The Dickinson press., 1885-01-10
I'm wyuEDv1m
0orrespondsuos Between 0eorre William
Curtis and Others and President Elect
0rovAp mAvA1and

0ofsespomdenoe Between George william
Curtis and Others Ind President Elect
Grover Cleveland.
The following correspondence explains itself:
National Civil Service Reform League, Of
fee 4 Pine street, New York, Dec. 20, 1854
Hon. Grover Cleveland. Sir: We have the
honor to address you on behalf Of the national
civil service reform league, an association COM
posed of citizens of all parties, whose sole pur-
pose is indicated by its name and which takes
no part whatever in party controversy. The
vast increase in the number of persons en-
gagged in civil service and the grave mischiefs
and dangers arising from general pro-
scrlption in the service which for half
q century has followedc changes of party C ontrol
OF the national administration, have produced
so.profound an impression upon the public
mind that the first effective steps toward reform
were taken with the cooperation of both parties
in the passage of the reform act of Jan. 16,
1883. The abuses which that act seeks to cor
the traditions and usagcs of both parties that
there is, naturally, widespread anxiety lest
the party change in the national executive eff
fected by the late election should show them to
be inseparable. But, believing, as we do, that
the reformed system cannot be held to be Sc
curely established until it has safely passed
the ordeal OF such party change, and recalling
with satisfaction and confidence your public
expressions favorable to reform, and your
official acts as chief executive of the state of
New York, We confidently commend this course
to your patriotic care in the exercise of the great
power with which the American people have
entrusted you. Respectfully yours,
Geo. ". Curtis, Pres't, VIM. Potts, Secretary,
John Jay, Mooretield Storey,
J: Hail Peasants, W. w. Montgomery,
Everett T. Wheeler, Fred X. Cromwell,
Morrill, Wyman, Jr, Carl Schurz,
silas w. Burt, A L. McDonough,
William Carey Sanger, William w. Aiken,
Executive Committee.
Albany, N. Y, Dec. %, lSS4.-Hon. George
William Curtis, President, etc.-Dear Sir:
Your communication dated Dec. 20, addressed
to me on behalf Of the civil service reform
league, has been received. That practical re-
form in the civil service is demanded is aLund-
antly established by the fact that the statute re-
ferred 10 in your communication to secure
such result has been passed in congress with
the assent of both political parties, and by the
further fact that a sentiment generally pre-
fair and honest enforcement of the law which
has been enacted. l regard myself pledged to
this because my conception of 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 many
utterances made prior to my election as presi-
dent approved by the party to which [
belong, and to which I have no disposition to
disclaim, l have in effect promised the people
that this should be done. l am not unmindful
OF the fact to which you refer, that many of our
citizens feartha the recent party change in the
national executive may demonstrate that the
ABUSES which have grown up in the civil SER
vice are ineradicable. know they are deeply
rooted, and that the spoils system has been
supposed to be intimately related to success in
the maintenance of party organization, and /
am not sure that all those who profess to be
friends of this reform will stand firmly among
its advocates when they find it obstructing
their way to patronage and place. But fully
no such consideration shall cause q relaxation
on my part of earnest effort to enforce this
law. There is a class of government posi-
tons which are not within the letter of
the civil service statute, but which are
administration hat 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 i'll their place those
power. But many now holding such positions
have forfeited all just claim to retention, be
cause they have used their places for party
purposes in disregard of their duty to the peo-
pie, and because. instead of being decent pub
lie servants, they have proved themselves Of
fensive partisans and INSCRIPTIONS manipu-
lators IN party management. The lessons of
the past should be unlearned, and such Off
Gals, as well as their successors, should
pc taught that efficiency, fitness and devo.
their continuance in public place, and that
The quiet and unobstrusive exercise of individ-
ual political rights Isl reasonable measure of
their party service. If I was addressing none
but party friends 1 should deem it entirely
proper to remind them that, though tho COM
ing administration is to be Democratic, a due
regard for the peoples interest does not per.
init faithful party work to be always rewarded
""f."'i "a mt to office, and to say to them
consideration, selections for Office not en-
braced within the civil service rules will be
based upon sufficient inquiry to fitness, institu-
ted by those charged with that duty, rather
than upon persistent or self solicited recon-
mendation on behalf of candidates for appoint
ment YOU obedient servant,
GROVER CLEVELAND.