The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-01-08
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The Views of the PresIdent-Elect.
STATED IN ANSWER TO THE NATIONAL
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM LEAGUE.

| lowing correspondence eApIalhs IL
self:
The National Civil Service Re-
form League, Office No. 4 Pine
street. New York, Dec. 20, 1884.
The Hon. Grover Cleveland Sir
We have the honor to address you
on behalf of the National Civil
Service Reform League, an assOcia
tion composed of citizens of all par
ties, whose sole purpose is indicated
by its name, and which takes DO
part whatever in party controversy.
The vast increase in the number
of persons engaged in the civil
service and the grave mischiefs and
dangers arising from the general
prescription in the service which for
half a century has followed the
changes OF party control OF the Ma
tonal Administration have prOduc
ed so profound an impression upon
the public mind that the first eticc-
tive steps towards reform were
taken, with the cooperation of both
parties, in the passage of the re-
form act Of July l6, 1888. The
abuses which that act seeks to cor
rect, however, are so strongly en-
trenched in the traditions and
usages of both parties that there is
naturally widespread anxiety lest
the party change in the National
Executive effected by the late elec,
ton should show them to be
insuperable, but believing as we do
that the reformed system cannot be
securely established until it has
safely passed the ordeal of such q
party change, and realizing with
satisfaction and confidence your
public expression of devotion to re-
form, and your official acts as Chief
Executive Of the State of New York,
we confidently commend this case to
Your patriotic care in the exercise
of the great power with which the
American people have intrusted
you.
Respectfully yours,
George William Curtis, President; Vim.
Potts, Secretary; John Jay, Mooretield
Storey, J. Hall PlcaSants, w. w. Mont
gomcry, Everett p Wheeler, Frederick
Cromwell, Morrill, Wyman, Carl Schurz
Silas w Burt, \. II. Marlborough, VIM
Cary Singer WIN. W. Aiken, Executive
Committee.
President elect Clevcland's reply
was as follows:
ALBANY, Dec. 25, 1SS4.-IIon
Geo. William Curtis, President, etc
Dear Sir: Your communication
dated Dec. 20, addressed to me OF
behalf of the National Civil Service
Reform League, has been received,
That practical reform in the civil
service is demanded, is abnndantlN
established bv the fact hat til,
statute referred to in Your commu
nication to secure such results has
been passed in Congress with tht
assent Of both political parties, anC
and by the farther fact that the sen
: timcnt is generally prevalent among
the patriotic people calling for {
fair and honest enforcement of The
law which has been thus enacted,
l regard myself as pledged to thi,
because my conception Of the true
Democratic faith and public duty
requires this and all other statues
should be in good faith and without
evasion enforced, and because il
many utterances made prior to my
election as President, approved by the
party to which belong and which
| have no disposition to disclaim,
have in effect promised the people
that this should be done.
am not unmindful Of the fact tC
which YOU refer, that many of our citi
zens fear that the recent party change il
the national executive may demonstrate
, that the abuses which have grown up il
the civil service are ineradicable know
that they are deeply rooted, and that the
spoilS system has been supposed to be in
tmately related to success in the
maintnance of party organization, and
am not sure that all of those who profess
to he friends of this reform will stand
firmly among its advocates when they
find 1t obstructing thelrw way to patronage
and to place. But, fully approaching the
trust committed to my charge, no sucl
considerations shall cause a relaxation OF
my part of an earnest effort to enforce
this law.
There is a class of government positions
which are not within the letter of the
civil service statute, but which are so dis
connected with the policy of an admins
tratiOn that the removal therefrOm of the
present incumbents, in my opinion should
not be made during the terms for which
they were appointed, solely on partisan
grounds and for the purpose of putting in
their places those who are in political ac-
cord with tie appointing power. But
many now holding such positions have
forfeited all inst claim to retention be-
cause they have used their places for
party purposes, in disregard of their duty
to the people, and because, instead OF
being decent public servants, they have
proved themselves offensive partisans and
INSCRIPTIONS manipulators of local party
management
The lessons of the past should he I'M
learned, and such officials, as well as
their successors, should be taught that
efficiency, fitness and devotion to public
duty are the conditions of their con-
tinuance in public places, and that quiet
and unObtrusive exercise of individual
political rights in reasonable measure,
their party service.
If | were addressing none but party
friends should deem it entirely proper to
remind them that though the COM
ing administration is to be Democratic,
a due regard for the peoples interest does
not permit that faithful party work