Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1885-01-08
CIVIL SERVICE.
Correspondence Between Governor Cleveland
and G.. W. Curtis on Ciyi!-Serylce
Reform,


and q. W. Curtis on Clyi!-Serylce
Reform.
The following correspondence cX-
plains itself:
NATIONAL CIvIL-SERvICE REFORM
LEAGUE, Office No. 4 Pine street, New
York, Dec. 20, lSSi.-lIOn. GROVER
CLEvELAND-SH: We have the honor
to address you on behalf OF the Ma
tional Civil-Servicc Reform league, IN
association composed of citizens
of all parties, whose sole pur-
pose is indicated by its name, and
which takes no part whatever in party
controversy. The vast increase in the
number of persons engaged in the
civil service and the grave miSchiefs
and dangers arising from general pro-
scription in the service which for half
a century has followed the change of
party control of the national admins
tration, have produced so profound an
impression upon the public mind that
the first effective steps toward reform
were taken with the cooperation of
both parties in the passage of the re-
form act of Jan. l6, 1888. The abuses
which that act seeks to correct, how
ever, arc so strongly intrcnched in the
traditions and usagcs of both parties
that there is naturally a widespread
anxiety lest the party change in the
national executive effected by the late
election should show them to be in
supcrablc, but believing, rs we do,
that the reformed system can not be
held to be securely established until
1t has safely passed the ordeal of such
party changes, and recalling with sat
sfactiOn and confidence your public
expressions favorable to reform and
your official acts as chief executive of
the state of New York, we confidently
commend the cause to your patriotic
care in the exercise Of the great power
with which the American people have
intrusted you. Respectfully yours,
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, President,
WILLIAM PoTTS, Secretary.
John Jay, Morclicld Storey, j. Hall
Peasants. w. W. Montgomery, Ev-
clctt Z. Wheeler, Frederic Cromwell,
Morrill, Wyman, Jr., Carl Schurz,
Silas W. Burt, A. II. MacDonough,
William Carey Sanger, William w.
Aiken, executive committee.
Tho Reply.
The following is Presidcnt-elect
Cleveland's reply:
ALBANY, December %, lSSi.- Hon.
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, President,
etc DCdr Sir: Your communication
dated Dec. 20, addressed to me on be-
half of the National Civil-Scrvicc Re-
form league, has been received That
practical reform in 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 par
ties, and by the further fact that n
sentiment sgcncrallyprcvalentamong
patriotic people calling for fair and
honest enforcement OF the law which
has been thus enacted. | regard my
self pledged to this, because my CON
ccption 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 uttcranccS
made prior to my election as prcS-
dent, approved by the party to which
| belong, and which have no disposi-
tion to disclaim, | have, in effect
promised the people that this should
be done. am not unmindiul of the
fact, to which you refer, that many of
our citizens fear that the recent party
change IN the national executive may
demonstrate that the abuses which
have grown up in civil service are in
eradicablc. know they are deeply
rooted, and that the spoils system has
been supposed 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 adj
yocates when they find it obstructing
their way to patronage and place; but,
fully appreciating the trust com
mitted to my charge, no such
consideration shall cause Il
relaxation on my part Of an
earnest effort to enforce this law.
There is class of government posi-
tions which are not within the letter of
the civil.servicc statute, but which are
so disconnected with the policy of an adj
minstration that removal therefrom of
present incumbents, in my opinion,
should not be made during the terms
for which they were appointed, solely
on partisan grounds, and for the pur-
pose of putting in 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 pur-
poses, in disregard of their duty to
the people, and because, instead of
being decent public servants, they
have proved themselves offensive par
tisans and unscrupulous manipulators
of local party management. The les
sons of the past should be unlcarned,
and such officials, as well as their sue
cessors, should be taught that elli-
cheney, fitness, and devotion TO public
duty are conditions of their continu-
ance in public places, and that quiet
and unobtrusivc exercise of individual
political rights is the reasonable meas
ure of their party service. If | were
addressing none but party friends |
should deem it entirely proper to re-
mind them that, though the coming
administration is to be democratic, a
due regard for the peoples interest
does not permit faithful party work to
be always rewarded by appointment
to office; and to say to them that, while
democrats may expect all proper con.
sideration, selections for Office not
embraced within civIl-scrvicc rules
will bo based upon sufficient inquiry
as to fitness, instituted by those
charged with that duty, rather than
upon the persistent importantly or
self-solicited recommendation ON be-
half of candidates for appointment,
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND,