St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-06
The President Sets Forth Fully His Mo-
tives in Reorganizing the Civil Ser
vice Commission.
Eaton's disappointment Explained AMI
What is Expected for Civil Service
Reform.
Gov. Hill Serenaded at Albany and a
Response---More Congratulatory
kilograms.
Mcclellan Memoirs and Their Bear
ing on the Grant-Johnson
Imbroglto.
The President Explains. .

The President Explains
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 5.-Presi-
dent Cleveland to-day expressed himself as
follows to member of the editorial statf
Post in regard to the reorganization OF the
civil service commission:
The reorganlzation of the civil service
commission was made necessary Dy the reslg-
nation of the members OF the old board In
such reorganization 1t seemed 10 me
that friends for the cause couId be
made in the party to which l beIong.
and which is at present to large extent
charged with the enforcement OF the law by
changing the political complexion OF the
commission. This view, l think, was shared
by all the old commissioners and the cnange
has thus far progressed with not. ing but the
best feeling as far as l know on their part.
In the selection OF the new commissioners
there were so many different qualifications
which l deemed desirable that have bound
it is no easy matter to fill the position which
would combine elements which l consider
most useful to the fact, honest and success
full enforcement of the law. Prominent lead
ers of the civil service movement strongly ad-
vised me to select one of the commissioners
from the South. This 1 have done, and the
person selected from that locality, am quite
certain, possesses all the qualifications for
an efficient officer. Mr.. Edgerton,
never saw till yesterday. L don't remember
GndU L GNGE utdIu VI uilIi o1iA OhASA y ooeASo
Waite urged him upon my attention
ASA MOST EXCELLENT MAN
for the place. From my impression of him
Oh personal interview and from representa-
tions made by his friends, I am en-
tirely satisfied that no mistake has
been made in his appointment
1 cannot rid myself of this
idea that this civil service reform is some
thing intended to do practical work, and not
a mere sentiment, invented for the purpose
of affecting an opportunity to Ventliate
high-sounding notions and fine phrases. My
plan of giving it the greatest influence in
wolves the removal of stumbling blocks from
the way of good, honest men who are inclined
to it's support, and demonstrate in every pub
lie manner its value as adapted to the
everyday affairs of the government Thus
two Democrats were selected and l certainly
intend to select them for the two prominent
positions in the commission, and this was
done largely in Difference to the sentiment
and opinions held by good men in the Demo
cratic party, and it has also occurred
to me that it was plain dictate
of common sense that one OF the
old commissioners should, if possible,
remain for time and aid the new ones. The
preparation of the report OF the COMMISSION
is most important matter, affording an oc-
casion to commend the reform to the people
by exhibiting to them
ALL THATIT HAS ACCO MPLISHED
and the report ought to be very useful
too, in removing misapprehens1ons
and objections. During the experience OF
one who has been in the commission during
the time to which the report will relate OF
the utmost value in its preparation, and
fully convinced that the knowledge gained
by connection with the administration OF
the law would be a great help to the new
commission. l obtained the consent OF Mr.
Eaton to remain temporarily in the commits
T i .y,+A 5r,f t,n
place of Mr. Thoman, the former Democratic
member. When Mr.. Eaton finally retires
shall appoint Republican, whose selection
will, hope, detract nothing from the strength
and efficiency of the new commission. My
attention has been called to statement in
some newspapers relative to Mr.. Sterling.
have heard that he has applied for an
examination as weigher. I have
no information whether he has
passed or not, but judge from something
appearing in the papers that certain people
fear that he has, and already lashing them
selves into dread of apprehension lest he
should be appointed after examination to
fill the place to which ne was appointed with
out examination, and from which he was sus-
pended. When the civil service commission
consulted with me as to the status of Mr..
Sterling and the true construction of the rule
bearing on the subject.
IAGREED WITH THEM
in their second opinion that the position of
weigher was subject to an examination and
should be fixed by one who by means of a
proper examination under the law proved
himself competent and eligible. But it seemed
to me that the good of the service required
that the person to be appointed should
be possessed of certain traits and qualifica-
tons which nostheoretical examination would
develop, one having in charge 200 or 300 men
of the class which the weigher has to deal
with, should possess personal courage. en-
ergy decision and firmness of char
acter. 1t is entirely certain that the
possession of such qualifications could
not in the least be determined
by the result of an examination for the pur,
pose of testing an applicants knowledge and
education. l suggested that the examination
for this be non-competitive, but finding that
the law and rules did not permit that in such
case, it was proposed that instead of
sending to the appointing power only
four names from those who had
proved themselves eligible upon examination
and obliging him to select from them the
whole number who successfully passed should
be sent up. This permitted an opportunity
to Judge of the qualifications not developed
by the examination. This, as understood it.
was
AGREED TO AMONG Us,
and have ever since supposed that course
would be followed. 1 think it certainly
time it was, as L supposed, settled upon. 1
had not, and I am quite sure that no
member of the commission had the
slightest idea that Mr.. Sterling would
appear as an applicant for examination.
Now, if Mr.. Sterling has submitted to the
conditions imposed by the civil service law
and if he has passed the examination pre-
scribed, he should be treated justly and
fairly. I do not mean to say that
the appointing power should be unjust
and unfair to others by appointing
Mr. Sterling over the heads of those who
have passed better examination than his
and who are found on inspection to possess
qualifications essential to an effective per-
formance of the duties pertaining to the
Office. But 1 think all who have passed
should be certified, and if, under fair ap-
plication of the rules and in
the exercise justly in good faith of
the selection thus afforded, Mr..
Sterling should be chosen, no friend of civil
service reform has any right to complain.
No cause can gain by injustice or by a twist
ing of its purposes to particular tastes, and
when a result is fairly reached through the
proper operation of methods adopted to fur
ther reform, should be accepted, especially
by the
FRIENDS OF THE MOVEMENT.
They should not permit those of whom they
require submission to say with any semblance
of truth that they themselves submit only
when the result accords with their views.
HonOrs to Hill.
Special to the Globe.
ALBANY, N. Y, Nov. 5.-Gov. Hill was
serenaded by the citizens of Albany at the