The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-01-13
LETTER FROM GOV. CLEVE-
LAND.
The Civil Service 10 he Reformed
New YORK. Dec a9-The following CORE
spOndence explains itself
national CIVIL SERVICE REFORM LEAGrE
OFFICE. PINE STREET,
NEW YORn. Dee -. 1874


Hon TrDgtf CSeoeLa5Dd.
SIR We nave the honor Ia address vou OF
o+iiait Of the National Civil Service Reform
League. an ASSOCIATION composed II citizens ~
al parties whose sole purpose Is Indicated ny IL
name. ana which lakes part wnatever IL
party controversy The vas increase II thr
number OF persons engaged IL ihe Civil Service
and the grave miectrfefs and dangers arising
from genera prescription in the service which
Tor halt century has follow ed change OF PAT
" control III The national administration. have
produced % profound an impression OF the put
ilc mind thai the frsi effective steps toward re-
FOrm were taken With the cG-op~raton VI UniA
parties III The passage ni d Reform acg January
l6il, 1885,. The abuses which thai ACT seeks Ia
cnrIec'. however, are 81 strongly eni'eGciied IL
Tue traditions and usages vi BON parties thai
there l. naturally widespread anxiety lest the
party change n the national executive exerted
hy the late election should show them 10 be in
superabie. But believing We do thai re
formed system cannot be held TO be securely g.
tabiishei until II has safely passed the ordeal f
such party change, and recalling with saiistac
ton and confidence your public expressions ID
vorabie to reform and your official acts a. Chief
Executive OF the State OF New York, We emit
IDENTITY commend this cause To your patriotic
care IL the exercise OF the great power with
which the American people have intrusted YOU.
Respectfully,
W LILLIAN FTSriUtnt,
WILLIAM PorTs, Secretary
JOHN JAY
MooRFIELD STOREY,
). HALL PLEAsANTs.
W. W MONTGOMERY
EVERETT p. WHEELED,
FREDERIC CROMWELL,
CARL SCHURZ
SII.As W BURT.
A 5 MCDoNoUGH,
WILLIAM CAREY SANGER,
WILLIAM W. AIKEN.
Executive Committee
cLEvELAxD'- REPLY
Presideni-elect Cleveiand's reply is as fol-
lows
ALBANY, \. Y. Dec 30 1884
Hon Georgt William Ctsrtls Ircsseient TIC
DEAR eIR-YOur communication dated d..
cember 30 addressed 10 me on behalf OF The Ma
lional Civil Service Reform League mas been re-
ceiveG. That practical reform in the civil sell
vice Is demanded IS abundantly established by
lie tact that the statute referred le ii your con-
municAtlon 10 secure such result has been
passed IL Cong ress with the assent OF both poli
icai parties and by the further lacl that the san
lIment prevalent among patriotic people calling
ioi lair and honest enforcement OF the lAU
which has been thus enacted | regard mysel
pledged To this becAuse nay conception OF true
Democratic faith and public duty requires thai
this and all other statutes should be liz good faith
and without evasion enforced. aBd BECAUSE il
manv utterances made prior To my election rs
President, approved by the party To which | be
long and " hich lave no disposition To- disclaim
have Ia effect promised the people that this
should he done. l am not unmindtui OF the fact
to whIck YOU refer that many OF our citizens fear
that the recent party Change in the National
Executive may demonstrate that the abuses
which have grown up IN the civil service are in
eradicable ! know that they are deeply rooted,
and that the spoils system has been supposed To
be intimately related TO success in the mainten-
ance of party organization, and am not sure
tina, ali those who profess To be friends of civil
service reform viii stand firmly among its advo-
Gates when they find ii obstructing their way 10
patronage and place. But fully approaching the
trust committed to my charge, no such consider
alton shall cause reIaxatieu on my part sl an
earnest effort to enforce this law.
30 REMOVALS EXCEPT FOR CAUSE
There is class OF government positions which
are not within the letter OF the civil service stat
Ute but which are 80 disconnected with the
policy of an administration that the removal
therefrom af the present incumbeuis, ia my
opinion, lhoud not be made during the terms
for which they were appointed solely on partisan
grounds and Tor the purpose nj putting III their
places those who were in political accord with
the appointing power But many now holding
such positions have forfeited all just claim to
retention because they have used their places SIR
party purposes in disregard of their duty 10 the
people, and because instead Of being decent pub
lie servants they have proved themselves Often
live partisans and unsernpulnus manipulat0rs af
local party management. The lessons of the
past should be unlearned and such officials, as
well rs their successors, should he taught that
efficiency, fitness and devotion 10 duty ART con-
iitiOns Of their Continuance In public place. and
hat quiet and unobtrusive exercise ut individ-
nal political rights n . reasonable measure Of
heir party service Ii were addressing none
,ui party friends / should deem il entirely pr0p
II to remind them that Though the GINNING
10 Ia he Democratic, due regard
or the peoples interest does not permit faithful
,arty work to be always rewarded by appoint |
nent To Once, and 10 say 10 them thai while |
Democrats may expect all psaper consideration,
eleciious for Once not embnaced within the |
ivii service rules will be hnsed On sufieaent |
nqniry q to fitness, instiiut<d By thnae charged
Eith that duty. Youn, very truly,
9HOgxR CLEVELAND.