New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-02
THE PROGRESS OF REFORM.
Mr.. CURTIS ON TIE CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST YEAR-THE
WORK BEFORE THE ASSOCIATION.


tion of the Civil Service Reform Association con-
tinued its session this morning at the Charming
Memorial Church, Newport. 1t was attended by
large number of people. Among those present were
the Rev. Charles w. Wendte. Colonel Waring,
Colonel J. G. Rosengarten, Of Philadelphia; Pro-
fessor Gammell, Edmund Tweedy Seth B. Silt, tho
Rev. DR.. Z. Hover, Henry G. Marquand, Professors
Hammond and Hitchcock, of the ST. Louis Law
School; Collector Cozzens. Senator Robert Adams
Frederick Collins and Judge Pierce, of Phlladel-
phia; Christopher Cranck and John s. Dwight, oil
Boston Rowland Hazard, and Sas w. Burt, e1-
Naval Officer of the Port of NewYOrk.
THE ADDRESS OF GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS
The Rev. Mr. wendte, of the Local Reform Asso-
citation. as pastor of the Charming Memorial
Church. opened the proceedings at 11:30 o'clock,
and gave a hearty welcome to the association:
George William Curtis then delivered his annual
address, speaking in part as follows.
Two years ago a conference OF friends OF re
form In the Civil Service held in this place. Inc
conference organized this League and the
following resolution:
Resoired That the bill introduced the Senate by MI
Pendeton. OF Ohio. provides constitutional, pracu-
cattle and for the remedy or the abuse
known the spells system, and that the assoclaVs
represented in the conference VIII use every nonoaoe
means In the press the platform and by petition 10
secure its passage.
That resolution was adopted on tne lIIn Oh Aub"S'
1881. On the 10th of January 1888, upon the earnest
recommendation Of the President and by overwhelming
maIorites In Congress- the Pendleton bill became law,
and the 10Th of July, 1883 amid the general applause
OF the country 1t went into effect IL the year whlch
ended last annual meeting could be truly called
the year OF awakening, that which ends to-day may DO
as truly described the year Of achievement DOUBT
ally reform OF similar scope and Importance has ever
commended itself rapidly to public approval and
cnuld fulV iustfy confident and patient
reliance upon persistent and reasonable appeal 10
public opinion than the progress Of this movement
THE NEw-YoRK STATE BILL.
The general result the elections last fall uni
versnly interpreted demand for reform that II was
not surprising thas the State Legislatures which as
scmbed at beginning Of the year. showed the same
interest in the question which apparcn, In Congress
In New-Yorka bill modelled upon the Pcndleton bill.
mandatory the state and pernssive In cite. OF ooOOO
Inhabitants ana upward was prepared 1y Tue Sew orr
association. with this combined another BIT IN
trOduced ny Mr.. Miller. of the city OF New-lork, giving
very searching ana extensive authority 9 inquiry l.
stringent prohibition OF political Ass sSlehtS wlch hhs
yet been proposed. IL had sagaclous ana intIepm
friends aud advocates upon the floor of the Legislature
but action delayed until the very closing hours Oi
the session when without amendment aud 10y euor-
nous majority the reform bill passed II was lh-
mcdately signed by the Governor VINO simultaneously
nonn ted n commission. which as the earnest OF his
good faith and OF the firm and honest hdninslIauoh
This event IS second only in importance to the fpassaee
New-l ork that under the council OF appointment this
spois system adopted neatly century ago. IL was
the politicians Of NewYork Who II It's trst organ
zed impulse IL In response Ia Henry Gays tunt
M the \ w-York system that New-Nork senator made
the famous victor belongs the spos Of
his enemy. II l. In Newiork that the evils and the
eril- tue dishonor the corruption, tue degradation oi
the system have been most fully displayed And II Was
IN NcwYork also that the hrst vigorous resoute hud
opposition the evil system organized
IL was hitting therefore. that tue chief o! sinners
the states should lead the van OF reform for the
political reform that l. possible In NeB-lOrk il prac-
trablc everywhere in the country.
TIE ATTITUDE OF rHE PRESIDENT.
