, 1885-09-24
d. b. Eaton's Valedictorv

ID. b. Eaton's Valedictory.
WAsHINGroN, Sept. 93.-The follow
ing letter of resignation by Mr.. Dormau
b. Eaton, chairman of the civil service
commission, and the presidents reply
thereto which was received by Mr.. Eaton
this morning, have been furnished the
Associated Press for publication
UNITED STATES CIvIL SERVICE Con-
MISSION, WASHINGTON, D. c., July 2s,
SS5.-Sm:-In the execution of a pur-
pose, of which | informed you several
weeks since, | very respectfully tender my
resignation as civil service commissioner,
but out OF Difference to YOU wishes | will
not urge It's acceptance until such time in
the autumn as you may find convenient
for a new appointment 1t may not, |
hope, be thought inappropriate if | add
ONE words of explanation. Prior to the
passage Of the civil service act of Jan. l6,
1883, I had held under three earlier presi-
dents, and was then holding under Presi-
dent Arthur an official position, closely
analogous to my present office as civil scr.
vice commissioner. Fer nearly the whole
period | had served without compensation
and had been compelled to bear my "
travelling and other expenses, including
those of Il journey to Europe and the pre-
p~aration of an extensive report, made at
the request of one of those presidents, but
printed by congress. | had taken an act
i've part by which my time was largely
taxed in connection with the preparation
aud passage of that law. When the time
arrived for executing its provisions it
seemed to me that ! could not fairly be
called upon to make further sacrifice of
my private interests in aid of civil service
reform. Besides, the enemies of reform
were so kind as TO charge that | had pro-
NOTED the act for the treble purpose Of
gaining notoriety, an Office, and a salary,
But President Arthur, without the least
intimation to me of his purpose, nomi-
mated me and ! was confirmed as commits
sionor- Were it
not for the interference of congressmen
and politicians with the constitutional
functions and intended liberty Of the pres
ident and of other officers having the
appointing power. there would now be no
opposition worthy Of notice to the merit
system of Office. Those who oppose it
will, with few exceptions, be those only
whose participation in appointments and
removals is an absolute usurpation and
intermeddling, by which the counterpose
of government has been impaired and, its
perpetuity IS being threatened. To that
usurpation, to the selfish aims of those
who promote it, to the gathering of
spoils and distribution of offices which are
its motive force, open competitions of
merit for appointment and the suppression
of political assessments, are fatal. Presi-
dent Grant approved a civil service rule to
arrest that intermeddling. Concede to
the president and other appointing officers
the liberty which the constitution aud
laws contemplate to allow those who have
the best means Of making a wise choice
between the spoils system and the merit
system to be judges, and, | repeat, the
final decision is already given and the
contest is already over. President Grant
decided that issue, and his last official
declaration to congress on the subject
declared it "A source of modification
that congress had refused an appro-
priation he had in a special message re.
qucsted in aid of the enforcement OF the
merit system, which he declares to have
been beneficial. President Arthur, in
each annual message after the civil service
act, reafirmed that JUDGMENT of the ex-
ecutive department, a Judgment which he
declared expressed the view of every
member Of his cabinet In the daily acts
of the present administration the same
judgment is approved and enforced.
1t is possible that number of congress
men and politicians of the dominant
party, with a considerable following OF
ofhce-seekers, may, notwithstanding the
vastly augmented strength of an enlight-
ened public opinion, repeat the folly Of
those OF my party in 1873, by resistingthc
well maturcd judgment and definite policy
of their own administration on the reform
issue. If such is to be the fact, this i,
not the place Tor showing why such at
tempt would be far more disastrous Thar
the Republican restoration Of the spoil
system against the advice of President
Grant. Such a course, and the conflict i
would precipitate, would be regardless o
the good results ofthc civil service act o
any experience in It's administration.
In any part | might have in such con
test, | could far better serve the cause .
reform in the exercise of that full libert.
which'is hardly compatible with the pro
prietics Of my present Office, and | bay
the honor of being, with The highest re
spect, your obedient servant,
DoRNAN h. EAroN.
THE PRESIDENT $ REPLY.
Executive Mansion, WASHINGTON
Sept II, lss5.-T Hon. Dormn b
Eaton; My DEAR Sm:-I am in receip