The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-23
CIvIL-SERvlCE.
Correspondence Between Governor Cleveland
and g. w. Curtis on CivIl-Service
Reform.

REFORM.
The following correspondence e
plains itself:
NATIONAL CIvIL-SERvICE REFOR
LEAGUE, Office No. 4 Pine street, NE
YORK, Dec. 20, 18S4.-Hon. GROVE
CLEvELAND-Sir: We have the hone
to address you on behalf of the N;
tional Civil-Service Reform league, a
association composed of citizen
of all parties, whose sole pul
pose is indicated by its name, an
which takes no part whatever in part
controversy. The vast increase in tn
number of persons engaged in tn
civil service and the grave mischief
and dangers arising from general pro
scription in the service which for hal
century has followed the change O
party control of the national admins
tration, have produced so profound al
impression upon the public mind tina
the first effective steps toward reform
were taken with the cooperation Of
both parties in the passage of the re.
form act of Jan. Is, 1883. The abuses
which that act seeks to correct, how.
ever, are 80 strongly intrenched in the
traditions and usages of both parties
anxiety lest the party change in the
national executive effected by the late
election should show them to be in
superable, but believing, as we do,
that the reformed system can not be
held to he securely established until
1t has safely passed the ordeal of such
party changes, and recalling with sat-
isfaction and confidence your public
expressions favorable to reform and
your official acts as chief executive of
the state of New York, we confidently
commend the cause 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,
WILLIAM PORTS, Secretary.
John Jay, Morefeld Storey, J. Hall
Peasants, w. w. Montgomery, Ev-
elett P. Wheeler, Frederic Cromwell,
Morrill, Wyman, Jr., Carl Schurz,
Silas w Burt, A. R. Marlborough,
William Carey Sanger, William w.
Aiken, executive committee.
The Reply.
The following is President-elect
Cleveland's reply:
ALBANY, December Is, 1S84.-Hpn.
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, President,
etc.-Dear Sir: Your communication,
dated Dec. 20, addressed to me on be-
half of the National Civil-Service Re-
form league, has been received. That
practical reform in the civil service is
demanded is abundantly established
by the fact that the statute referred to
in your communication to secure such
result had been passed in congress
with the assent of both political par
ties, and by the further fact that
sentiment is generally prevalent among
patriotic people calling for fair and
honest enforcement of the law which
has been thus enacted. 1 regard my
self pledged to this, because my con-
ception of the 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 the many utteIances
made prior to my election as presi-
cent, approved by the party to which i
belong, and which have no DISPOSE {
ton to disclaim, l have, in effect, '
promised the people that this should
De done. am not unmindful of the I
act, to which you refer, that many of i
,ur citizens fear that the recent party t
'hange In the national executive NAV O
demonstrate that the abuses which
AVE grown up in civil service are in
radicable. I know they are deeply
Dotted, and that the spoils system has
cen supposed to be intimately related F
o success in the maintenance of party p
and 1 am not sure that b
hose who profess TO be friends of that fl
eform will stand firmly among its adj Il
COATES when they find it obstructing G.
heir way to patronage and place; but, Il
lily approaching the trust COM lo
lifted to my charge, no such RI
shall cause a Sc
slaxation on my part of an g
arrest effort to enforce this law. HI
here is class of government posi- o'
ons which are not within the letter of tn
ie civil service statute, but which are tn
} disconnected with the policy of an adj as
instration that removal therefrom of W
resent incumbents, in my opinion. ce
lould not be made during the terms tn
II which they were appointed, solely re
1 partisan grounds, and for the pur- nj
ose of putting in their places those pc
~ oAO Al POlttiSdl dSCOlQ Will Inc | IL
opointing power, but many now w
olding positions have forfeited all to
st claim to retention, because they dr.
ave used their places for party pur- co
'ses, in disregard of their duty to pi
% people, and because, instead of tn
ing decent public servants, they no
I'VE proved themselves offensive par or
sans and INSCRIPTIONS manipulators a
local party management. The les mi
ms of the past should be unlearned, cd
i'd such officials, as well as their sue MI
ssors, should be taught that eiii- utt
ency, fitness, and devotion TO public str
lty are conditions of their continu- get
ice in public places, and that quiet
I'd unobtrusive exercise of individual
'litical rights is the reasonable meas {
Q OF their party service. If were Ri,
dressing none but party friends l sic
ould deem it entirely proper to re- sca
ind them that, though the coming ocs
ministration is to be democratic, a .
e regard for the peoples interest un %
es not permit faithful party work to ne me-
always rewarded by appointment the