Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-10-01

civil service commission, and the
presidents reply thereto, which was
received by Mr. Eaton this morning,
and furnished the associated press for
publications
L. S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION,
WASHINGTON, d. c., July %.
SIR-In execution of 8 purpose of which in
formed you several weeks since | very respect
fully tender my resignation as civil service com
missioner, but out OF defercnce TO your wishes
will not urge ts acceptance until such time in the
autumn as you may find convenient for new APP
pointrnent. 1t may not, hope be thought map
| propriate IL | add some words of explanation
| prior to the passage of the civil service act of
/ July 10th, 1888 / had held under three earlier
presidents, and was then holding under President
Arthur an official position, closely analogous to
my present office as civil service commissioner.
/ In nearly the whole period had served without
compensation and had been compelled to bear
| my own travelling and other expenses, including
those of journey 80 Europe, and the preparation
of an extensive report made at the request of one
| of those presidents but printed by congress. |
/ had taken an active part by which my time was
I largely taxed in connection with the preparation
and passage of that law, and when the time ar
rived for the executing of its processes it see ned
/ to me that could not fairly be called upon to
make q further sacrifice of my private interests
| in aid of civil service reform. Besides, the enc
mics Of therefOTm were so kind as to charge that
| had promoted the act for the treble purpose of
gaining nouoriety, an office, and salary. But
President Arthur, without the least intimation to
me OF his purpose, nominated me and was con
! iirmed as a commissioner.
When was about to decline, the friends of the
reform with whom had labored for many years
/ in its behalf, insisted that was in duty bound to
accept and those enemies with amlabe consist
ency made clear their purpose of charging any
refusal on my part as cowardly Sinking from
/ the speedy and disgraceful failure sure to follow
any attempt to execute so chimerical aud imprac.
tcable q statute. In such a situation had hard
| ~ liberty Of choice, but entered upon my du-
! . flast. 10. ~
| ~ more than year within which at least the con
! structve work of making rules and regulations
and OF enforcing a new system at its most diff
/ cult stage could be aScertaiLed
| At the end of that time had become more than
ever interested in the practical operation Of the
now system. It's great utility and easy processes
/ had gained the commemorative of the president
and snited more largely the party in its power,
and secured from the committee Of thirteen
members OF the democratic house of represen-
tatives a unauimous report declaring the great
usefulness of the law and rules, and commencing
what il described as the intelligent, efficient,
nom partisan and conscientious work Of the civil
service commission. lcouid then see no obliga-
| ton TO remain longer. That had been done which
/ the enemies of reform had declared to be impos-
sible The law and rules were vindcated, but
! there we're impractical methods which were not
| fully matured and remained to take part in the
development.
| When few months later l was about tonsist
/ on being relieved those friends dissusded me by
urging that there would be critical period in case
| a party should come into power, and l saw
| plainly from hostile journals that | should be
charged, If l resigned, with fleeing from the
pers of that crisis. lt was clear enough that no
excuse from my long service and no declaration
of my confidence in rue reform policy OF the pres
/ idential candidate and statesmen Of the demo-
cratic party would relieve me from the danag
/ ing plausibility of such a charge AS a private
citizen could scorn imputatiou but as public
officer and as being in "A private way somewhat
/ identified with the cause Of civil service reform,
l had no right to make an opportunity for its
! natural enemies in either party to use such a
charge to its injury There was another reason
why | could not tender my resignation, and
should have refused to do so had it been request
ed at or near the time of your accession TO office,
! for should regard it as a perniciOus precedent
utterly repugnant TO the spirit of the civil ser
vice act to treat the office Of the civil service COM
mission as political and hence as one
| to be filed at the beginning of each
| presidential term. These considerations CON
strained me 70 continue my place
/ further The few changes you have made in
| the rules have but added TO their Justice and
| efficiency. So far as l have been able to learn
\ there is not a member of your cabinet who mas
not, a result of his experience in Office, higher
/ sense than before of the need of enforcing that
merit system in public service, which the civil
/ service act and rules have established, and from
those at the head of many officers in the postal
and customs service TO which the examinations
extend 70 all parts OF the Union, ana whether
] they be republicans holding over or new otbcerS
/ from the other party, there has csme no reason
for believing that the merit system is not welcomed
as a great benefit to the public service, great
]
relief to the head of the office, as he principles
OF Justice upon which that 81 stem is based its
tendency to suppress patronage, mongerlng ana
official favOrtisn, its great encouragement OF the
public schools and its support or all hlgh charac
ter and manhood in politics, are now being more
rapidly Camprehended by the people than ever
before. feel sure II is IN the near future 10 nave
not only a greatly enlarged, but an almost I'M
challenged enforcement. II is really an issue oe
tween the people and the politiciansa contest Tor
a spoils system of office on one side, and Tor
\ ,..rfr.a or faaf ont lp ut
4 The friends of the latter contend for the free
opportunity of every CITIZEN TO win an once LOT
/ himself by his own merits or the former Tor tne
exclusive right OF great officers ana great Poi'
ticiaus to use all of the hundred thousand places
they can control and all the assessments they can
extort to bride voters TO buy the press, 10 eject
/ them selves and 10 keep their party IN power
against the will of the people Between these eN-
! tremes there is unQuestiOnaby a large number OF
candid and patriotic citizens.
do not refer these facts so decisive # the per
petuity of merit OF the system with vain concell,
aud that if they were otherwise or the prospect
was discourasing my remaining a commissioner
would not avail asy thing but wish 10 leaNs no
doubt of my faith in the continuing triumph Oh
/ The reform policy and no friend Of reform has
! the least reason for thinking ought 70 remain ~
NV office Indeed the triumph OF that poicy Is
now absolute and the contest IS already over IA
that part OF the government in which alone an
legitimate authority and responsibility Tor appoint
ments and removals rested, and IN "hich alone
through information needed for correct luds-
In other words. were 10 not for the interference
by congressman and politicians with tue consttu-
I tional functions and the intended liberty OF tnt
president and other officers having apponuhs
power. there would now be no opposition worthy
Of notice to a merit system OF once. ihuse W.
onuose Il with few exceptions, would be those
I only whose participation in appointments anu r.
movals is an absolute usurpaton ana lnter-luea-
ding by which the counter poise or ghe soNVlln-
ment has been impaired and IT'S perpetuiIy Y ~
ing threatened So that usurpation 70 the Se!Iise
aims of those who promote 10 the gathering OF
ths spois and distribution of offices, which are rs
motive force open competitions OF , nsl y
Tor the appointment and suppression OF poutlcaii
assessments are fatal President Grant sppto3,Neu
a civil service rule 20 arrest that nter-heuallile
Coucede to the president and other appontiiLls
officers the liberty which the cohstlsu' ~ % Ssa
laws coutenulate allow these who have the oesl
means of making a wise choice between ele
! spoils system and a merit system y rs JUS,
aud repeat the final decision IS ALREADY glNeps
and the contest is already over. President dlals
decided that issue and his last official declara.ion
rs congress Of the subject declared II "a so,iiSe
| ~ ,,,orti8cafians that congress had refused an