St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-30
CIVIL SERVICE.
Gov. Cleveland's Views in Regard to
the Civil Service Question.

I
the Civil Service Question.
NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-The following cor
respondenee explains itself:
National Civil Service Reform League
Office, No. Pine street New York, Dec 20.
lSs4-The Hon. Grover Cleveland. Sir:
We have the honor 10 address you on behalf
Of the National Civil Service Reform league,
sn association composed Of citizens of all
parties, whose sO.e purpose is indicated by
lis name and which takes no part whatever
in party controversy. The vast increase in
the number of persons engaged in
the civil service and the grave mis-
chiefs and dangers arising from
general prescription il the service
which for half = century has followed a
change Of party control Of national admins
iratiOn have produced so profound an i'm
preston upon the public mind that the first
effective steps toward reform were taken
with the cooperation Of both parties in the
passage Of the reform act Of January 18th,
1888. The abuses which that act seeks 10
correct, however, are so strongly entrenched
In the traditions and usages Of both parties
that there's naturally wide spread anxiety
lest the party change in the national execu-
tive effected by the late election should show
them 10 be inseperable, but believing
as we do that a reform system
cannot be held to be securely established
until IL has safely passed the ordeal Of such
party change. and recalling with satisfaction
and confidence your public expressions
favorable to reform, and your official acts as
chief executive OF the state Of New York, We
patriotic care in the exercise OF the great
power with which the American people have
entrusted sou. Respectfully yours,
G. W. Curtis, pres't. VIM. Potts, sec'y.
John jay, Moorefeld Storey,
j. Hall Peasants, ". ". Montgomery,
Everitt P. Wheeler, Fred. K. Cromwell,
Morrill, Wyman, Jr-, Carl Schurz,
Silas W. Burt, 4. r McDonough,
Vim. Carey Sanger, VIM. W. Aiken,
Executive committee
PREsIDENT-ELEcT CLEvELAND's REPLY.
ALBANY, y. Y, Dec. 25, 1884.
Hon. Geo. VIM. Curtis, president, etc
Dear Sir: Your communication, dated
December 90, addressed to me on behalf of
national civil service reform league, has
been received. That practical reform in the
civil sereIce is demanded, is abundantly es-
tablished by the fact that the statute referred
to in your communication to secure such re-
suit has been passed in congress, with the
assent of both political parties, and by the
further fact that the sentiment
generally prevailing among patri-
otto people calling for fair
and honest enforcement of the law which
has been enacted, regard myself pledged
TO this, because, in 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 uttersnees made prior
to my election as president, approved By the
party to which belong. and which have no
disposition TO diselaim, / have, in effect,
promised 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 NAV
demonstrate that abuses which have grown
up In the civil service are ineradicable. l
know they are deeply rooted and that the
spells system has been supposed intimately
related 10 success in maintenance OF party
organization, and am not sure that all those
who profess to be friends Of this reform vii