The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-11-18

the State of New York, and continues
as follows: " rhe rapidly growing reform
sentiment of the country has been de-
manding more honest courage and adj
ministrative capacity with less politics
in executive places. Governor Cleve-
land has the distinction of being The
first man since Washington who has
been elected President because he pos
sessed those qualities in pre-eminent
degree. They have advanced him more
rapidly to the head of the nation than
military glory ever did any one of her
favoriteS. To believe such man, with
such a history, who never sought an
Office, will come to the national capitol
to repudia-e the pledges and all that
is best of his official life, to betray those
who have most trusted him, to make
hostile all Republican Journals
which now support him, to ruin the
prospects of the party, and disgrace
himself and his country by Oyerturning
work of reform kindred to that upon
which his own distinction rests, only TO
secure a free field for patronage, Imoney
getting and the .spollS system debauch-
cry. That such an assumption should
be made by any sensible, Well-informed
man Is to me simply impossible. Ii |
am mistaken in this view. hope the
rules will be overthrown before the
March winds are over. If the Demo
Gratis enforce the spoils system policy,
they must take the consequences. No
true friend of reform would have any
part in the perfunctory and deceptive
enforcement of the rules mutilated in
essential parts. He would rather await
their certain resurrection for years
hence, over the graves of their enc
mics"
The views of Judge l.. D. Thoman,
the Democratic member of the commits
sion, were also obtained on the same
subject discussed by Mr.. Eaton.
"What do you think will be President
Cleveland's policy as to civil service re-
form" was asked.
81 do not know but it would seem that
his past public 'ntterances and acts are a
sufficient guarantee that his policy will
be conservative and in thorough sym
patty with the present civil service law
and rules. ~
Twill there be many removals of gov
eminent officials ?" .,---,
Eyes; and many will remain l am
satisfied that thorough administrative
reform will cause the removal of many
officials whose places need not be filled,
and if policy is pursued by which the
business of government will be con-
Quoted on business principles, the bien-
NAL register in two years from now will
contain several thousand less than to-
day. As to disturbing the subordinateS
in these public offices, much viii de.
pend 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,
cannot be filled within the classified
service without 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 Cleveland, be-
cause in political life of twenty-five
wears, much of which time was given to
seeking the Presidency, many pledges
and promises must have been made.
and as u second reason, until his letter
of acceptance appeared the public had
not been advised that Mr.. Blaine was
in sympathy with the reform of the civil
service, and in no speech during the
campaign, although he 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 was now being successfully carried
out under the provisions of Pendleton' s
bill and the rules promulgated by Presi-
dent Arthur, who at all times had given
the commission hearty and unwavering
support"