Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-11-01
Civil Service Reform

Civil Service Reform
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES |
Repiies-General Nerwin's Letter.
The Connecticut Civil Service Reform as
ISOLATION has submitted the following inquir-
les to candidates for Congress and has re-
ceived the subioined replies
The Civil Service Reform association of Connec-
tcnt through its executive committee respectfully
ask. [name IF the didate insertedJ who has been
gress. to consider he following questions and trusts
that he is ficiently interested in the subject OF
venience:
1 Do you hold that admission to the government |
employ should continue to depend on influence ana
Recommendations, that it should be made to de-
pend soely merit am ftns SIS, impartially ascer
II. Do you favor legislation necessary to firmly
establish the competitive or merit system OF ap-
pointment, which been lately tested in the post
Office and custom house at New York. or are you
willing that it should be legal and possible for
new postmaster collector to make the places IN
factions?
III Do you fay r the creation by law for all the
u partisan ana impartial competi i've system of ap'
pointment to subordinate positions? ,.:.
ing men in the public service to work for either par
ty or for any person or faction? Are you willing to
oppose the removal for any party reason OF subor-
diaate officials What in your opinion except dis
honesty or tnefciehcy is good cause for removing
clerk?
v Do you hold that committee of , members of
Congress. Of1C1al
sessing influence appointments is justiaed in
requesting the public servants to contribute to party
funds7
william Hamersley L D. Brewster, F. j. Kings
bury, Francis Wayland, David A. Wells, Edward D.
| Robbins.
Replies in concordance with civil service
| reform have been received from Hon. John
T. Wait, Hon. John J. Penrose, Hon. z. w.
| Seymour and Hon Charles L. Mitchell
/ The following letter was sent to General
| s. E. Merwin by the New Haven Civil Ser
| vice Reform association, and a similar letter
was sent Hon. Charles L. Mitchell
THE NEW HAVEN ASSOCIATION.
sir-Both the great political parties having
platforms for period of ten years declared them
| many pledges made by the representatives Of both
those parties to support legislation to that
comes necessary for those who b=lieve that such
reform is essential to the welfare of the country to
frages of their fellow citizens for den1te statement
| OF their upon this subject.
voters Knows as the New Haven Civil Service Reform
association to ask early to the following
| inquiries:
i. Do you regard reform In the civil service as
necessary and as work which should be undertaken
| without further delay?
If elected to the Office of Congressman. for which
for the Senate BIZ now pending eDted bill
| to regulate and improve the civil service Of the
sttuion Of the merit sy'em for the partisan spoil.
system? The senate bill referred to "a copy of which
ssamnations for testing the capacity of appican.s
for appointment to most of the subordinate ces OF
the civil not including elective Offices with
PERIOD of probation and promotion on the basis OF
merit and compettion and preserves the preference
the ltary and naval service Your attention is re
,tee lt composea Of Senators OF both parties, &C
| companying the enclosed bill. witch shows that
but that it has been success fully applied the
York custom house and postohace where it is found
and executive officers from the opportunities OF
office seekers to promote the sd ty and sfeieo,
tratiun of the strength dig
nifty Of the by rsei s IRON age
Woe by fair petition based common lights ane
equal in tce to the mertorious youth of the rspub
/, | lie without distinction.
g. viii you if elected to the office of Congressman
for which YOU have been nominated be prepared t,
vote for brll forbidding all attempts, by whomso
ever made, to create partisan election rand by the
holders These assessments un,ruly called volun
tary contributions, are now levied by com1ntts O.
without accounting with ali the liability of misus.
and corruption that attends the expenditure of
The early passage Of laws establishing the msri
believed by to be Important, that the next Presi
1 Dental canvass and election may be contest fo
principle AMI icy, and not for division of office
| as the spo,s of victory.
Respectfully yours,
Il HENRY sTopDARD,
JOHNSON T. PLATr,
Il PIERCE WELSH,
TALCoTr n. RUSSELL.
E. s. LINES,
, WILLIAM q. SUMNER,
HENRY f. SARGENT,
HENRY W. FARNAM,
PORTER @. MoULToN,
New Haven, Oct %, 1882
GEN. MERwIN's REPLY.
II NEW HAVEN Oct. 3oth, 1882.
l Hon. Henry Stoddard and Gentlemen OF the Civt
| Service Association
Dear Sirs-Your letter of the 25th inst PROFOUND
ing questions the subject of civil service
| was duly received.
In answer to your nrst question would say:
| look upon civil service reform of the impor
tant of the day, and believe that hrlnI
| establ shed the politics of our country Will be
1 much b CHER order than at present exists
o Second I am unable to speak definitely upon tn
| bill pending but would favor any good nleasur
would substitute merit for the political SPOIL
diers preference for positions. other qualification
r / being equal. r~
lam opposed the assessing of public officers TO
l. the purpose of establishing party fund Men hav
be ready to sustain the party to which they attac
themselves with small contributions, but man II
ONCE should be compelled to give, against his
wis'es, to advance men or party eau say that sui
I that you represent, and would gladly sustain an
honert bill to advance the of civil service
l form, in case of my election: Very truly yours,
SAMUEL E. MERwIN, Jr.
Mr.. Mitchell also replied, referring the al
ISOLATION to his letter accepting his nomint
| ton for Congress, which expressed his view
10 as to political assessments, and stating that
II ] eff elected to Congress. I shall consider
my duty to support Senator Pendleton's bill
or any proper measure by which entrance
and continuance in the subordinate Offices
:, the civil service shall be regulated by strictl
~ business Methods -