The National tribune., 1885-01-01
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Gov. Cleveland Gives His Views in Letter to
George ". Curtis

GOV. Cleveland Gives HIS views In Letter TO
George ". Curtis.
GeorgeWilliam Curtis, president, and mum.
Der of members of the National Civil Service
Reform League, recently addressed a letter to
Gov. Cleveland commencing the cause to him
in the new and more exalted Office which he
VIII enter upon on the 4th of March. The fol-
lowing reply has been received:
ALBANY, y. Y. Dec. 25, Issi-To Hon. George
William Curtis, President &e-Dear Sir: Your
communication, dated Dec. 20, and addressed to me
League, has been received. That a practical re-
form in the civil service is demanded is abundanly
established by the fact that statute referred 10 in
your communication to secure such result has
been passed iii Congress with the assent of both
political parties and by the farther fact that sem
timent Is generally prevalent among patriotic peo-
pie calling for the fair and honest enforcement of
the law which has been thus enacted. / regard
myself pledged 10 this because my conception Of
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 many
utterances made prior 10 my election as President
approved by the party TO which belong, and
which have no disposition to dsclairn, have in
effect promised the people that this should be done
am moi unhilndful 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 the civil
service are ineradicabe, / know that they. are
deeply rooted, and that the spols system has been
supposed to be intimately related to in the
maintenance Of party organization and | am not
sure mat all those who profess to be the friends of
this reform Will stand firmly among its advocates
when they find II obstrucing their way TO patron
age and place But fully approaching the trust
committed TO my charge, no such consideration
Shall cause q relaxation part of any earnest
effort to enforce this law
There Is a class of Government positions which
are not within the letter of civil service statute but
which are so disconnected with the policy of an
administration that the removal therefrom of pres
ent incuinbents IN my opinion, should not be made
curing the terms Tor which they were appointed
solely on partisan grounds and for the purpose of
putting in their places those who in political
accord with the appointing powers, but many now
holding such positions have forfeited all Just claim
TO retention, because they have used their places
for party purposes in disregard of their duty TO the
people, and because instead OF being decent public
servants, they haze proved themselves offensive
partisans and INSCRIPTIONS manipulators Of local
party management.
The lessons of the past should be unlearned, and
suc oiclals as Wei as their successors should be
taught that efficiency. fitness and devotion to pub
lie duty the conditions Of their continuance in
public place and that the quiet ard unobtrusive
exercise OF individual political rights is the reason
able measure Of their party service.
IL 1 were addressing mono but party friends
should deem II entirely proper to remind them
that though the coming administration is to be
Democratic 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
consideration, selections for Offices not embraced
Wlthin the civli-service rules will be based upon
snnicient inquiry as to fitness instituted by those
ent importantly or self solicited recommendations
on behalf Of candidates for appointment.
Yours, very truly,
GROVER CLEyELANn.