Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-01-08
clvIL-sERvcE REEoRM.

Correspondence between the national
Reform League aud President Elect
Cleveland-The Latter Defines His Posi-
tion ON the Subject of Reform.
New York, Dec. S0---1he following cor
respondenee explains itself:
NATIONAL CIvIfrSERvICE REFORM LEAoUE.
OPTIONS PINE STREET NEW YORK. Dee. ~,
leo4-hon: Grover Cleveland: Su.-Wn have
the honor 10 address you ON behalf OF the Ma.
uOnal CiviAServicc RefOrmI .er que. an assoeIa-
ti9n composed OF citizens Of All parties, whose
solo purpose Is Indicated by its name and WHICH
takes no part whatever IA party eSnttosersy.
Inc vast inorease I'm the number OF persons
% asSESa 70 the cy sryee and the grave
general prescription in the service
which FOR half a century has fol,
National Administration have produced SO
profound an impression upon the public
mind that the first effective steps toward TO.
form were taken with the co operation of
both parties in the passaTe of the Reform
act OF january 10, 1883. The abuses which
that act seeks to correct, however,
usages OF both parties that there IL Raturally
widespread anxiety lest the party change in
sho Ea.i s, Exeoutye erected by the late
but believing, as we do, that the reform
system can not he held to be securely cstab.
llshed until II has safely passed tho ordeal
with satisfaction and confidence your public
expressions favorable ~ reform and your
OF New York, we confidently commend
the cause to your patriotic care in the exer~
c s OF the great power with which the Amer
1chn people have intruSted you, Respect
Iully yours, GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS,
WILLIAM PORTS, Secretary.
John JAY Moreaeid storey. 1 ifan pleos.
ants, w. W. Montgomery, Everett p. Wheeler.
Frederic Cromwell, Morrill, wyman, Jr., Carl
Schurz, Silas w, hurt, a. II. Marlborough,
William Carey Sanger, William w. Aiken Eek.
ecutive CMnfnittee.
The following is President-elece Clevo-
lands reply:
ALBANY, Dec.s0, lssI.7-iion George william
Curtis, Pres dent, etc, DEAR SIR-Your com.
munication dated December -, addfssy;si 10
lne on behalf OF the National Civil. Service Re-
form League, has been received. That practl-
cal reform I'm the CivV Service is demanded is
abundantly established by the fact that the
statute referred 10 in your communication to
secure snch result has been passed i'm Com
and by tho further fact that sentiment "a
generaly prevalent among .patrTote
Re e0Pest cS en,STccmt Tor a, fes and
which has 6een thus ei,aetyl. I regard INV.
self pledged 10 this. because my conception OF
the true Democratic faith and public duty re-
quiTcs that this and all other statutes should
DE, in good faith and without evasfan, chs
forced, and because in the manly Qtterahces
made prior 10 my election "a President,
approved by the party 20 which / belong
and which have no disposition TO dfsclaim 4
have; IN effect promised the people that this
Tact, To which you refer, that mnny of our
citlzons fear that the recent party change
an the National Executive may demon
strate that tire abuses which have grown
up IN the ciNil service are ineradicable
know they are deeply rooted, and that the
spoons system has been supposed TO be init
matcly related TO success in the mantenance
OF party organization, and am nos sure that
when they find IL obstructinI their why TO
patronage and plnce.. But fully orpreciating
the trust committed TO my charge, no such
consideration shall cause relaxation
ON my part of AN earnest effort to en-.
force this law. There is a class of
Government positions which are rot
within the letter of Cvil-Service statute,
but which arc so disconnected with the
policy of an administration that removal
Ihercfrom of present incumbents i'm my cpin-
ion should not he made during the terms for
which they were appointed, solely on partisan
ground and for the purpose OF putting in
their places those who are IN po-
lilcal accord with the appointing
power. Bat many nG~' holding pnsa
tions havc forfeited all just clai ia retention,
because they have used their places for party
purposes i'm disregard to thcir duty to the peo-
Pile, and because, instead of being decent public
servants, they have proved themselves oiIen-
sivc partsans AMI INSCRIPTIONS manipulators
of local party management. The lessons of tho
past should be unlcarned, and such officials,
as well rs the ! successors, should lie taught
that efficiency. fitness and devotion to public
duty are conditions Of their continuance id
public places. Yours, very uly,
GROVER