The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-07-26

Inc fortland civil Service Reform Assccia-
ton held its annual meeting last evening at the
rooms OF the Portland Fraternity, Hon. VIM.
l., Putnam, the President, in the chair. Mr..
Sidney w Thsxter, chairman of the execu-
tive committee, read the committees annual
report, which is printed below.
| The report of the Treasurer showed the
| finances of the association to be in favorable
| condition.
The following were chosen officers of the
| association for the ensuing year:
| President William L Putnam
| - wee Presldents-Geo. e. B. Jackson, Sewall c.
Strou George 5. Hunt, Francis X. Swan, Henry S.
Bgrrage, Woodbury. S. Dana.
Executive Committee-Siduey W. Thaxter chair
| man; franklin r. Barrett II. W. Richardson Ed.
Bird Edward 'woodman, Henry St. John Smith,
Frederic II. Gerrish, Frank w. Robinson, VIM M
Bradley, John M. Gould.
Mr.. Putnam, after thanking the association
for its continued confidence, proceeded to
make the following address upon the work of
the association and the condition of the reform:
MR.. PUTNAM's ADDRESS.
The specific objects of this association, as shown
by its constitution, are, FIRST to demand that ap-
pointments to subordinate executive offices shall be
made from persons whose fitness has been ascer-
tanned by suitable examinations and second. that
~SA@NF"A5
such as dishonesty, negligence ineficiency, and
not for political opinions or refusas to render party
service; and these specific objects are stated to be
for the purpose of securing integrity intelligence,
efficiency, gooi order, and due discipline in the civil
SERVICE"
So far as these specific objects are concerned,
there has been and there will continue to be large
held for discussion and much to say for and against
any liked or rigid system of civil service. The OBJ
ections to such systems for free people are easily
stated and are suited to catch the popular breezes
Had our practical political methods retained their
original characteristics and never put on their pres
emit phases, the civil service of the earlier days of
these United states would be better suited to re-
public than any practiced by the monarchical
governments of Europe; but nasmuch as civil SER
vice, which should have been held up solely for the
good of the people, has sunk to the level Of party
machine there seems practical way of lifting it
up again except with the aid of legislation and all
such schemes must be somewhat arbitrary and
rigid. Yet the most popular objections to such
legislative systems largely met by the truth,
that while the avenues of entering the service are
guarded, the power OF the executive to dismiss
from the SERVICE and thereby to secure direct 1e-
sponsibility and also quick remedy for lack of eff
cheney or honesty, is not necessarily impaired at
the same time the fact that the entrance avenues
so guarded takes away the temptation to create
for political purposes vacancies which cannot be
filed with mere pensioners of party
The civil service bill reported during the last ses
sion of the present Congress fully recognizes this
principle by declaring that the officers covered by
the bill should hold Office "during the pleasure of
the President"
Although the provisions expressed in the consti-
tuition of this association look in terms only to the
improvement of the civil SERVICE result is to be
gained by such improvement which may be vastly
more important than the improvement ITSELF be-
cause affecting the very foundations Of the republic
All parties now declare for a free ballot as the
prime requisite of good government; but it has
practically come with that the free caucus is
condition precedent to the free ballot, and With
oit the free caucus the free ballot, however pro-
claimed, is but deluson. To my mind the mere
truth that the civil service reform, if successful
will free the caucus, than outweighs all posi-
BILE objections to such reform, even in the worst
condition in which its opponents could depict it,
The constitution of this ASSOCIATION provides that
any person by becoming member thereof shall be
understood as torfeieiDg in no way his liberty of
action. Considering this expression deem myself
free 70 discuss briefly the bill reported at the last
session of the pr Congress- which failed OF pas
sage AS the result of all the tn ught and observa-
sR 0aV Is o1y as ryine point for he
friends of reform, and as certain TO accomplish
action both follow, lead ami accompany it.
sentiment has been evolved in favor Of this re-
form which so les across the path of every public
man, that he Is compelled TO stop at it, go over
or around IL; that the failure of this bill affords
no just reason for encouragement
think it is fair question whether it ia mot het
ter that any specific bill should be defeated than
that IL should pass the Rouse of Representatives
under the suspension of the rules
The scope of the bill reaches officers who bv
many have been regarded purely executive off.
