The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-17

ties in that Republican city His life as mayor
was a continuous struggle for honesty and hdel-
ity in Office against iobbers, spoilsmen and parti-
sans who had long preyed on the city. He mas
tered the situation and became known as the
veto mayor. His fearless way Of dealing with
them is shown by the language Of his veto.
Commissioner Eaton here quotes from Gov.
Cleveland's messages, from his letter accepting
the gubernatnrial nomination, and from other
Communications to show his decisive and I'M
equivocal endorsement of the civil-service act,
and pays a high tribute to the honesty and non
partisan business capacity of the Governor, as
evidenced in his administration Of the affairs of
the State of New York, and continues as fol-
lows:
1.-The rapidly growing reform sentiment Of the
country has been demanding more honesty,
politics. in the executive places. and Governor
Cleveland has the distinction Of being
the first man since Washington who has
been elected President because he pos
sessed those qualities in a pre- eminent
degree. They have advanced him more rapidly
to the head of the Nation than military glory
ever did any one of her f%avorites. 70 believe
that such a man. with such a history, who never
sought an Office, will come to the national capital
to repudiate the pledges and all that is best of
his official life, to betray those who have most
trusted him. to make hostile all the Republican
Journals which now support him, to ruin the
prospects of his party and disgrace himself and
his country by overturning a work Of reform
kindred to that upon which his own distinction
rests, only to secure a free field for patronage
mOngering and the spells system of debauchery
that such an assumption should be
made by any sensible, wel-informed
man, is to me simply impossible.
If l an mistaken in this view / hope the rules
will be utterly overthrown before the March
winds are over. If the Democrats enforce the
spoils,system policy. they must take the conse-
quences. No true friend Of reform would have
any part in n perfunctory and deceptive enforce
ment of rules mutilated in essential parts. He
would rather await their certain resurrection
four years hence, over the graves Of their enc
miles,
The views of Judge L. D. Thoman, the Demo
cratic member of the commission, were also
obtained on the same subject discussed by Nh.
Eaton. What do you think will be President
Cieveland's policy as to civil service REFORM
was asked.
Il do not know. but it would seem that his
past public utterances and acts are sufficient
guaranty that his policy will be conservative
and in thorough sympathy with the present
civil-service law and rules"
Twill there be manv removals Of government
officials from Officer
YES, and many will remain. / am satisfied
that thorough administrative reform will cause
the removal of many officials whose places need
not be filed, and if the policy is pursued
by which the business of the government
will be conducted on business principles
the biennial register in two years from now, will
contain several thousand less names than it does
to-day. AS to distributing subordinates in these
public Offices. much will depend upon the heads
of departments. bureaus and divisions, and also
upon their efficiency in the places they occupy.
There never has been such a thing as a clean
sweep The power Of removal is not abridged
by the civil service law, but places made vacant
can not be filled within the classified service
without a requisition on the commission. Thus
it is that the motive for removing thoroughly
efficient and trustworthy clerks is gone
In the course Of further conversation. Judge
Thoman took occasion to say that, had Mr..
Blaine been elected, he would have made more
removals for political motives than Mr.. Cleve-
land, because, lin a political life of twenty five
years, much of which time was given to seeking
the presidency, many pledges and promises
must have been made;' and as a second reason,
until his letter Of acceptance appeared, the pub
lie had not been advised that Mr.. Blaine
was in sympathy with a reform of the civil
service; and in no speech during the campaign,
although ne made several hundred, did he refer
TO this question. Governor Cleveland" Judge
Thoman continued. had declared himself on
every occasion that he addressed the public in
favor of the system of reform that is now being
successfully carried ont under the provisions of
Pendleton's bill, aud the rules promulgated by
President Arthur, who at all times has given the
commission hearty and unwavering support"