The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-12
KEIM'S WITHDRAWAL.
A straightforward Letter to the Presi
dent

A straightforward Letter TO the Presi-
dent.
WASHINGTON, May 11.-Following is Mr..
Keim's letter withdrawing his name from con-
alteration a. chief civil service examiner:
10 the President.
Having decided to withdraw my name from
consideration for the position Of chief exam.
iner, to which the Civil Service Commission
have recommended me, and in order 10 re-
lieYe you from the embarrassment apparent in
the recent interview have had with you, /
desire to state some general reasons governing
my action. 1t would be superfiuous to repel
the unfriendly insinuations made respecting
myself, for the fact that not one OF them has
been sustained and that no scandal has at
tached to my name. is all the answer | care or
need 10 make
When the subject OF the acceptance OF this
position was under consideration had reason
TO believe that my experience in somewhat
similar service few years ago would enable
me to render important assistance TO the Civil
Service Commission in the direction of the
difficult task, aud that my, efforts would
at least be treated with justice by
those who claimed an interest in the
success OF civil service reform. If,
according to the theory of some, no one
should be permitted TO labor in peace for re-
form who has not noisily paraded his views,
knowledge Of the iabuses OF the civil service
led me In 1872 to prepare bill for the reor-
ganlzation Of the consular service, in which
the general principles OF reform were for the
first time applied. That bill was defeated by
the same influences which later arrested the
general work OF civil service reform. / there
fore should not blame my critics by reason Of
their ignorance of these facts, for the zeal of
many OF them in the cause OF reform is of
more recent date than my own, for then, as
now, they were simply on the popular side.
But apart from this question for me to CEN
slider is the effect which this unjust judgment
might have upon my usefulness to the COM
mission, and whether the experiment should
not have q trial unaffected by personal consid-
eratons. / am not unaware that the revival
OF political jealousies In connection with my
selection by the commission raay stand in the
way OF my ability at this time 10 serve official
ly cause in which | feel deep interest, and
ID is for the reason that this interest is greater
than my desire for the office, that / wish to
withdraw my name. have always regarded
civil service adjusted to the peculiar require
where every citizen, all things being equal, has
the same right to participation
In the workings, as entirely feasible
and shall In the fature, as In the past, always
hold myself ready to support any practicable
scheme in that direction. However great my
regret that l feel constrained to decline the
honorable part assigned me by the recon-
mendstions OF the commission in the practical
work OF reform, and however unjust 1t is to
have been condemned without one discovered
fact in evidence, have at least secured the
opportunity of disnterested action.
And now, Mr.. President, as the best evil
dence ] can offer Of tho interest | feel in the
success of this work. l desire herewith to
withdraw my name from consideration in the
connection indicated.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
DEB. RANDOLPH kEIM.