Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-27
TH0UAN'S RESIGNATION.
~vvT OF HIS LETTER TO THE
PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT.
edenee in a Successful Administra-
W Expressed-A Desire to Resign
,,9,re.sed soon After the Inaugural
-uow the People Look Upon the
Sew Method.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-Civil Service
missioner Thoman has rendered his
.,.ignation and it has been accepted by
~, President, to take effect Nov. next.
g,iiovfng is the correspondence on the
subject.
IT = CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. 20, 1855.
s,r- Raspectfully referring to the CONVEX
..,on rad with you as early as March TO- in
.b expressed a wish TO be relieved of my
gr..s 9s Z. member of the United States Civil
Zee commission. and also to the apparent
. rE4t IL was not then your pleasure TO con-
,}.- INV REQUEST. I now have the honor to
's,aor formally my resignation, and earnestly
-t.- e4riv consideration OF the same and its
ccs1tRucc. While thus asking release from
:, honorable q trust, l desire 10 record my
rsHfcadOn over the proved practcahility
E,I remedial effectiveness OF reform proce-
1.re
POLITICAL VETERANS AsTOUNDED.
Tried veterans in political warfare view
with amazement the facne though radical
5ei@rturg from the familiar methods of the
.n5Is system Of distributing patronage.
Strenuous and sincere argument, ana also ue-
pberate pecYersion, mark the opposition OF the
feerent groups of antagonists. and yet 1t
mist be concluded that majority of the po-
ncu leaders in either party IS in accord
with the Pendleton law il its original enact
mont and emphatic Endorsement by subse-
ment Congress were honest legislative ex-
nressions and not the coercion of moral cow
srdica by popular sentiment, nor partisan
arerdemain. In the great task OF admins
trative reform, which you nave undertaken
I'M accordance with your personal and party
riedges, the people will give aid.
THE PEOPLE PLEASED.
Ii has been my pleasure within the last two
months TO visit quite number of the States
ana Territories OF the Union, and 1t was my
GOOD fortune TO meet with many OF their
citizens 1t is grau ying to know that the
peoole confide in the unequlvOCal intention of
ils President to sustain the merit system
il the civil service. They had condemned
the evils of former methods. Long expert
suce has made their knowledge accurate.
They welcome the Inauguration of the new.
Tie distinctive features of the present reform
appealed to a typcally merlcan sentiment,
which cOmmends and advances merit. with
the precise details Of the new procedure their
8cQuain tance was not so intimate. To this
thev are fast succeeding. and the result will
be cordial approval. The inception and
maintenance Of the great reforms are with
The people.
CHARACTERISTIC OF AMERICA.
believe that the fundamental idea of civil
service reform is characteristic of American
thought. Popular hesitation over the accept
auce of statutory details suggests merely safe
rouservatsm. In the initial stage of this re-
form there was response throughout the
nation. Political contests assumed q new tone,
Uld-time methods of corruption were dis
outraged and bosslsm was grappled with
fresh vlgor: The Improvement IS yet marked.
If vicious elements still seek obtrusion into
elections the chances of their success have
been lessened. The reform system is militant
and advances toward complete success. Cor
ruption by Official patronage has been re-
moved.
AAMMON's POWER LEssENED.
WiJh the imparting Of purer life to official
relies the power Of private purse to purchase
political hOnOrs will be less dangerous. Pub
e appreciation Of the fact that this reform
ioes not trench upon sturdy partisanship
zane late. 1t was sedulOusiy maintained that
the civil service was to be composed of men
Who should abjure certain rights Of citizen
ship. With the gradual, but inevitable, refu-
Utl0n OF this false view the outlines of reform
, last stood forth in clearness. It is a reform
which views the civil service as a vast bus-
ness agency. It's search ia for the best attain
s1le merit in business which is not political.
il ntorces no tests of party. With confident
r1st In the success of your administration,
am your obedlent servant,
LEROY D. THoMAN.
To tie Pyesidsnt.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
President Cleveland replied as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHINGTON, Oct. "A, 1885,
Si0Her:
MY DEAR SIR--I have received your letter
lenQerlng your resignation as a member of the
GNll service commission, which is in the
lurIherance OF the inclination expressed by'
YOU very soon after my Inauguration as Presi-
,'tut. Ihe resignation thus rendered is here
" accepted, to take effect on Nov. next.
.Sn8ratQlate you upon the fact that In the
JIce which you relinQuish you have been
.Oie, by sincere and earnest work, and bv
s.eaay devotion to the cause which you have
.4l IN cnarge, to do 50 much IN the interest OF
so3l government and improved political
methods. Yours sincerely,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
CHOOSING THE NEW MEN.
Although the designations of Messrs.
Eaton and IhOman have been accepted to
laAe euect next Sunday the President has
not yet been able TO find a successor to
ellher OF them. He is embarrassed in his
elorts TO get first-class men for these DO
\. ssa'!oH7 Oy the smallness Of the salary,
'INO. First-class men are extremely
1.l-3uiJ 10 get at that compensation. II
,eeuls to be understood now that the sue
ge7sors or Messrs. Eaton and ThOman
WI WI De Democrats, and that one OF them
WIZ ne from the South. 1t has been
.ellesented to the President that the
ooutn mas been unjustly Disseminated
q, "a '4st In the execution Of the civil SER
UNJUST REGULATIONS.
tne regulations fix such limits of age,
~, ~. example, as practically exclude men
CIo were old enough to serve in the
sto.u.ll.eoerate army during the war, thus
lu-tIng out much of the best material
oI lne civil service in the South. It is
osi.e,eu tnat Southern commissioner
g,ouid be able TO suggest such practical
s,I.aa1uges in the regulations as would,
,".r-.nout in the least impairing their
,t 'ency, adapt their requirements TO
peculiar condition Of the South. II
o, w 9Iu'nern man is appointed member
~. sne e commission be will be a man who,
C'ee Vol. trenholm OF South Carolina, is
CCaowh TO be civil service reformer.
'..,,, e..o,,l,l.nls,sioner Gregory will probably be
.ained until the new commissioners
sol'. .."se an opportunity to become somewhat
'oeuS'omed to their duties.
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