Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-30
CLEVELAND'S NOBLE AIM
THE CIVIL SERVICE TO BE RE
FORMED AT ANY COST.
A Letter of Inquiry from the Executive
Committee of the National Reform
League Draws Forth a Pointed Reply
from the President Elect - Partisan
Ambition to be Ignored.


Committee of the National Reform
League Draws Forth Pointed Reply
from the President Elect - Partisan
Ambition to be Ignored.
NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-The following corre-
spondence explains itself:
NATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE REFORM LEAGUE,)
OFFICE, PINE STREET,
NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 1884. }
Hon. Grocer CEegeldnd:
SIR-We have the honor to address you on
behalf of the National Civil Service Reform
League, an association composed of citizens
of all parties whose sole purpose is indicated
by its name, and which takes no part what
ever IN party controversy. The vast increase
IN the number of persons engaged in the civil
service and the grave mischiefs and dangers
arising from general prescription in the SER
vice, which for half a century has followed a
change of party control of the national ad-
mlnlstrati0n, have produced so profound an
impression on the public mind that the first
effective steps toward reform were taken with
the cooperation of both parties in the pass
age of a reform act Jan. l6. 1888. The abuses
which that act seeks to correct, however, are
so strongly entrenched in the traditions
and usages of both parties that there is natur-
ally widespread anxiety lest the party change
in the national executive exerted by the late
election should show them to be insuperable.
But, believing as re do, that a reformed sys-
TEN cannot be heiG to be securely established
until it has safely passed the ordeal of such
party change, and recalling with satisfaction
and confidence your public expressions favor
able to reform and your official acts as Chief
Executive of the State of New York, we con-
hdently commend this cause to your patriotic
care IN the exercise of the great power with
which the American people have intrusted
you. Respectfully,
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, President.
WILLIAM PORTS, Secretary
JOHN JAY,
MOORFIELD STOREY.
j. HALL PLEAsANTs,
w. w. MONTGOMERY,
EVERETT p. WHEELER,
FREDERICK CROMWELL,
CARL SCHURZ,
SILAS W. BURT.
A. S. MCDONOUGH,
WILLIAM CAREY SANGER,
WILLIAM W. AIKEN.
Executive Committee.
CLEvELAND's REPLY.
President-elect Cleveland's reply is as fol-
lows:
Hon. George William Curtis, President, etc:
DEAR SIR-YOur communication dated
Dec. 20, addressed to me on behalf of the Ma
tlonaI ClVll Service Reform League has been
received. That practical reform in the
civil service is demanded is abundantly estab-
llshed by the fact that the statute referred to
IN your communication to secure such a
result has been passed in Congress with the
assent of both political parties, and by the
further fact that the sentiment prevalent
among patriotic people calling for fair and
Deen thus enacted. l regard my
self pledged to this because my
conception of true Democratic faith
and public duty requires that this and all
other statutes should be in good faith and
without evasion enforced, and because in
many utterances made prior to my election
as President, approved by the party to which
l belong and which L have no disnOsltiOn tn
dsclalm, have In effect promised the people
that this should be done. / am not unmind-
ful of the fact to which you refer that many
of our citizens fear that the recent party
chaDge IN the national executive NAV de-
mOnstrate that the abuses which have
grown up in the civil service
are ineradicable- | know that
spoils system has been supposed to be inti-
mately related to success in the maintenance
OF party organization, and am not sure that
all th0se who profess to be friends of civil
service reform will stand firmly among Its
advocates when they find it Obstructlng their
way to patronage and place. But fully ap-
preclatlng the trust committed to my charge,
no such consideration shall cause relaxation
on my part OF an earnest effort to enforce this
Jaw.
NO REMOVALS EXCEPT FOR CAUSE.
There is class of government positions
which are not within the letter of the civil
service statute, but which are so disconnected
with the policy of an administration that the
removal therefrom of the present incumbents
IN my opinion, should not be made during the
terms for which they were appointed
solely on partisan grounds and for the pur-
pose of putting in their places those who were
in political teal accord with the appointing
tions have forfeited all lust claim
to retention because they have used
their places for party purposes in
disregard OF their duty to the people, and be-
cause instead being decent public servants
they have proved themselves offensive parti-
sans and INSCRIPTIONS manipulators of local
party management. The lessons of the past
should be unlearned and such officials, as well
as their successors, should be taught that efli-
cheney, fitness and devotion to duty are con-
dltlons of their continuance in public place,
and that quiet and unObtrusive exercise of
individual political rights is a reasonable
measure of their party service.
If were addressing none but party friends
should deem it entirely proper to remind
them that though the coming administration
Is to be Democratic, due regard for the peo-
pies interest does not permit faithful party
Work to be always rewarded by appointment
to office, and to say to them that while Dem
ocrats may expect all proper consideration.
selections for Office not embraced within the
civil service rules will be based on sufficient
inquiry as to fitness, instituted by those
charged with that duty.
Yours, very truly, GROVER CLEVELAND.