The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-01
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM

HIr. EatonNF be Relieved November 1St.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Septe mber "a
The following correspondence. embrac-
ing Dormln B. Eaton's resignation as
member of the Civil Service Commission,
and the Presidents acceptance it, was
made public last night:
WASHINGTON. D. c., July 27th. 1885.
SIR-In execution of a purpose OF which
Informed you several weeks since. very
respectfully tender my resi@nation as Civil
Service Commissioner: but out of difference
to your wishes will not urge its nc ceptance
until such time in the autumn as you may
find convenient for q new appointment 1t
may not, / hope be thought miSappropriate
il l aid some words of explanation
Prior to the passage Ionno o. the eixiL- iE,b
JSo3, 1 had held under three earlier Presi-
dents, and was then holding under Pres dent
Arthur, an official position closely anaio-
gous to nv present Office as Civil Service
Commissioner. ornearly the whole period
/ had served without compensation, ana
Ind been compelled TO bear my own travel
ing and other expenses, including those OF
a tourney to Europe and the preparation OF
an extensive report made at the request OF
one of those Presidents, but printed by Con-
aress. l had taken an active part,
bv which nv time was largely taxad, in con-
nection with the preparation and passage OF
that law and when the time arrived Tor
executing itSDrOviSiOns. il seemed to me that
co1lI not fairly be called upon To make
furtl, er sacrifice OF my private interests in
aid OF civil service reform Besides, the
enemies Of reform were so kind as to charge
that rad promoted the act for the treble
purpose OF Gaining notoriety, an office and
salary. But President Arthur, without the
least intimatiOn tn me OF his purpose, NOM
mated me- and was confirmed as Commits
sioner. When I was about TO decline, the
friends of reform, with whom had
iabored for many wears @ IL, IN anfv n PemnlfI bnnnd
/ 70 accept; and these enemies with amiable
CONSISTENCY. made clear their purpose OF
charging any refusal on my part. Is Il cow
a-!iy slr. king from the speedy and dis
graceful 81 lure sure 20 follow any attempt
70 execute so chimerical and impractical
statue. In such situation / had hardly
q liberty of choice, but entered upon my
official duties with the declared purpose of
remaining hardly more than year, WITHIN
which at least the constructive WORK
of making rules and regulations ana OF
enforcing Il new system at its most
difficult. stage could he accomplished. At the
end of that time had become more deeply
than ever interested n the practical app!lca-
tiOn Of the new system Its great utility ana
easy processes had gained the commenda-
i tiOn Of The President, united more largely
the Darty in power in its support, and Sc
cured from a committee of thirteen men,
be.S of the democratic House of Repre-
sentativeS 4 unahimouS report declaring the
great usefulness OF the law ana rules, anu
commenting what it described As the ''in-
telligent, efficient. non partisan and "onsel-
entous work OF the Civil Service Comuils-
sion.
Icould then see no Obligation to remain
longer That had been done which the enc
mics of reform had declared to be impossl-
bln. The law and the rules were vindicated.
But there were important practica! nHthOdS
which were not fully Inatured, and | re-
manned to take part in their further devel-
oDment. When, few months later, was
about to insist on being relieved, those
/ friends dissuaded me by urging that there
would be a critical period in case new
pHr y should come into power; ana saw
! plainly. from hostile journals, that
| ! Should be charged, if 1 re
! sizncd, with fleeing from the perils
OF that crisis II was clear enough that no
excuse from my long service, ana no decla-
I ration of nv confidence in the reform policy
OF the Presidential candidate and statesmen
/ OF the Democratic party, would reiieve me
from the damaging plausibIlity OF such
charge As private c!tiZen 1 co1ia scorh ,,h
! the mrutatiOn. but as public officer, ana
as bet..E IN Il private way somewhat ld"ntl-
ned with tie cause of civil service reform,
had no right to make an opportunity Tor ltS
natural enemies in either party TO use sucr
q charge to its injury.
There was another reason why could not
/ tender my Tesi%naton-and should nave
refused to do 30 had it been requeSted-at
! or near the time of your accession to ofil"e.
For should regard it rs a perniciou5 pre-.
I ccGcnt-Itterly repugnant to the spirit OF
/ the civil service act-to treat the ofh:e OF
! Civil Service Commissioner as political, and
! hence rs one to be Iilied ut the beginning OF
] each Presidential term These considcra-
u
/ The reform policy of your administration,
/ so clearly defined in your dccIarations,
! should bo as unmistakably developet in
| your acts as President as il had been IN your
! acts as Governor of New York.
That time has arrived. No candid man
! can !Olwer pretend to regard that policy Is
/ indei nIte or do"btfui Every one OF the hNe
I months of VnUr administration, during
/ which the civil ,crvice act and rules have
! been enforced with as much breadth, firm
ness and fidcl.t,- ~ under that of President
/ Arthur has nos only addeG new evidence OF
: the utility o! the "A ~ system upon Wnlcn nc
/ cOnnrat;llaIrd t!c country. but has made
) more drfiuit" the tt ed purpose OF Your
I administration to IA tniuliy enforce both the
law aud TIE rules III the future. Ihe icW
/ changes Won It;IVp made in the rules nave
! but added TO ta.cir ice and efficiency.
/ so far ~ have been able to learn there is
/ not 4 member of Vo0r Cabinet who has not,
as the result OF MS experience in office, Il
higher sense than before OF the need OF en-
! forcing that metit system in the public ser
I vice which the civil ~.rVlcc at AMI tn" rules
/ have established. and from tnOSe ut the mead
! OF tine many offices IN the postal and Gust ON
! service. To which the examination extends IN
/ aIi ,,Hrls OF the Union, AMI whether tneN be
/ EpnJDIr-ans hold ng over, or new officers
/ from the Other party, there has come no re:i-
I son for believing thatthc merit system Is not
/ welcomed :lS 4 great benefit to the public
service; Z great influence for honesty IN
| OOitics and Il grcat relief to the head
/ of the office. Now t"at the principles OF
7 Justice upon which tAat system Is based its
/ and official patronage; its great encourage
J mcnt OF the public schools and its support
] OF hiLi character AMI manhood in politics
are being more rapidly cOmprehendcd by
J the people than ever before, feel sure that
/ it 5 in the near future TO have not only "A
/ greatly enlar sed. but an almost unchal-
! lenged enforcement. II is really an issue be-
/ tween the people and the po iJicfanS-a con-
! test for a spo Is system of office on one side,
/ and for merit system OF ofhce on the
/ other
! The friends of the latter contend for the
! free opportunity OF every citizen TO win an
I Office for himself by his own merits; OF the
! former for the exclusive right of great Off
/ GERS and great politicians TO use all OF the
! hundred thousand places they can control
! and all the assessments they can eNtort -
/ bribe voters, to buy the press. TO elect them
selves and keep their party in power against
! the will of the people Il tween these eN-
/ tremeS there is u iqu" StionaDly u large num-
/ Der OF clndi Il d patriotic citizens don't
refer to this facts, 20 decisive OF the per
petuity OF the merit SYSTEM, with the vain
I conceit that II they were otherwise or the
/ prospect was discouraging, my remaining q
/ commissioner would avail anything But j
/ wisI to leave no doubt OF my absolute 1aItn
in the continuing triumph Of n reform pol
lev and no friend of reform has the least
reason for thinking ought TO remain in my
Office.
! indeed the triumph of that POLICY is now
J n ,soiute, and the contest already over in
/ t.IiIt part of the Governments to which alone
/ all Iegimate authority and responsibility for
/ aDpuintments and removals rest, and in
| which alone the thorough information need
! ell for Il correct judgment aS to the ut. lity OF
( the new system EXISTS. In other words,
/ were it not Tor the interference Of congress
| men and POLITICIANS with the. constitutional
/ functions and intended liberty of the Presi-
! drn: and of other officers having the ap-
I DOintiny power, there would now be 10 op-
/ pos ton worthy OF notice to merit system
OF office. Those who oppose it Will with few
/ exceptions, be those only whose particIpa
/ tion in appointments and removals is an
! absolute usurpation and interIae!dIing by
/ which the counterpoise OF the Government
| has b en- impaired and its perpetuty Is be-
! in threatened. To that Usurpation; TO the
| selfish aims of those VINO promote it: to the
! gathering of the spoIIs and the distribution