The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-06

these laws is the present legislative object of the
League 1t has been recommended unanimous
~ by the committee in a Democratic house, and
the demand of the Pennsylvania convention IL
made general would array the Republican party
against that object
He declared his faith in the honesty of
the President as follows: II believe that
any unprejudiced observer, Republican or
Democrat, who considers the enormous Difficult
ties and perplexities Of the situation, and who
looks solely at the interest Of reform will admit
that since the spells system was first generally
introduced into our national administration no
President has given such conclusive evidence
both of his reform convictions and of his cour
age in enforcing his convictions President
Cleveland
The speaker closed with declaration Of his
belief in the ultimate if not speedy triumph Of
the principles of civil-service reform.
After the conclusion Of Mr.. Curtis's address,
the members of the league adjourned to the
Claiming parlors. where a business meeting was
held. George William Curtis was elected presi-
dent. The .treasurers report was read and
showed that there was larger balance on hand
than usual Secretary Potts made report,
which showed the league was in a fourishing
condition. He said there were at present sixty
associations which were doing excellent work.
Reports of associations were then presented.
The committee on resolutions reported the
following:
That under popular Republican government like
ours the employment i'll those positions in the civil
not political to be open equal terms to every cll
whose fitness has been asce1taned by appropriate
examination and practical tests and that the chief
executive authority the civil service, like that
over the military and naval service, is official trust
to be exercised not for the advantage of party but tor
the common welfare.
Resolved, That by the general course of his
tive action in regard 20 appointments and removals
and notwithstanding certain actions of the admins
tratlon which measured by the principles of reform
we disapprove President Cleveland has proved amid
immense perplexites and difficulties his fidelity to
the patriotic principles asserted in his letter OF the
Zoth OF December, 1854, to the executive commits
sion of this league and his frmnoss and courage in
enforcing his convictions. [Applause.l
Resolved That every American citizen is interested
in securing for himself and his fellow citizens
tension Of the truly American and Democratic prin
cipes of the equal right of every citizen apply for
and compete equal terms for appointment to Office
without the necessity Of obtaining aid from personal
friends, political leaders, and every local associa.
ton urged to bring this subject to tho attention of
all the voters in its neghborhood by every means in
| its power.
Resolved, that the National Civil Service Reform
League offer its resolution in regard to the repeal of
the laws known the -four years law, and urges
every local association and pledges itself to unreHt
ting efforts to the result essential for the
complete reform of the abuses of executive patron
| age.
| Resolved, That the reformed system Of appoint
ments in the civil service established by the act of
Jan is, 1888 should be extended TO all the offices
and employments under the government to which it
due regard to the conditions Of efficient admins
| tration, and the National League urges
upon every local association the necessity
OF promoting this extension Of the reform system by
every fair and legitimate means, the end of the
complete removal of the lingering relic of the mon
archical and arstocratc abuse known the "spons
SYSTEM which obStructS the daily discharge of duty
IN every department Of the government, degrades
American politics and diSgraces the American
Resolved, That the friends of cvilservice reform
have the utmost reason to congratulate themselves
and the country upon the striking progress of the
cause as shown in the universal public attention
which is now directed to the action of the admins
traOn in regard to the appointments and removals.
and in the high standard of principles upon the sub
jcct By chat action is judged.
Resolved, That We regard the recognition by the
administration OF offensive partisan ship that is to say
CbtruSve part!sauship in the conduct of a public Of
ncer just for removal from Office being
the establishment of non-partisan service and
trust that President Cleveland will apply the same
test with perfect impartaty, to all public servants
whether belonging to particular party another
On motion Of Carl Schurz, the resolutions
were unanimously adopted.
| Mr.. Wheeler, counsel f0r the association, then
made a brief report Of the prosecutions entered
into by the league in cases Of compulsory assess
| ments, Mr.. Dana, of Boston, then offered the
following, which was adopted:
That the executive committee be directed to con-
slider the ACCESSIBILITY of probationary term before
final appointment in the OF officers to be affected
by the proposed repeal of the fcur-years law, the
said probationary term not to be longer than one
year.
Mr.. Montgomery, Of Philadelphia, made a
certified copy of the resolutions adopted to day
be sent to President Cleveland. The conven-
| ton then adjourned.