The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-08-07
Fourth Annual Meeting of the National
Association.


Providence, Aug. 6.-The fourth annual meet
ng of the National Civil Service Association was
held in New York today at noon AT an early hour
this morning. delegates and friends and members
of the association here, held informal meetingsat
the Ocean House discuss the past years work and
its relation to that laid oat for the coming wear;
matters to be brought up at the business meeting
also occupied good portion of the time till about
Memorial church which had been placed at their
disposal. They Joined the large audience that
comfortably filled its beautiful interior. A great
many were present also simply to hear the famous
president and many others to learn the position
he took on several delicate questions made SO by
the present political aspect and to witness his treat
ment of them. Among the prominent citizens and
distinguished visitors present, were Hon. Orlando
B. Potter, Mr.. Jacob Miller, Mr.. r. r. Bowker of
Bonaparte of baltimore, Hon. Edward Tweedy of
Newport, Gen. W. A. Aiken of Norwich, Conn.,, Supt.
Hilgardo, y. S. Coast Survey, Col. Geo. E. War1ng.
jr., Rev. G. W. Coendale of Newport and many
others. At half-past eleven Geo. William Curtis
arose and addressed his auditors who listened with
rapt attention interrupted only by enthusiastic
applause after the speakers many brilliant
periods.
At the close of MIR. Curtis's address the associa-
ton repaired to the charming parlors for business
meeting, President Curtis presiding Various off
GERS made reports of the work in their several de-
partments, after which election held the re-
suit of which was the unanimous election of George
William Curtis.
Everett P. Wheeler, of the special committee on
resolutions, introduced the following, which was
adopted:
Resolved, We congratulate the Civil Service Re-
form Association of the country on the progress
made during the current year in awakening public
attention to the Importance and necessity of reform
in the method of appointment to subordinate exec
utive offices. Second-in procuring the enactment,
both in New York and Massachusetts, of carefully
prepared Statutes limiting the exercise of absolute
executive discretion in making appointments, aud
providing suitable and appropriate methods for
selection from among citizens of competent and
trustworthy men to discharge the varied functions
of the American government.
Resolved We call upon all civil service reform as
sociations and friends of the cause to watch vigil.
antly over the manner in which Federal and State
statutes this subject obeyed, believing we
do that if these laws obeyed subordinate offices
of the country will again become the spoils Of
a victorious party, but to be held to be what in
truth they are public trusts to be administered for
public welfare and not used to crafty partisan
sentiment or reward partisan zeal.
Resolved, The merit system ought to be adopted
in those States and cities to which its operations
has not yet been extended. We pledge the support
of the national league TO all endeavors to secure
this result.
Resolved That the national league will continue
its efforts to secure the repeal of acts fixing the
term of many federal offices at four years until
those efforts shall be crowned with success
committee appointed to investigate the al
legged violation Of law by collecting political assess
ments and to take such action for the vindication
of the law as they deem proper.