New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-24
AR EATON'S RESIGNATION.
,,s VIEWS OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
now rna SERVICE HAS BEEN IMpRoVEp-rhE
PRESIDENTS REPLY.

=, .o,,gnatiou by DOrman H. Eaton, chairman OF the
Cvu service Commission. and tho Presidents reply
,hereto which received by MI Eaton TINS morning.
have been furnished for publication:
h"'' WASHINGTON July 2S, 1885
SIR: In execution of purpose. or wh'ch l Informed
several weeks since respectfully tender my res
"a5nn az Civil Service Commissioner but out OF defer
rcc IN roar wishes. will rot urge It's acceptance until
.nch iine IN the yOu my hn1 convenient Tor
new snpointnent II may NOS, Ihops. be thought III
annronriate II add some words OF explanation Prior
70 The passage to the Civ service OF January 10.
1883 mad bel under three earlier Presidents. and was
then holding under President Arthur an oheai position
closely Analogous 10 ms present once as Cy oervc1
COMMISSIONER. For nearly the Wh3ie period
hat serevd without conpehttton anu ha1 oSTn eun
PEELED TO bear my own triyeluns an ot'oi
Including those Of joarncy 10 Europe anu tue nrcpa
zion OF an extensive report made al tne requisite one
OF hose Prcsdehts bat printed ny NonHrcSS' m3G
taken active part, ny which nv tlne was larSeIy
aftSat law WASH the time arrived for executing its
provisions. it seemed TO mo that coHd not airy be
tcrests in All OF civil service reform
BcSIdcs. the enemies of reform were so KIND
he treble pUrpose OF gaining notorciy, Office and
o salary bat President Arthur with at the least int
nation to me of his purpose nominated me aud was
rcnnrmed B, = Commissioner. When was about 10 de-
cline the friends OF reform with whom lat aboro Tor
many years bohalf. iuslstcd was ia day bound
% accept AID those enemies. with an!!ne consistency
mne clear tl-ir purpose or charging amy usa my
nlr as a cow lrd shrinking from speedy aud dis
graceful failure sure to follow any attempt to execute 80
chimerical aud mpractcabie st-tut In such SiIu1-
uon. 1 had hardly "a nbcrty OF choise; hut en-
Tered npan my critical duties with the declared
purpose OF remaining hardy more tian a year
within which at least The constructive work OF making
rul,s and ro -latous and OF enforcing new system AZ
ia ruo-t difficult a'1so conld b, aCComp i,hel.
AT cnd Of that tims had become n0Ie deeply than
over tcrcstol in the practical Application oi the new
,Vstrtn. Its great utility and easy processes nal
gained trc OF the Pres ionI. united more
,stainittco OF thirteen members " tno Demo
craic House OF Representatives unanimous re-.
port declaring the great us fn.nes, OF the Law
and rules. AMI commanding what 10 described -
the iutrl gent. ecioht ncnpar'isln aud conscien-
,er mo- , w -; rsfr,n aJ declared o. br pp,ssi
IIa Inc law ut
were impractical methbds which were not uy matured
and r~,nrl 10 take Part M their development. Wneu
Is lew months acr. wa, about 10 insist on being re-
eved those friends dssuaded me ny urging that there
would be critical period In case new party SHOULD
como into power and ! siW pishy RON hostile
journals that l should 10 charged II r.
signed, with hrcus from the rhN OF UN Crisis
II clear enough that no excuse nom my long service
and no declaration OF ny eonhdrnce ia ihr r'is,n policy
~ he Presidential candidate anu srh on Tue DEM
Ucraiic party would relieve me from The dnaShg iluS
srofa the imput ttun puhc officer and ~ being
IN private way some what Idle Htihi wa The cause ~
iy Tor is natural rnomes IN either parry 10 use slch
TbsT was smother reason why could not t-rder my
resignation aud shou Il have refused 10 do 80 hal
II been rcquesIed-a! or near the time Of
"a - pcrnc.ous prccedeat-ut,Sry r.pnGnant TO tho
spiri. of th' CNI service act to uNst The o.h'r OF
Cy Commsslunor rs political and hence - one
ee hllcl at the beginning OF each lre'iieni term
These consideration, constrained o. continue ~ nay
place uu the reform policy 81 your Administration, 80
clearly defined ~ your declaration, should be 50 unm
been your acts ~ Governor OF Nes-lors. That umc
has
gar that policy a. lhutuh,c o. dnuO,iu E'el one OF
The n1c months OF your Ainiuistr.to" dnung which
MS much breadth. hrmuess and fidelity ~ under
that Of President Arthur, has not only al lei
new system upon which be- congratulated
poses Of yOdr naturalization 10 faithfully enforce both
Toe ia~ md the ruCs 10 the ruturc.
