Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-01-09
3" CIVIL 41RVICR
oorrespoodsnos Between George William
Curtis and Others and President Hlect
Grover Cleveland

SNS eA0 S0o Ot0ox8 ana xEeS1000E xa40Cb
Grover Cleveland.
The following correspondence explains itself:
National Civil Service Reform League, Of
flee Pine street. New York, Dec. 20, 1884 49,
Hon. Grover Cleveland Sir: We have the
honor to address you on behalf Of the national
civil service reform league an association COM
posed of citizens of all parties, whose sole pur-
pose is indicated by it's name and which takes
no part whatever in party controversy. The
vast increase in the number of persons en-
gagged in civil service and the grave mischiefs
and dangers arising from general pro-
scrptlon in the service which for half
century has followed changes of party control
OF the national administration, have produced
soprofound an impression upon the public
mind that the first effective steps toward reform
were taken with the cooperation ofboth parties
IN the passage of the reform act of Jan. IL,
1855 The abuses which that act seeks to cor
rect, however, are so strongly entrenched in
the traditions and usages Of both parties that
there is. naturally, widespread anxiety lest
fected by the late election should show them to
be inseparable. But, believing, as we do, that
the reformed system cannot be hold to be &c.
curely established until it 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 confidently commend this course
to your patriotic care in the exercise Of the great
power with which the American people have
entrusted you. Respectfully yours,
Geo. v. Curtis, Pres't, VIM. Potts, Secretary,
John Jay, Mooretield Storey,
J. Hail Pleasants, W. ". Montgomery,
Everett ?. Wheeler, Fred X. Cromwell,
Morrill, Wyman, Jc., Carl sehnrz,
Silas W. Burt, A. r. McDonough,
William Carey Sanger, William w. Aiken,
Executive Commit toe
PRESIDENT ELECT CLEvELAND's REPLY.
Albany, N. Y, Dec. Is, 1SS4.--Hon. George
William Curtis, Presi dent, etc.-Dear Sir:
Your communication dated Dec. 20 address sed
to me On behalf of the civil service reform
league has been received. That practical re-.
form in the civil service is demanded is abund-
artly established by the fact that the statute
ferred to in your communication to secure
such result has been passed in congress with
the assent of both political parties, and by tho
further fact that a sentiment generally pre-
walls among patriotic people calling for the
fair and honest enforcement Of tho law which
has been enacted I regard 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
utterances made prior to my election as presi-
dent approved by the party to which I
belong, and to which have no disposition to
disclaim, have in effect promised the people
that this should be done. 1 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 may demonstrate that the
abuses which have grown up i'll the civil ser
vice are ineradicable know they arc deeply
rooted, and that the spoils system has been
supposed to be intimately related to SUCCESS in
am not sure that all those who profess to be
friends of this reform will stand firmly among
its advocates when they find it obstructing
their way to patronage and place. But fully
approaching the trust committed to my charge,
no such consideration shall cause a. relaxation
on my part of earnest effort to enforce this
law. There is class of government posi-
tons which are not within the letter of
the civil service statute, but which are
SO disconnected with the policy of an
administration that the removal therefrom Of
the present incumbents, in my opinion, should
not be made during the terms for which they
we're appointed, solely on partisan grounds and
for the purpose of putting in their place those
who are in political accord with the appointing
power. But many now holding such positions
cause they have used their places for party
purposes in disregard of their duty to the peo-
pie, and because. instead of being decent pub
lie servants they have proved themselves Of
fensive partsans and unscrupulous manipu-
lators IN party management. The lessons of
the past should be unearned and such Off
Gals, as vel! as their successors, should
be taught that efficiency, fitness and deyo-
ton to public duty are the conditions of
their continuance in public place, and that
the quiet and unobstrusive exercise of individ-
ual political rights is a reasonable measure of
their party service. If was addressing none
but party friends I should deem it entirely
proper to remind them that, though the com
ing admins tration is to be Democratic a due
regard for the peoples interest does not per.
NIT faithful party work to be always rewarded
by appointment to Office, and to say to them
that while Democrats may expect all proper
braced within the civil service rules will be
based upon sufficient inquiry to fitness, institu-
ted by those charged with that duty, rather
than upon pe1sistant or self -solicited recon-
mendation on behalf of candidates for appoint
ment Your obedient servant,
GROVER CLEVELAND.