New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-10
QUESTION ANSWERED.

The Civil Service Reform Association OF
New Haven. Conn.,. having made formal III
quiry of Postmaster Sperry, of that city,
whether the refusal of any employe in his
Office to comply with the request of the RepuD-
lican Congressional Committee for contrlbu-
tons @will occasion his dismissal or retard his
promotion or subject him to any penalty or
adverse discrimination" Mr.. Sperry has re-
piled with great frankness and at considerable
length in a letter which has been published.
In this he says that in his experience OF more
than twenty years as Postmaster he has never
been influenced by political considerations in
either appointments or promotions; that he re-
tanned Democratic clerks whom he found to be
efficient when he took the Office 4; that promo
tons have been made always with sole refer
ence to the efficiency of the service, and new APP
pointments with strict regard to quallfca-
tons and fitness. In short ne has endeavored
to administer the Office upon purely business
principles, and this he thinks is pretty near the
ideal civil service system. Touching the mat
ter especially inquired about he says:
Ibaye never called upon clerk to make political con-
tribntious. nor do know from any knowledge Of my
own that my clerks have been called upon TO con-
tribute you suggest by the Congressional Republican
Committee 1t has been subject OF consider
alton between myself and clerks. II they have been
cal ed upon contribute, their response VIII DO whoy
INDEPENDENT Of any influence OF mine. I never dis
missed clerk for refusing TO contribute Tor party pu-
poses and shall. am free TO say, however, that
should not think less Of any man, whether clerk In
the Post Office or pastor of church, for contributing to
the legitimate support Of his party. | believe
it to be the duty OF all good cltizens 10
assist in some way in carrying out the political prin-
cpes they profess. Acting upon this belief have my
self forwarded to Republican Congressional Comm I
tee small voluntary contribution, which trust nay
be Of assistance in maintaining in the elections soon TO
be held that almost sacred principle OF Republican
system chat every in this broad land entitled to
suffrage shall the right to cast his vote without
moestation and have that vote counted as II was
cast-a principle the failure TO maintain which VIII In
the end leave without Government in which to en-
force Civil Service In the habit OF contrib
uting TO the campaign fund of my party most OF you
know before became an Ofceholler, aud know OF no
reason why should be debarred from that privilege
now.
The correspondence is given to the press with
ont comment by the members OF the Civil Ser
vice Reform Association, and we presume accord
ingy that Mr.. Sperry's answer to their inquiries
is satisfactory. The New-Haven Post Office has
the reputation of being one of the best man
aged in the country. The secret OF It's success
is undoubtedly contained in the Postmasters
/
| statement that he has conducted it from the
| outset of his administration on purely business
principles. Perhaps it ought also to be said
that Mr.. Sperry has been for thirty years one of
the most active and influential politicians in
the State and his letter is very likely to occa-
sion some surprise among those who think
| Government officer cannot be active III politics
and at the same time administer his official
trust wisely and faithfully. We are inclined to
think that the New Haven Post Office is by no
means an exception to the rule in the public
service. We suspect that the Civil Service
Reformers-fOr whose earnestness and sincerity
we have by the way oniy the highest respect
| will find very few Government Offices III the
whole country in which the employees are I'M
duly influenced in political matters by their
chiefs. A large majority of them will be
| found 10 be conducted like the New-Ha Post
| Office, on purely business principles. The most
earnest reformer could hardly ask anything
better than that