The fcw changes you have nt!c ia tho rules have but
aided to their justice AMI efficiency - far ~ nave
boon able 90 learn there is not u uOrr OF your Cab
iet who b.~ not she result % IA, cIpcrisnce 90 Of
nee higher tha before itr Iced OF euiorcn.
that merit system, 10 the public service which th"
from those ut the heal OF the many
h. P@S @n' o,,.n SI ia Al rsr Of c
linton, and whether thrJ L. Eepan lr'p' 'dnf over
rea.aR Tor believing ina, the men. system l. not wo.
,omed q. gieat beucht to tic public service. !
srss, T "n@fn' +, h. "' i'ai of iia once.
A. the pruc pes OF lusrr' npon when thd sy''em y
rnb,e school, aud he support 81 Vi en cLrIactof AMI
t,nt.l ln pnItirs arr now being iaors rapidly con.
pretended ~ 90" roro th@n ever before. re .lrr o.
hut an almost nuchalrn-ol euiOr. sment 10 II really
~ ls.ue between 10 re'pir snl ths p"uc ,ns con.
merit system of Office ou thr other ihs friends ~ tn'
ia win nn once fnr himself by his o,u m.uts. oil hc
former, fur the exclusive ri-hf ~ great officers AL
ctu control aud ul tho susuts hey can cAor io
bubr votr' Co. bus 90" Tr's g. ri"ct heln-elvr7 hpd
people nctWeea thcss ct.ren~s there IL uugle-tou-
II, large number 0f candidates aud patriotic c.u-
do not rffcr 10 those facts, decisive Of the per
potuy oi hc m,rt system. uih The VAIN cuucrit that
ihry were otherwise. or thr prospect We, dsroIrag
ihIE Bn, wish u leave 40 doub 81 ny absolute
f,fb ia tho continuing triumph OF reform policy. and
no friends OF reform the lest rvssun Tor iAuAlnl ought
- remain IN my office. Ind sd me triumph Of that
policy - now absolute and the contest .lrrsiy over m
ihat part OF the Government 90 uhirh sore all leEit
mate authority hni rspon' hhp Tor Spp"i1tm'nls "d
formation needed Tor '.rrret lhtsmsni a. 20 me
uttiiy Of The new s)sFIn ehi'u III "'h'I
wdris were not for tbs micrcroncr
s6n.tutonai fauctoa, and tho micnlei liberty OF On.
President ami Of ether ofic~ri having the appointing
H.. to "A merit system ~ office. Those vID oppose 10
vii with few exceptions. b. those only Who's purrl-
nsurpatiou and iutcrmediuus. ~ winch tue counte'-
plisr OF tho GoyerIurni - To- - imrared aud ~ ei-
~ ID OF those VIII pFon"tr IT, 10 thn gath rang
Of toe sp1is a ihe ue,,.lt,on y, ".' Nn,,l a.,
Inent aud tire suppression ct political a-'r,urnis are
f,tai President Grant approved C,il .rvce rule to
arrest that lWeruridilnH
Concerto 10 the President and other appointing ofrcrs
Tho liberty witch the Constitution ana law, cOuicu-
pite allow those who have the best means % making
wise choice between tho spols system aud merit
DO the judges and repeat ,he hnh decision IS
already given an the contest !, already over Irrs
dent Grant decided that issue. aud his last official
source of noftic tiOn that Congress nd refused
appropriation n had In special message requested iu
All oi tue continued endorsements 81 ~" u4oIt NySu'
which he declared % have been beneficial. President
Arhufi IN each annual ne -Igo after service Act
rrAlrned tia. judgment oil tLr EItcut'c pep flHr.-
a Judgment which he declared e1pIe's-d the
%
tho daily acts of tho present Administration,
the same Judgment Is approved and enforced.
A. uJsphle ia number ~ tonsressneu and poll
titias OF the dominant party. with con, ortlr fol-
lowing OF olco-.cs.rs may notvhs >ndng The vastly
augirniei strength OF an enlightened public opinion
rtpaat the folly az those o. own party IA ISL by
roasting the well uatured Judgment aud the dcuIit"
policy of their OAu imusratioI Oh The reform Issue.
II such be- hc fact this j. not thr place for sEo|lu-
why snrh attempt would far disastrous than the
Ispubcen rrstprIt"u az Tie ,pOls - stem against the
advice OF President Grant Sdch course, an Inc con-
fct u would prrcipItdtc. you'd Doe re-a"drHs oil the
good results TIE civil service oct eNp"rruc"
iu rs admins ration any have such
a contest, could lar better serV" tIc chu-"
Of reform IA tho exercise ~ that t4ll lhery
which Is hardly compatible with the proprctes o. my
present Office.
Following Is TN Pr.sd 'nts reply;