Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-25
Congressman Deustcr on Civi1 Serrice.

Especial Telegram to the Globe.
MILWAUKEE, Oct. 24.-The Civil Service
Reform society received the following let
ter from p. V. Deuster this afternoon:
GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the 21st
inst, asking my views upon the question
of civil service reform is received, and I
hereby thank you for the courtesy in Civ
ing me the privilege of stating to your as
sociation the views entertain upon that
important subject. The history of the
measure you refer to as "now pending"
and on which congress has already acted
in part, is as follows: First-A bill to reg
ulate and improve the civil service of
the United States was introduced Decem-
Der 6, 1881, in the senate by George II.
Pendleton, a senator from Ohio, read the
first time and ordered to lie on the table;
January IL, 1882, taken from the table, re-
ferred to the committee on civil service
and retrenchment; March 20, 1882, report
ed back with amendments by Mr.. Pendle-
ton from the committee, he asking that
the bill and amendments be printed and
put on the calendar. The other measure
referred to in your communication is bill
entitled "a bill to prevent ex-
tortion from persons in the public
service, and bribing and corercion by such
persons" which was also introduced by
Mr.. Pendleton in the senate Dec. 6,
1881, read first time, and ordered to lie
on the table. Jan. IL, 1882, this bill was,
on motion of Mr.. Pendleton, taken from
the table and referred to the committee on
civil service and retrenchment; Dec. IS,
1881, Representative Albert s. Willis, Of
Kentucky, introduced in the house of rep
resentatives bill entitled ''a bill to pre-
vent extortion from persons in the public
service, and bribery and coercion by such
persons" which was read first
and second tine and referred to
the committee on the judiciary, which
reference was changed JAM, -, 1882, to
the committee on reform in the civil SER
vice, the committee on which has already
acted in part.
Heartily endorse the principles sought
to be attained by these measures, and
shall advocate and vote for them as oc-
casion may permit. I am in favor of
PrtCtiCd1 civil oCIN1CC IO1OiA3 duO OC11SN0
that integrity and devotion to the service
should be considered in making ap-
pointments, to fill vacancies in the civil
service rather than party service rendered
or to be anticipated. I am in favor
of abolishing all superduous Offices now
in existence in our civil service land believe
in the principle that the salaries of our
officials should be brought nearer in har-
mony with the compensation paid for like
time and service in the management of Or
dinary business, and am willing to intro
duce or aid iany legislation to promote
the accomplishment of these ends. My
experience as representative in congress
confirms the opinion long entertained that
the spoils system which your organization
Justly condemns is more the outgrowth of
the absence of a patriotic and up
right exercise of the appointing
power, than any lack of statutory enact
ments and regulations; that conscienti-
Gus regard for the public welfare by those
in authority would be much more potent
in bringing about true civil service re-
form, than convention resolutions or par
aiding theoretical platitudes whice rave be-
come fine arts in the effort of vote catch.
ing.
Very respectfully yours,
Signed P.V. DEUsLER.