Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-30
CLEVELAND ON REFORM
Ofthe Civil Seryice-A Letter From the
National Civil Service Reform Club
to Him and His Reply.

NEW YORK, Dec. 80.
The following correspondence explains
itself.
OFFICE NAr'L CIvIL SERVICE REFORM CLUB
LEAGUE, OFFICE PINE ST.
NEW YORK, Dec. 20.
Hon. Grorer Cleveland SIR:
We have the honor 10 address you in be-
half of the National Civil Service Reform
Leage. The association is composed of citi-
zens from all parts, whose sole purpose is
indicated by its name, and which takes no
part whatever in party controversy. The
vast increase in the number of persons en-
gagged in the civil service, and the grave mis-
chiefs and dangers arising from a general
prescription in the service, which for half a
century has followed the change of the party
control of the national administration, have
produced so profound an impression on the
public mind that the first effective steps
towards reform were taken with the co-opera-
tlon of both parties, in the passage of the re-
form act of Jan. l6, 1888. The abuses which
that act seeks to correct, however, are so
strongly intrenched in the traditions and
usages of both parti S, there is naturally a
widespread anxiety lest the party change in
the national executive effected by the late
election should show them to be insuperable,
but believing, as we do, that the reformed
system cannot be held to be securely estab-
lished until it has passed the ordeal of such a
party change, and recalling with satisfaction
and confidence your public expressions favor
able to reform, and your official acts as
the chief executive of the State of New York
we confidently commend this cause to your
patriotic care, in the exercise of the great
power with which the American people have
intrusted you.
Re pectfully Yours,
GEO. VIM. CURTIS, Pres.
WIN. PoTTs, Secretary,
Jno. Jay, Moorfield Storey, j. Hall Pleas
ants, w. w. Montgomery, Everett P.
Wheeler, Frederick Cromwell, Morrill,
Wyman, Jr., Carl Schurz, Silas w. Burt,
A. r. .McDonough, VIM Cary Ranger, VIM.
w. Aiken, Executive Committee.
ALBANY, N. Y, Dec. 30.
Hon. Geo Wm. Curtis, President, etc
DEAR SIR: Your communication dated
Dec. Goth, addressed to me on behalf of the
National Civil Service Reform League has
been received. That practical reform in
civil service is demanded is sbundantly estab-
lished by the fact that the statue referred to
in your communication, to secure such re-
suit has been passed in Congress with the
sent of both political parties, and by the
further fact that the sentiment is generally
prevalent among the patriotic people, calling
for fair and honest enforcement of the law
which has been thus enacted. | regard my
self pledged to this because my conception
of true democratic faith and pupllc duty re-
quires 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 belong, and while | have no
disposition to disclaim, | have in effect
promised the people that this should be done.
am not unmindful of the fact to which you
refer; that many of our citizens fear that the
recent party change in the national executive
may demonstrate that the abuses which have
grown up with the civil service are ineradi-
cable. l know they are deeply rooted, and
that the spoils system has been supposed to
be intimately related to the success in the
maintenance of the party organization, and
| am not sure that all those who profess to
be friends of this reform will stand firmly
among its advocates they find it obstructing
their patronage and place. But fully appre-
ciating the trust committed to my charge, no
such considerations shall cause any relaxa-
tion on my part of the finest effort to enforce
this law. There is a class of government po-
sitiOns which are not within the letter of
the civil service statute, but which are so
disconnected with the policy of the admins
tration that the removal therefrom of the
present incumbants, in my opinion, should
not be made during the terms for which they
are appointed, solely on partisan grounds and
for the purpose of putting in their places those
who are in political accord with the appoint
ing power, but many now holding such poa
sitions have forfeited all just claims to their
retention because they have used their places
for party purposes in disregard of their duty
to the people, and because instead of being
decent public servants, they have proved
themselves offensive partisans and unscrupu-
lous manipulstors of the local party manage
ment. The lessons of the past should be
unlearned, and such officials, as well as their
successors, should be taught efficiency fitness
and devotion to public duty, which
are the conditions of the contrivance
in public place, and that quiet and un-
obtrusive exercise of individual political
rights is a reasonable measure of their party
service. If were addressing none but par
ty friends / should deem it entirely proper to
-emind them that though the coming admin
istration is to be democratic, due regards for
the peoples interest does not permit the
faithful party work to be always rewarded by
an appointment to office and to say to them
tfat while democrats may expect all proper
consideration, the selections for sffices not
embraced in the civil service rules will be
based on sufficient inquiry as to fitness, in
stituted by those charged with that duty,
rather than on persistent importantly or
self-solicited recommendations on behalf of
the candidates for appointment.
Yours Very Truly,
Grover CIFyFIAND