Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-12-30
CLEVELAND WRITES.
RE TELLS MR. CURTIS WHAT
NE THINKS OF CIVIL
SERVICE REFORM.

SERVICE REFORM.
NEW YORK, Dec. ~ The following
letter was addressed to Governor Cleve-
land on December 20, by the officers Of
the National Civil Service Reform
League, George Will am Curtis, Presi-
dent:
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 great
increase in the number Of persons en-
gagged in the civil service, and the
grave mischiefs and dangers arising
from the general prescription in the
service, which for half century has
followed a change ofparty control OF the
national administration, have produc-
ed 9, profound an impression upon the
public mind that the firsteffective steps
toward reform were taken with the CO
operation of both parties in the pas
sage of the reform act of January l6,
1888.
The abuses which that act seeks to
correct, however, are 30 strongly en-
trenched in the traditions and usages OF
both parties, that there is naturally
widespread anxiety lest the party
change in the national executive. ef-
fected 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 1t has safely passed the
ordeal Of such party change, and re-
calling with satisfaction and confidence
your public expressions favorable tc
reform, and your Official acts as tht
Chief Executive Of the State OF New
York, We confidently commend THU
cause to your patriotic care In the exer
Icise of the great power with which the
lAmerican people have intrusted You.
To this the President-elect replied o.
follows ZOO.
ALBANY, December 25, 1884.
Hon. GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, Presi
dent, etc.
DEAR SIR Your communication
dated December 20, addressed to me OF
behalf Of the National Civil Service
Reform League, has been received
THAT practical reform in the civil ser
vice Is demanded is abundantly estab
! llished by the fact that q statute refer
red to in your communication to secur
such a result has been passed in Con
!, press with the assent OF both pol1tlca
parties and by the further fact that
Isentiment is generally prevalent anon
patriotic people calling for the fair an.
honest enforcement Of the law whic
has thus been enacted.
regard myself pledged to this, bt
cause nv conception of true Democrati
faith and pnblic duty requires that thi
. and all other statutes should be IN goo
faith and without evasion enforced
= and because in many utterances mad
Iprior to my election as President, ~
,fl proved by the party to which l belong
and which / have no disposition
ldisclaim, l have in effect promised th
people that this should be done. l 81
not unmindful of the fact to whic
iyou refer, that many of our citizel
fear that the recent party change In IL
,lNational Executive may demopstra
q that the abuses which have grown U
In the civil service are ineradicable.
c. know that they are deeply rootet
- and that the spoils system has bee
supposed to be Intimately related to Il
S, uccess in the maintenance OF par
Organization, and l am not sure that o
those who profess to be the friends
this reform will stand firmly among
advocates when they find it obstructir
their way to patronage and place. bt
fully appreciating the trust commits
to my charge, no such considerati'
I'll. shall cause a relaxtion on my part
an earnest effort to enforce this law.
mi There is class of government POI
III tionss which are not within the letter
tt1fa hut w
40 disconnected with the policy OF
administration that the removal the
from of present umbents, In I
opinion, should not be made duri
the terms for which they were appm
ed solely on partisan grounds, and
te the purpose Of putting In their pla'
those who are In political accord W
the appointing power. But many n
holding such positions have forfeit
all lust claim to retention, because tt
have used their places for party pur
ses In disregard of their duty to
people. and because, instead OF bel
~ decent public servants, they have pr
ed themselves offensive partisans
upscrupulous manipulatOrs OF local
ilc ty management.
The lessons of the past should be
!, r. learned, and such officials, as well
- their successors, should be taught t
deficiency and fitness and devotion
public duty are the conditions OF Il
continuance in public place, and t
the quiet and unobstrusive exercise
individual political rights Is the +
sonable measure of their party servi
lIf were addressing none but pa
MI friends, should deem 1t entirely
Der to remind them that, though
nd coming administration Is to
Democratic, due regard for the I
PIES interest does not permit faith
c. party work to be always rewarded
appointment to office, aud to cay
them that, while Democrats may
pect all proper consideration, 30
tions for Office not embraced within
civil service rules will be based n
suffi cisnt inquiry as to fitness institu
by those charged with that duty, raj
than upon persistent importantly
self solicited recommendation on bel
of candidates for appointments.
Yours, very truly,
GRoyER CLEyELANl
HS&