GERS, such as district attorneys and collectors of
customs AS the bill was drawn, and as Interpreted
by Mr. LYMAN it could not do mischief with refer
ence to these officers, by of the provision of
which have spoken. The friends of civil service
wish TO carefully regard the practical bearings of
all their measures. In regard to these practical
necessities, it may fairly be questioned whetaer
district attorneys and collectors of customs should
not be regarded executive and not as mnisteria1
officers By law aud by express constitution of
their offices district attorneys and marshas are the
hands of the executive, whose aid he requires 10
reach ou across this vast continent and by an al
most mmemorial usage collectors of customs have
fallen into the same category. Without their adit
would be impossible for the President of the United
States to make his power in the execution of the
laws quickly felt at all points within territory
and 1t may therefore well be claimed that they
should take color entirely from him and from his
policy and be subject TO instant appointment and
interests of the country require.
The fourth article of its constitution is widely
intended to prohibit this association from even
mourning tie suspicion Ut craftsmanship. This is nee
essary to the success of the association because its
purposes can succeed only by reaching the masses
OI our people W1JnOuI regard to party lines:
they would be indefinitely postponed If either of
the great parties should become arrayed against
them. So far as recognition of It's principles are
concerned it cannot be justly said that civil service
reform has advantage in party over another:
but it is, however, natural that the Democratic
party hoping sometime to obtain the reins Of gov
eminent, should feel there was sort of Injustice
in coupling with the truth that the Republican
party have substantially eDgrossed the national
patronage, system which might indefinitely re- ain
to it this great mass of place and power Against
TINS hog ever lies an equally serious consideration
If the Democratic party should come into power,
and should be forced to complete redistribution
of the vast patronage of the government, it would
lind therein The seeds of its own speedy self-de
struction.
well adjusted system of civil service will estab-
fish happy mean, and enable a new party coming
INTO power 70 remove from office all persons es-
peclally quallted for their position, all party PEN
sioners and all who turn over the performance of
their duties TO their assistants and devote their
time and energies to the success of party; and will
further enable it to refill the void thus created with
new blood, drawn through the purifying examina-
tons OF the Commission thus both improving the
civil service and securing the foundations Of the
party itself.
The bill reported at the last session already refer
red to- recognizes the propriety of saying the dis
quietude Of party by the provision that the bill
should not apply to persons now in Office.
have already stated that regard an improved
pubic opinion and general popular interest of more
importance than legislation. Tine stream cannot
rise higher than its source; and one need go
flee for considerable length of time, no matter
how well qualified, has had it long enough. and
SHOULD give some one else chance"
Un0er our New England SYSTEM which has per-
yaded the whole country, reforms come not from
the government to the ople, but from the people
20 the government; and the sources of power aud
influence are in the school districts and not at the
capitals. So long as the tenure of ministerial If
fees in our towns and cities is partisan anu so 10
as this partisan tenure is maintained, with the ap
prevail or at least without the dissent of local pub
lie opinion, no system applicable to the general
government, or to the State, be devised which
Will be thorough, successful or permanent.
speak frankly, but without intention of reflect
ing upon any individual or upon any
city government in office at any par
tcular time, when call attention to the fact with
out celebrating details, that far as minister ial
local ofces are concerned, there is no spot where
there is more partisan excusiveness than is found
here in this CITY Of Portland: and yet 1 am bound
to assume this has all come about by impercepti-
bic gr with, without any predetermined spirit of
prescription, and contrary to the disposition and
habits OF city so largely engrossed in business and
SO tree from partisan dlspu ours Yet the fact
exists and requires the attention of this association
and OF all our people; and so, beginning at home
let us aid By the expression of individual and CON-
elned opinion, by personal and united influence AS
well as by encouraging reasonable and practical
legislation to push forward the grand purposes held
ny by the constitution of this society.
The following is the report of the executive
committee. 1t shows that the association has
watchfully regarded all the matters affecting
the progress of the reform both in this State
and in the nation.