The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-01-07

Presidens-EIect cleveland. Policy.

Now YORK, Dec. 30.-On the Doth
inst. the officers of the National Civ.
/ il Service Reform League addressed
letter to Governor Cleveland or
the subject of civil service reform,
which cause they say thcs conf
IDENTIFY commend ito yoar pat
riotic care in the exercise of the
great power with which the Ameri-
can people haye intrusted to YOU"
To this the President-elect replie d
as follows:
DEAR SIR:--Your communica-
ton dated December 20th, addressed
to me on behalf OF the National
Civil Service Reform League, has
been received.
THAT practical reform in the
civil service is demanded is abund-
anily established by the fact that a
statute referred to in your commu-
nication to secure such result has
been passed in Congress with the
assent of both political parties, and
by the further fact that sentiment
is generally prevalent among pat
riotic people calling for the fair and
honest enforcement of the law
which has thus been enacted. re-
gard myself pledged to this, because
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 ut
terances made prior to my election
as President, approved by the party
to which | belong, and which l have
no disposition to disclaim, l have
in effect promised the people that
this should be done
Tam not unmindful of the fact
to which you refer, that many Of our
citizens fear that the recent party
/ changes in the national executive
may demonstrate that the abuses
which have grown up in the civil
service are ineradicable. I know
that they are deeply rooted, and that
the spoils system has been supposed
to be intimately related to success
in the maintenance of party organi-
zation, and | am not sure that all
those who profess to be the friends
of this reform will stand firmly
among its advocates when they find
| it obstructing their way to patronage
and to place.
''But fully appreciating the trust
committed to my charge, no such
consideration shall cause a relax
alton on my part of an earnest effort
to enforce the law.
There is a class ofgovernment po-
sitions which are not within the
letter Of the civil service statute. but
are so disconnected with the policy
of an administration that the re-
moval therefrom of present inoum-
bents, in my opinion, should not be
made during the terms for which
they were appointed solely on parti-
san grounds, and for the purpose OF
putting in their places those who
are in political accord with the APP
pointing power.
"But many now holding such po-
sitions have forfeited all just claim
to retention because they have used
their places for party purposes, III
disregard of their duty to the peo-
pie, and because, instead of being
decent public servants, they have
proved offensive partisans and un
scrupulous manipulators of local
party management.
THE lessons of the past should
be unlearned, and such officials, as
well as their successors. should be
laugh. that fitness and efficiency and
devotion to public duty are the con-
ditions of their continuance in pub
lie place, and that the quiet and
unobtrusive exercise of individul
political right is the reasonable meas
ure of their party service.
''If l were addressing none but
party friends, | should deem it en-
tirely proper to remind them that,
though the coming administration
is to be Democratic, due regard
for the peoples interest does not
permit faithful party work to be
always rewarded by appointment
to office, and to say to them that,
while Democrats may expect ali
proper consideration. selections for
office not embraced within the civil
service rules will be based upon
sufficient inquiry as to fitness, in
stituted by those charged with that
duty, rather than by persistent i'm
portunity or self solicited recon-
mendations on behalf of candidates
for appointment"