Morning journal and courier., 1885-09-24

refuge in the harbor.
 COMMISSIONER EATON
 Te Remain Until November When He
 will Step Down From the Civil Ser
 vice Commission.
 WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-The correspond ence in which Dorman B. Eaton offers and President Cleveland accepts his resignation as civil service commissioner was made pub lie tonight. Mir. Eaton details at length the history of the civil service movement and his connection with it, and the reasons which impslled him to remain on the commission until now that he might help to bring civil service reform into practical operation under the administration of the government by 8 new party. Another reason for remaining until now was that he would regard it prec- edent-utterly repugnant to the spirit of the civil service act-to treat the office of civil service commissioner as political and hence as one to be filled at the beginning of each presidential term. He therefore wished to remain until the reform policy of President Cleveland was unmistakabiy developed in bis acts as President as in his acts as Governor of New York That time he thinks has arrived, as 50 far as he has been able to learn the President and Cabinet alike are impressed with the need of enforc- ing the merit system, and is of opinion that in the near future we are to have an almost unchallenged enforcement of the system. If the efforts of politicians and Congressmen should seek to defeat the efforts eff the ad- ministration, he thinks that as private citi- zen he can best serve the cause of reform in the contest that is likely to ensue. MT. Eaton places the acceptance of his resigna- tion st the Presidents convenience.
 President Cleveland's reply to MT. Eaton's letter is as follows
 WASHINGTON, Sept. Il, 1885. Hon. Dorman B. Eaton:
 Dear Sir-l am in receipt of your letter rendering your resignation as member of the board of civil service commissioners. I cannot refrain from expressing my sincere regret that you have determined to with draw from position in the public service where your intelligent performance of duty has been of inestimable value to the country. The friends of civil service reform and all those who desire good government fully appreciate your devo- tion to the cause in which you are so deeply identified. They have seen with satisfaction that your zeal and faith have led you to sup pose that the reform in which you were en- gagged is unsuited to the rules which ordina-
 
 it should at once reach perfection and uni versal acceptance. You have been willing patiently to accept good results as they step by step could be gained, holding every ad vance with undying steadfastness. The sue cess which thus far has attended the work of civil service reform is largely due to the fact that it's practical friends have proceeded upon the theory that real and healthy progress can only be made as such of the peo- pie who cherish pernieious political ideas, long fostered and encouraged by vicious craftsmanship, are persuaded that the change by the reform offers substan tial improvement and benefits. A reasonable toleration for old prejudices. 8 graceful rec ognition of every aid, sensible utilization of every instrumentality that promises as- sstancs, and a constant effort to demonstrate the advantages of the new order of things are things by which this reform movement will in the future be further advan ced, the oppo- sition of incorrigible spoilsmen rendered in- effective and the cause placed upon sure foundation. Of course there should be no surrender of principle, nor backward step, and all laws for the enforcement of the re- form should be rigidly enforced, but the ben efits which its principles promote will not be fully produced unless the acquiescence of the people is added to the stern assertion of a doctrine and the rigorous execution of the laws. It is source of congratulation that there are so many friends of civil service reform marshalled on the principal side of the question and the number is greater of those who profess friendliness for the cause and yet mischievously and with air discredit every effort not in exact accord with their attenuated ideas, decry with carping criticism the labor of those actually in the field, and ignoring the conditions which bind and qualify every struggle for radical improvement in the af fairs of government demand complete per lection. The reference in your letter to the attitude of the members of my cabinet to the merit system established by the civil service law, besides being correct, exhibits an appre- citation of honest endeavor in the direction of reform and a disposition to do justice to proved sincerity which is most gratifying. If such treatment of those upon whom the duties of administering the government according to reform methods were the universal rule, and if the embarrass- ment and perplexities attending such an ad- were fairly regarded by all those protesting to be friendly to such methods, the avowed enemies of the cause would be afforded less encouragement.
 believe in civil service reform and it's af fliation in the most practicable form attain able, among other reasons because it opens the door for the rich and poor alike to par ticipation in public place holding. And I hope the time is at hand when all our people will see the advantage of 8 reliance for such aH opportunity upon merit and fitness in- stead of dependence upon the caprice or selfish interest of those who impudently stand between the people and the machin- cry of their government. In the one ease a reasonable intelligence and the education which is freely furnished or forced upon the youth of ou1 land are the creden- tlals to office, in the other the ways found in favor secured by participation in partisan work often unfit person morally, if not nhy V for h0 Ii- ties and duties of public employment. You will agree with ma, think, that the support which has been given to the present admin in it's efforts to preserve and advance this reform by a party restored to power after an exclusion for many years from par ticipation in the places attached to the pub lie service confronted with 8 new system the redistribution of such places in it's interest, called upon to surrender ad- vantagea which permitted parti- sanship had taught the American people belonged to success, and perturbed with the suspicion always raised in such an emergency that their rights in the conduct of this reform had not been scrupu- lously regarded, should receive due acknowl- edgment and should confirm our belief that there is sentiment among the people better than a desire to hold office and a patriotic impulse upon which may safely rest the in tegrity of our institutions and the strength SONSN--~S~--'
 have determined to request you to retain your position until the first day of November next, at which time your resignation may become operative. I desire to express my entire confidence in your attachment to the cause of civil service reform and your abil- ity to render it efficient aid, and I indulge the hope and expectation that notwithstanding the acceptance of your res ignation your interest in the object for which you have labored so assiduously will continue beyond the official term which you surren- der.
 Very truly,
 GROVER CLEVELAND.
 Mir Eaton will leave Washington to-mor- TOW for New York to defend the constitu- tionality of the civil service act in the Hinckley suit which begins there on Friday, feeling confident that the litigation will be speedily brought to successful conclusion for the defendants.
 THE GENESTA WINS THE RAGE. Nothing Yet Heard From the Daunt-