The efficiency OF the Pcndcton bill depended at the
beginning wholly upon the good faith OF the President
Had be desired to discredt and to defeat its purpose
had only to appoint an unfricndly commission But
the selection the rst named commissioner OF one o!
the abest sncerest md devoted friends OF rcorn
Dorman b. Eaton, OF New-nork, and the association
with him OF Dr. Gregory, OF Illinois. and Judge IhOnian,
desr- give reformed System far play. Th. the
significant because the Presidents previous
party organization had excited great apprehension that
he would use ms vast patronage IN manner To confirm
hrnsiUn has not been usned In certain INSTANCES IN
led nn4 ezpSey ia We b % o "g HaSa
peTenccd officers IN the public service, there Wah Ia
grant disregard OF the essential principles Of leiOrn
But the IN senous IN whcn this disregard wa.
yened apparent desire 10 promote the interests OF
reform WIS IN itself evidence of the Presidents con
scousuess of the public expectation that tried anu
BILE officers shall not bercmoyed under ihe plea oil the
riirfion OF Their terms But on the other hand the
steady refusal satisfy the faction OF his
party which demand. that the public patronage shall
lie pro-tituied factonal interest Is most honorable
TO the Chief Magistrate and whatever execution may Toe
u-tiy taken many acts OF the Administration IN re-
gard TO appointments aud removals. u Will not be de
urd y fnr men OF every party that President whose
acccs-On 10y OF most tragicH event was gcner-
ally regarded rs seriohs misfortune not Calamity mas
moi only aayed all apprehension of gross misuse OF
the patronage Government. hut by his pacnc and
emi,eratg Administration has gained the general ap-
prevail OF the country.
Another important step yet to he taken Is the op-
picalOn OF the reformed system 10 Tie municipal stiV-
yha
appointed very able cOmmittee 10 inquire INTO the
subject anu most fortunately Tor the IN luiry ,nd
ne experiment. one OF the citicA In state New
York Of 81 900 inhabitants aud upward Is the CITY OF
Irooklyn and the Mayor of Brooklyn OF the
aud friends OF reform. seth Low He
sought early conference with the New-foik r"mmis-
.Ion aud am very that the deliberations Of the
massachusetts, committee the New-lork commission
and Mayor Low will result III pfa tchDe scheme OF
lcspolling the municipal spoilers
THE REPEAL or THE POUR YEARS LAW URGED.
But the especial object 10 which the National League
will devote Its attention that the Pendloon bill has
become law has been already declared by its e1ecu-
i've committee Oh the 9TH o! March, 1888 This object
the repeal of the United states statutes which limit the
ern Of most " the subordinate officers to four years
mi which result III practically establishing that term
or all Offices, places ana empoymens IN the service
practice II strongly intrenched In tradition and 1t Is
peciO1sy defended. But 1t was introduced 10 Prosti
ute the public scrv ce 10 personal con ro ana Is one
the chief sources OF tho abuses wtich have aroused
pnbc attention and Indignation Inc repeal ol the
our law IA essential step toward the complete
correction of the personal and partisan prostitution OF
he public service which is the object OF the league IL
simply return 20 tue constitutional theory OF the
trainers OF the Government and 10 the CONSTITUTIONAL
practice OF the early Administrations II Is, Inrther IN
.onpete accord with the measures which have Decn !
already adopted IN swift aud strict Difference to tho de-
nauds Of the country.
In urging the peal OF the fOnr-years' law adyo-
,ate the constitutional aud nothing moro. We
10 not plead Tor liked permanence IN public place nor
,ert "a yestsd right In puzzle employment Dde sob
and discipline essential To al objective or
,anzed service and therefore, Dismissal for proper cause
mould be prompt aud To TINS end the p3wer Ol |
emoynl should be lett free possible, provided That
motives for IT, Legitimate exercise are destroyed. such
prOVis. on secures bOfh proper dbclplnc ana lhsV
enure The vital condition OF efficient devotion 10 duy
II the employmr winch We have IN Niew Is TINT -ucD
gence II the tenure OF the place. This II the con
tOn OF private service No emplOye la u business
lonse or company prctends 10 hold vested rshl 10
lie dt.ni "A moment But |