REFORM Tie Postmaster General is the head
Di the department Of the Government
The lat incumbent had had long perienee high posi-
ton the postal He had tested the | 1
reformed stem aud he declared without qua c9tiOn
ne ent desraDlty Of IL Adoption. On 9th Of
Deoe -nbeI Mr. PtndieIDn introduced into !
Senate ,be bill which bears his name ami OF