The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-01-17
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
President Arthur's Last Reception-Little
Doing in Congress-Mr. Cleveland's
Civil Service Letter, Etc, Etc.
WAsnIsarox. d. G. january 1ath. 1sS5


WASHINGTON, D. c., January 18th, 1885.
Messrs. Editors II have not had an opportu-
nifty to write you for the few past weeks, but no.
tice that THE UNION has not lacked interesting
correspondence, both of local and other charac-
ter, which serves me as a very good excuse for my
delinquency, if such it should be esteemed.
The Christmas and New Year holidays passed
off here in very much the usual manner, Congress
taking a recess of nearly two weeks, the Depart
ments being closed the two prominent days men,
toned above and half day before each, and on
New Year day large number of receptions being
given throughout the city for the entertainment of
friends and acquaintance, which practice was
probably as much followed as in former years.
Of course, the great feature of the holidays was
the receptions of the President and the Cabinet
officers on New Year day. Evidently the former
did not lack any in interest and elegance from
those of former years by the present occupant of
the White House and his predecessors. Bat there
also seemed to be added to these this occasion,
feeling of sadness or regret that manifested it.
self on the countenances and in the remarks of
those attending it, first on account of it being the
last New Year day of Republican President for
the present, and especially because it was the last
one of President Arthurs.
Outside the routine of Congress and the Depart
ments there has not been much transporting of in
terest since the holidays. Congress has been try
the expenses of the Navy Department for the last
six months Of the present fiscal year, the same not
being provided for at the last session of Congress-
but has not yet been able, notwithstanding five
separate bills for the purpose have been brought
into the two Houses up to this time. The tech
meal differences between them are not much, but
vet enough to prevent the House and Senate from
harmonizing upon bill, and so the Department
at this time is left without appropriation.
Nothing perhaps has been so much commented
upon since its issuance as President-e elect Cleve-
lands letter. Many Republicans do not know
whether or not to trust it or whether to believe
that it means much, while many Of the Democrats,
on the other hand, are afraid that it and he mean
a great deal more than they want them to. This
latter was shown by the Democratic correspon-
dence from this city last week this point to both
the Journal and Voice, of your county, both the
writer's of which attached violations to the Civil
Service law which |, after the most careful read
ing and studying, cannot find in it, they alleging
that Republican correspondence with your or
other Republican journals are such violation
Now, it is fact that Mr.. Cleveland, when he be-
comes President, has the undisputed legal right to
dismiss any or every employee of the Government
anywhere for any cause whatever, if he
chooses to do So yet neither the making of speech
es the writing of newspaper letters or even the
contributing of money to a campaign fund for any
party is a violation of the Civil-Service law, as
alleged by these correspondents. On the contra
~, the worst of these three, the contributing of
money for campaign purposes, is especially and
by word in the law protected as one of the per-
sonal rights of citizen, whether in or out of the
Civil-Service of the Government, and heavy
penalty of fine and imprisonment is attached to
any person that shall interfere with the rights of
one in the service I believe, after carefully read
ing President elect Cevelands letter, and re-
reading it again and again, that it means all it
says with the broadest construction that can be
put upon it. Mr.. Cleyelands past record, to-
gether with his character and all the utterances
he has given expression to on the subject, are
guarantee that he VIII measure up to the high
standard of Civil-Servce Reform which he says
in his letter is so much needed in the National
Governmental service and which is set forth in
the provisions of the Civil Service law, and he
will have the support of all patriotic citizens,
irrespective of party-not of the spoilsmen, of
course, of any party.
The two correspondents referred to above are
evidently not in accord with President-elect
Cleveland's idea of reform. One of them says
awe have no sympathy with that sickly senti-
mental idea that to the vanqaished belong the
spoils !" and for this reason they would have all
the present employees of the Government "turned
out" without regard to their honesty, competency
and experience in performing the Government
work. President Cleveland will turn his back on
this kind Of reform. I agree with the correspon-
QentS LnaJ all -raScdls as wei as lucOmpetcnt
employees should be turned out, but suppose it
should be found that an employee is perfectly
honest-no faint of 'rascaity' or dishonesty can
be traced to him; that he has always been COM
petent and faithful in the performance of his du-
ties; that he has never violated any principle,
clause or provision of the Civil-Service Reform
act, nor NEGLECTED his legitimate duties IN crting
political articles" but used his time outside of
Office hours and his own stationery and postage
stamps for all his correspondence; that he is an
honorably discharged ex-Union soldier perhaps
"a circumstance that gives him preference under
both the U. S. revised statutes and the above act
and that in addition to all of these and being re-
spected as an upright and honorable citizen wher-
ever known, he may have even entered the Civil
Service through his superior ability shown in
CiviI-Service competitive examination under the
supervision of Mr.. Curtis himsef-there are such
here-will Mr.. Cleveland turn him out? l have
faith to believe, no! Nor will he favor putting n
"spoilsmaa" of whatever party in his place.
President Cleveland will bestow his confidence
and favor upon those who believe in and trust his
Civil Service Reform principles and policy, and
his administration will be in the best interests of
the country and Government and not of those of
nolitical "sDoilsmen." ANON.