The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-08
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
ClSveland's Letter In Reference to Abuses,
in the Civil Service

in the Civil Service
New YORK, December 3I.-In reply to
an address from the National Civil Service
Reform League, President-elect Cleveland
sent the following: Your communication
dated December 20, addressed to Inc on be-.
half of the National Civil Service Reform
League, has been received. That practical
reform III the civil service is demanded is
abundantly established by the fact that the
statute referred to in your communication
to secure such result had been
passed in Congress with the assent of
both political parties, and BY the further
fact that sentiment is generally prevalent
among patriotic people calling for fair and
honest enforcement of the law which has
been thus enacted. Iregard myself pledged
TO this, because NV conception of the 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 the many utteEanees made
prior to my election as President approved,
by the party to which belong, and which:
l have no disposition To discIaim, have.
il effect promised the people that this,
should be DONE | am not unmindful OF
the fact to which you refer. that many
of our citizens fear that the recent
party change in the National executive
may demonstrate tiat the abuses which
have grown up in the civil service are in
eradicable- l know they are deeply rooted
and that the SpOilS system has been sup
posed TO be intimately related to success in
the maintenance of party organization, and
am not sure that those who profess TO be
friends of that reform will stand firmly
among its advocates when they find it OBJ
Structing their way to patronage and Mace
But, fully appreciatiDg the trust committed
to my charge, no such consideration
shall cause a relaxation on my part
of an earnest effort TO enforce this law
There is 4 class of Government Positions
which are not within the letter of civil
service statute, but which are so diScon
nected with the policy o: an administration
that removal therefrom of present incum-
bentS, in my opinion, should not be made
during the terms for which they were ap-
pointed solely on partisan grounds and for
the purpose of putting IL their
places those who are in political accord
with the appointing power But many now
holding positions have forfeited all just
claim TO retention, because they have used
their places for party purposes in disregard
to their duty 10 the people, and because, i'll
stead of being decent public servants, they
have proved themselves offensive paTtiSanS
and INSCRIPTIONS mauipulatOrS of local
party management The lessons of the pas.
should be unleaned, and such officials, as
well as their successors, should be taught
that efficiency, fitness and devotion 10
public duty are conditions of their cOntinu-
ance in public places, and that the quiet
and unObtruSiVe exercise of mdivid-
ual political rights Is the reasonable
measure OF their party service. If | were
addressing none but party friends | should
deem it entirely proper tO remind them that
though the coming administration is to be
Democratic, Il due regard for the peoples
interest does not permit faithful party work
70 be always rewarded by appointment To
office, and to say to them that while Demo
Gratis may expect all proper consideration,
selections for office not embraced within the
civil service rules will be based upon Sutfi-
cient inquiry as to fitneS" instituted by those
charged With that duty, rather than upon
persistent importantly or self-sOlIcited
recommendations on behalf of candidates
for appointment