Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-30
THE INAUGURAL SOMEWHAT AN.
TIClPATED.

THE INAUGURAL SOMEWHAT AN.
TICIPATED.
Pledged 70 Civil Service Reform.
LETTER OF PREsIDEN1-ELEcr CLEVELAND 10 GEO. ".
CURTIS
letter was addressed to President-elect Cleve-
Land, December Goth, by George w. Curtis, presi-
oent OF the civil service reform league and the
secretary and members OF the executive committee
OF that organization, requesting the President
elect to be guided by the principles OF civil service
reform in the selection OF public servants in the
new and more exalted ONCE which he Will enter
upon on the 4th Of March. The following reply
has.been received:
ALBANY, NY, December Is, 1870 HON GEORGE
WILLIAM CURTIS, President, 6c-Dear Sfr:-Your
communication, dated December 20, and addressed
form League, has been received. That practical
reform In the civil service is demanded Is abun-
DAINTY established by the fact that statute re-
result mas been passed in Congress with the assent
OF both political parties, and by the further fact
tnat sentiment is generally prevalent among
patriotic people calling for the fair and honest
Iorcement OF the law which has been thus enacted.
regard myself pledged to this because my concep-
quires that this and all other statutes should be in
good faith and without evasion enforced, and be-
cause In many utterances made prior to my elec-
I belong, and which have no disposition to dis
claim, have in effect promised the people that
this should be done.
am not unmindful of the fact to which Won refer
nat many OF our citizens fear that the recent party
change In the national executive may demonstrate
srVce cee nave up u tine the civil
deeply rooted. and that the spoils system has been
supposed to be Intimately related to in the
sure that all those who profess to be the friends of
This reform will stand firmly among its advocates
when they IND 1t obstructing their way to patron
f,al latin hn tr,ct
committed to my charge, no such consideration
SnaI cause relaxation on my part of any earnest
effort to enforce this law.
There Is class OF government positions which
are not within the letter OF civil service but
which are so disconnected with the policy of an ad
minlstration, that the removal therefrom OF pre-
sent 1ncumbentS, in my opinion, should not be
made during the terms for which they were ap-
pointed solely on partisan grounds and for the pur
pose or putting in their places those who We're in
political accord with the appointing powers, but
many now holding such positions have forfeited all
Just claim to retention, because they have used
Cher places f0r party purposes In disregard Of their
duty 10 the people, and because instead OF being
decent public servants. they have proved them
selves offensive partisans and INSCRIPTIONS manip-
ulators OF local party management
The lessons OF the past should be unlearned, and
such onlcials as well as their successors, should be
lie duty are the conditions OF their continuance In
public place and that the quiet and unobtrusive
exercise OF individual political rights is the
able measure Of their party service
should deem 1t entirely proper to remind them that
though the coming administration is to be demo-
cratic due regard for the peoples interest does
not permit faithful party work to be always re-
Warded by appointment to Of1ce, and to say to
consideration selections for off1ces not embraced
within the civil service rules VIII be based upon
sufcent inquiry as to fitness, instituted by those
tent Importantly of self-solicited recommenda-
tOnS on behalf OF candidates for appointment
YOURS, very truly, GROVER CLEVELAND.
What C0ngress,nen in Washington Say
Of the Letter.
The democratic members OF Congress are bub-
bling over with enthusiasm over Gov Clevelands
letter to George William Curtis on the civil service
MI Ellis OF Louisiana, said to STAR reporter to-
day that he looked upon the letter as the most
magnificent production that had come from Cleve-
lands pen, land he has never written any but
good things since he has come into prominence"
s'It IL grand chmed in Mr.. Pusey, OF Iowa,
seyery democrat-every man-must be proud OF it,
and nth they " wil al sustain him IN his position
statesman. 1t is the principle of the democracy to
sustain and enforce the law. All the suffering this
breach OF the law. 1 have felt 1t In my own state
when the constitution was torn away and the
people exposed to the scourge OF lawlessness. The
republican party owes its downfall to its disregard
for the letter Of the law. The life of the democracy
depends upon Its upholding the law. With the
policy indicated in Cleveland's letter. twenty-five
Cleveland has proven himself to be statesman of
high order. He will trample out this accursed
Senator and Representative gather around him and
hold up his hands as Aaron held up the hands of
Moses. They must sustain him and make the name
OF the democratic party lasting insignia OF honor
and honesty. There are sentiments In that letter
that should be posted over the portals and gate
ways as the Jews used to do; they should serve as
frontal to rest before the eyes OF American
politicians"
"Every democrat and every republican" said Mr..
Pusey, Twill read that letter and say 1T has the
right ring Cleveland has grown upon US read
the letter before breakfast and furnishes food
Mr.. Hopkins said 1t was a fine letter and fully
met with his approval.
Mr.. Springer was well pleased with it
Mr.. Brown, OF Pennsylvania, said 1t was a sharp
thing. "ThereS hole there as big as house,
Mr.. Miller, OF Pennsylvania, thought Cleveland
would have to go out OF this country to get nom
partisans to I'LL his of1ces-he would have TO i'm
Mr.. Bland, who made his appearance at the Cap
1tol to-day for the first time this session, had not
had time yet to read the letter.
Representative Holman thinks the letter is
''timeiy, manly and proper" He says the tnde-
pendents gave Cleveland valuable support and it
was emlnently proper for him to answer their in
quiry as to his course with regard to removals
from and appointment to or1ce. 81 believe" added
and sincere and that he viii faithfully carry out
the civil service law" He said further that In In
diana the federal officials generally are very good
in the internal revenue service who, Mr. Holman
thought, have been appointed mainly for partisan
service.
Representative Buckner, of Missouri, who was
sitting by, lndorsed Nr. Holman'S concentrations
OF the letter. He said Gov. Cleveland had done
right in spreading his views upon civil service re-
form before the country at this time.
Representatives Nichols and Buchanan, OF Geor-
gia, and Dibrel, OF Tennessee, also expressed ap-
prOval OF the letter and Its sentiments They be-
lieve that Gov. Cleveland means precisely what he
says, and that he Will not undertake to avail HIM
self OF any pretext for the removal OF government
officials.
Republican Congressman regard the letter with
tion that omcials who have been active In politics
must go. and say that Cleveland leaves the way
open ahead OF him for Clean sweep. Their IDEA
Is that most OF the government ofncials who hold
positions OF any value have been more less active
Two democratic Senators who were talking OF
the letter to-day agreed that 1t ought not to have
been written.
sit was most foolish thing to do,n said one
The other assented, and remarked that instead OF
spreading his views at length, Gov. Cleveland
should simply have referred the civil service league
TO his letter OF acceptance and have In general
terms expressed the hope that his administration
would prove acceptable to the best people OF the
country.
Capitol Topics.
THE WORK OF THE UTAH COMMISSION.
Mr.. Pettigrew, OF the Utah commission, is In the
city. He told a STAR reporter to-day that the
commission had accomplished q good deal towards
uproOting polygamy In Utah, and, In their opinion
the only thing necessary Is for the House TO pass
the HOar amendment TO the Edmunds law. Mr.
PettigreW says the Hoar amendment. deriving
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