The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-12-31
c,.x,,.pa on CIVIL ssryice Reform

New York, Dec. 2a.-The Nation.
al Civil Service Reform League ou
Dec. 10th addressed q Letter 10 Fles'-
dent-elect Cleveland, in which tney
announced a fear that the new az
ministration might not carry out the
provisions of the Civil Service act,
and EXPRESSED a hope that this would
not prove to be the case. 10 this MI.
Cleveland replied as follows:
ALBANY. Dec. Is, 1854.
HON, GEO. WILLIAM CURTIS, Pres.
DEAR SIR:-YOur communication
dated Dec 2Oth, addressed to me, on
behalf of the National Civil Service
Reform League, has been received.
That practical reform in Civil Service
is demanded, is abundaDtly. estao'
Ilshed by the fact that the statute re-
ferred to in your communication,
passed in congress, with the
assent of both political parties,
and bv the further fact that
the sentiment Is generaiIy
prevalent among patriotic people,
calling for q fair and honest Moro
ment of the law which las been thus
ELECTED. I regard myself pledged 20
this, because my conception OF true
democratic faith and public duty re-
ouires that this and all other States
should be in good faith and without
evasion enforced, because in many
utterances prior to my election -
president approved by the party to
which it belonged, and which l have
no DISPOSITION to disclaim, I have in
effect promised the people that this
should be done. I am not unmind-
full of the fact to which you refer
that many of your citizens fear That
the recent party changes in the ma
tional executive may demonstrate
that the abuses which have grown
up in the civil service are lneraol-
cable.
know they are deeply concerned
in that the spoils system has been
supposed to be Intimately related TO
success in the maintenance OF party
organization: and I am not sure
that those who profess to be friends
of hat reform, will stand firmly as
it's nd vocates, when they find 1t OBJ
structing their way to patronage, and
fully appreciate the trust committed
to nv charge. No such consideration
shall cause a relaxation on my part
of earnest effort to enforce this law.
There is q class Of government posi-
tons which are not within the letter
of the civil service statute but which
are so disconnected with the pol
lev of an administra ion that the
removal therefrom of the present
incumbents, in my opinion, should
not b. made during the time for
which they were appointed, solely on
partisan grounds. and for the purpose
Of putting In their places those who
are in political accord with the ap-
pointing power. But many now
holding such positions have forfeited
all claims to their retention because
they used their places for party par-
poses in disregard of their duty to
the people, and because instead Of
being decent public servants, they
have proved themselves offensive
p~artisans, and INSCRIPTIONS manip-
ulaters of local party management.
Lessons %oftheuast shouldbs relearned.
Such officials, as we'll as their success
sors, should be taught that efficiency,
lllllCSSs duO uOSOIAoA> W PuOAAN NNCy
are the conditions of continuance in
public place, and that a quiet and
u%nobtrusive exercise Of individual
political rights is a reasonable meas
ure OF their party service. If we're
addressing none but party friends, l
should deem 1t entirely proper to re-
mind them that, though the coming
administration is to be democratic, a
due regard for the peoples interest
does not permit faithful party work
to be always rewarded by appoint
ment to Office. and to say to them
that while the democrats may expect
all proper consideration in the selec-
tions for Office, not embraced within
the civil service rules, will be based
upon sufficient inquiry as to fitness,
instituted by those charged with that
duty, rather than upon persistent
importantly, on self-solicited recon-
mendations on the behalf of candi
dates for appointment.
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.