The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-10-02
ClvIL-SERvicE REFORM.

Mr.. Eaton, Chairman of the Commission.
Resigns-A Lengthy Letter in Which
He Commends the Policy of the Adj
| minis Presidents Reply.
WASHINGTON, Sept 24.-The CORE
spondence that passed between Dornan B.
Eaton and President Cleveland on the sub
ject of the formers resignation as Chair
man of the Civil-Service Commission
was given to the press last night
The commissioner does not urge the
acceptance Of his resignation until
such time in the autumn as the PreSi-
dent may find it convenient to make new
appointment. MIR. Eaton gives the history
OF bis connection with Civil-Service Reform
before and after its adoption BY the Govern
ment, and explains why he did not resign his
position before. The friends of reform, he
says, urged thenecessity of his remaining I'M
til the Civil-Seryice machinery was in good
working order, and it could be seen what a
change IN the Administration would de-
yelop Another reason given for withhold
ing his resignation is that he should regard
1T as a pernicious precedent, utterly repug-
naDt to the spirit of the Civil-Seryice act,
to treat the office of Civil-Serylce Commits
sioner as political, and hence as one to be
Tiled at the beginning of each Presidential
term. MIR. Eaton continues:
These considerations constrained me to
continue in my place until the reform policy
or your Administration so clearly defined in
your declaration, should be as Enthusiastically
developed in your acts as President as it had
been in your acts as Governor of New York
Ibat time has arrived. No candid man can
longer pretend to regard that policy as indefl-
mite ordoubtful. Every one of the five months
OF your Administration, during. which
the CiyilService act and rules have been en-
forced with as much breadth, firmness and
fidelity as under that of President Arthur
mas not only added new evidence of the utility
on me new system upon which ne congratu-
lated the country, but has made more definite
the settled purpose of your Administration to
faithfully enforce both the law and the rules
in the future"
Mr. Eaton expresses the opinion that in
the near future civil-serviee reform will
have not only greatly enlarged, but an al
most uDchallenged enforcement, as it has
now become an issue between the people
and the politicians. a5t 1850
In reply President Cleveland requests
Eaton to retain his position until Novem-
Der l, and expresses regret that the COM
missioner should have determined to with
draw from an office where his services have
been OF such ineStima5le value u the coun-
try. The President says: va
THE success which has thus far attended
the work Of civil service reform is largely
due to the fact that its practical friends have
proceeded upon the theory that real and
healthy progress can only be made as the peo-
pie who cherish pernicious political IDEAS
paransbo and By h vicious
change contemplated by the reform
offers substantial Improvement and
benefits. A reasonable federation for old
prejudices, graceful recognition of every
aid, sensible utilization Of every instru-
mentality that promises assistance, and a con.
slant effort to demonstrate the advantages of
the new order of things are the meaps by
which this reform movement will, III the
future, be further advanced, the opposi-
ton OF incorrigible spoilsmen rendered in
eHectua! and the cause placed upon a sure
foundation OF course there. should be
no surrender OF principle, nor backward steps,
and all laws for the enforcement of the re-
form should be rigidly executed; but the
benefits which its principles promise will not
pc fully realized unless the acquiescence of
the people is added to the stern assertion of a
laws. So
Il believe in civil-servce reform and its
application in the. most practicable form at
ta1nabe, among other reasons, because it
opens the door for the rich and the poor alike
TO participation in public plaCeholding, and
hope the time is at hand when our people
Will see the advantage of reliance for such
an opportunity upon merit and fitness instead
OF dependence upon the caprice or selfish
interests OF those who impudently stand be-
tween the people and the machinery of their
Government" M ea
The President concludes his letter by ex-
pressing entire confidence in Mr.. Eaton's
attachment to civil service reform and in
dulges the hope that he will continue his
interest in the cause after he has surren-
dered his Office 9E #a