Morning journal and courier., 1885-08-29
News by Telegraph
 FROM ALL QUARTERS. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM A Mere Toy In Democratic Hands.  VIEWS OF SENATOR EDMUhDS. Minister Kelly Will Not
 Resign. FUNERAL OF CAPTAIN BABCOCK. The Lawrence Assassin
 Pleads Not Guilty.
FUNERAL OF CAPTAIN BABCOCK
RDmUNDs ON CIVIL SERVICE.

EDMUNDS ON CIVIL SERVICE.
 He Thinks Cleveland Pewerless to
 Enforce the Law and That His Ad.
 mfnistrarion Will Degenerate Into a
 Spells System.
 BOSTON, Aug. 2S.-A special correspond ent to the Record telegraphs from St. AL bans the result of an interview he had with Senator Edmunds at t'Camp Pingree'' yes- terday. Or being questioned as to the course of the administration in regard to ap- pointments and as to his own probable atti- tude in the Senate toward such of them as were not in accordance with reform princi- ples Senator Edmunds said fWell, so far as that is concerned anyone who knows me and my course in years past knows that have always been and am still friend and advocate of civil service reform. He knows, too, that should oppose any departure from that principle in the matter of appointments, whether the person immediately concerned be friend or entire stranger, whether he be from Vermont or from Texas. As to the policy of the administration in this matter I said last spring that Cleveland's intentions were good and that if he got the right kind of men about him he might be able to carry out his purposes in this regard By the right kind of men meant men friendly to civil service reform and with backbone to stand out against the opposition they would encounter from the Democratic spoilsmen. Such opposition must necessarily be very great, for the larger part of that party still cling to the old Jacksenian princi pie in regard to appointments. But Presi- dent Cleveland has not about him the men who would aid him in adhering to civil ser vice reform. The majority of his cabinet for one man to investigate the details con- cerned in each appointment. The President cannot know himself the circumstances of one per cent. of the appointments he makes. There would not be time enough if he worked twenty four hours day for him to attend personally to them all. Hence the difficulty of carrying out this principle when the President and his advisers do not agree in regard to it. Thus it is that at the present time when mans name comes up for removal some serious charges have been prepared against him as in the case of General Wells. The man is re-
 
 out the truth or falsity of the charges being known or even investigated I think there is no doubt that gradually these changes will continue until the policy and practice of the administration have degenerated into simply a spells system. There is no doubt that If the Senate had but been Republican the change would have come already. If the Senate had been Democratic it would not have adjourned when it did, but would have stayed over a month or more and there would have been tclean sweep.'"
 Speaking of newspaper reporters the Sena- tor said: 1T talk freely to you, but generally am shy of them. Many of them mere Bohemians and not to be relied upon. They will distort and manufacture in 8 wonderful way. In Washington have been approach ed by reporters and asked to divulge the proceedings of secret session of the Senate or asked to give in advance the probable ac- tion of committee on some subject of im- portance. I politely but consistently declins to say anything and the next day read in some newspaper what Senator Edmunds said on the very subject about which refused to talk. This is what some reporters call enterprise. It is often done with some financial end in view. The other day after had gone to Europe I saw an interview in some paper which purported to come from me on my departure from New York. But it all came from the fertile im- agination of some reporter