The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-01-09
' SERVICE,
correspondence Between George william
Curtis and Others and President Elect
Grover Cleveland.

Grover NIeVe1auus
The following correspondence explains itself;
National Civil Service Reform League, Of
fee 4 Pine street, New York, Dec. ~, lsoA-
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 taxes
no part whatever in party controversy. Inc
vast increase in the number Of persons en-
gagged in civil service and the grave mischiefs
and dangers arising from general pro:
s~cr1ption in the service which for half
a century has followed changes of party control
OF the national administration, have produced
80 profound an impression upon the puDnc
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. 10,
1888. The abuses which that act seeks to cor
rect, however, are so strongly entrenched In
the traditions and usages of both parties that
there is, naturally, widespread anxiety lest
the party change in the national executive eff
fected by the late election should how 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. w. Curtis, Pres't VIM. Potts, Secretary,
John Jay, Moorefeld Storey,
J. Hail Peasants, w. w. Montgomery,
Everett P. Wheeler, Fred X. Cromwell,
Morrill, Wyman, Jr., Carl Schurz,
Silas w. Burt, A. r. McDonough,
William Carey Sanger, William w. Aiken,
Executive Committee.
PRESlDENT-ELECT CLEvELAND's REPLY.
Albany, N. Y, Dec %, 1884 Hon. George
William Curtis, President, etc.-Dear Sir
Your communication dated Dec. 20, address sed
to me on behalf of the civil service reform
league, has been received. That practical re,
form in the civil service is demandedis abund,
antly established by the fact that the statute re.
ferred TO 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-.
walls among patriotic people calling for the
fair and honest enforcement of the law which
has been enacted. / regard myself pledged tC
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 / have no disposition to
disclaim, l have in effect promised the people
that this should be done. | am not unmIndful
of the fact to which you refer, that many OF oul
citizens fear that the recent party change in the
national executive may demonstrate that the
abuses which have grown up in the civil SER
vice are ineradicable. l know they are deeply
rooted, and that the spoiis 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
= l. a =. Ill 49, G--z1-
Its advocates when they find 1t obstructing
their way to patronage and place. But fully
approaching the trust committed to my charge,
no such consideration shall cause a 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
80 disconnected with the policy of an
administration that the removal therefrom OF
the present incumbents, in my opinion, shoald
not be made during the terms Tor which they
were appointed, solely on partisan grounds and
for the purpose of putting in their place those
who are IN political accord with the appointing
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. TIL lessons OF
the past should be unlearned, and such Off
Gals, as well as their successors. should
be taught that efficiency, fitness and devo-
ton to public duty are the conditions OF
their continuance in public place, and that
the quiet and unobstrusive exercise of individ-
nal political rights is a reasonable measure of
their party service. II / was addressing none
but party friends / should deem it entirely
proper to remind them that, though. the COM
ing administration is to be Democratic, q due
regard for the peoples interest does not per
init faithful party work to be always rewarded
that while Democrats may expect all proper
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 2ecom-
mendation on behalf of candidates for appoint
ment Your obedient servant,