Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-02
CiviI Service Reform A..ocia,ioa.

PROVIDENCE, August 1.-The annual Con
vention of the Civil Service Reform Associs-
ton continued It's session this morning at
the Chsnning Memorial church, Newport.
1t was attended by q large concourse of dis
tinguished people.
The Rev. Chsr. H. Mendte, of the Lee i
Reform Association, as pastor of the Chan
ming Memorial church, opened the proceed
ings and gave a hearty welcome to the
association.
George William Curtis thea delivered the
annual address. In The course Of his speech
Mr.. Curtis said the efficiency of the Pendis-
ton bill depended at the beginning wholly
upon the good faith of the President
Had he desired to discredit and defeat lie
purpose, he had only to appoint unfriendly
commissioners; but the selection as the first.
named commissioner Of one of the ablest,
sinceresi, most devoted friends of reform
Dormsn B. Eaton, OF New York, and the ar
sociatlon with him of DR.. Gregory, of Hi
nois, and Judge Thoman, OF Ohio, was con-
elusive proof of the Presidents desire to
give the reformed system fair play. This lie
more significant, because the Presidents
previous course and his faith in the
spoils. syst,m, as essential to effective
party organization, had excited great
apprehension that he would use his vast pat
ropage in manner TO confirm and sggra-
vate the evils of that system, but the appr =
hension has not been justified In certain
Instances, indeed, and especially in there
moval of the late naval officer of New York,
one of The most efficient and experienced
ofhcer3 IN the public seruiaA,-+A..s
was a fagrant disregard of The es-
sential principles of reform; but the
Ingenious manner in which this disregard
was veiled, and the apparent desire TO
promote the interests of reform was in itself
evidence of tho Presidents consciousness of
the public expectation that tried and capa-
BILE Off ;ers shall not be removed under the
pea OF the expiration of their terms, but on
the other hand, the Presidents steady re-
fusals to the faction Of his party, which de-
mands that public patronage shall be prosti-
tnted to factional uses, is most honorable to
lhe chief magistrate, and whatever excsp
tions moy be justly taken to many acis
oil the administration, in regard to ap-
pointmenis and removals, it will not
be denied by fair men of every party that
The President, whose accession by means Of a
most tragical event was generally reg arded as
serious misforiuue, il not Calamity, has not
only allay all apprehension CT gross mis-
use of the patronage of the government, but
By his pacific sni temperate administration
has gained the. general approval of the coun-
try.
AT the business meeting alter the Grafton,
Curtis was unani g ously reelected president
Mr.. Hitchcock, of st. Louis, presented a
resolution that in the opinion Of the League
u is indisp9n-abie in order to complete the
reform OF the service, that Congress should
repeal the act OF May 15, 1880, and acts sup
Elementary thereto, now embodied in sec.
lions $685. 1864, 2217. 1898, 26l3 ind 1880 Of
the Revised atutes, by which tenure OF ad-
ministrative offices was fixed at four years
!or the purpas, and with the effect
| of locating Presid-ntial vacancies in
said Offices, to bs filed by the sp-
pointing power. The resolution deuouuces
| the practice of rotation iu office
as foreign alike to Republican principles
and 10 sound business methods, and advc-
cat's As the most urgent step in reform re-
turn 10 the early practice of the government,
under which the fidelity and good behavior
of public servants as in the case of private
agents, was made the sole condition OF the
continuance OF their employment.
A resolution was adopted favoring the ap-
piication Of the Pendlelon bill to the evil
service Of the States and cities OF this coun-
try.
The league resolved to admit to member
ship all pivl, service ref5rm as.ociations
thus applying, and sosn sfterwsrd ad
| iJurned,