Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-01-02
CIyIL-SERvIcE REFORM
Letter from Governor Cleveland.

10 response 20 lie ter OF inquiry recent
ly addressed to him by lion. Geo. " IN
Curtis and Others, on behalf OF rhe Nation :
al Civil-Service Reform -eague. President.
elect Cleveland has written tine following
letter, in which he fully and Clearly set.
forth his views upon he civil service re-
form problem:
"iLany " I. Dee - 1884. TO n. Hon
George W m Curtis, president. &c Dear Sir :
Your communication, dated December 40 49,
dressed In me "a behalf Of rbr S,,ioasl Civil
Service Reform League has been dalr r.c.irsi
That practical reform in the civil servic. 10
demanded is abunisntiy esi.b ished bv the fact
tina; statute, referred 10 10 your commaacs-
ton. 10 secure such result. has BEEN passed o
Congress with The assent Of both political par.
ties, and By the further fact that .sniim.st is
generally prevalent among patriotic p.ople call
ing for the fir and honest enforcement Of the
law which has bern thus enacted regard nv
self pledged to this because nv conception Of
tru. democrats faith and public dui, require.
that this and all other statutes should in good
faith And without evasion be enforced and be-
cAnss in mauy utlerances mad. prior TO NV cleo
ton as President, commended By the part, 10
which belong, and which have no disposition
10 disclaim have in effect promised the p.o-
pie that this should be done.
lam not unminiful Of the fac, TO which YOU
refer, that may N oar citiZ-ns fear that the re-
cent party change IN the naiionsl executive NAV
demonstrate that the abuses which have grown
up in the civil service are inersdicable / know
that they are deeply rooted and hat tbs spells
system has been supposed TO be intimately re-
lated 10 success il the maintenance of party or
ganiz atom, and ! am not sure ih-t all rhos-
" no profess 10 be the r. lends of this reform will
stand firmly among its adsocates when thew ind
ii obstrucing their way Z, patronage and place
But fully approaching the trust committed TO
nv charge, no such consideration shall cause
relax ,tion on my part of earnest effort to
enforce this law.
There is class Of government positions
which are not within the letter of the civil ser
vice statute, but a hich are disconnected
with the policy of an al nistration that the
removal therefrom Of present incumbe.is in nv
opinion, should NOT be made during tn. term.
for which they were appointed solely on part
isan grounds and for the purpose of put
ting in their places thase no are in political
accord with the appointing power.
But many no v holding such positions have
forfeited all just claim 10 rejection because they
have used their place. for party purposes ia
disregard of their dnty TO the people. and be-
cause, instead Of being decent public servants
they have proved thelnsel yes offensive partissns
and INSCRIPTIONS manIpulators of local party
management.
The lessons OF The past should be unlearned
and such officials, as well as their successors
should be taught that efficiency. fitness and de-
votion TO public duty are the conditions of
their continuance in public place, and that the
quiet and unobtrnsive exercise of individual
political rights il the reasonable measure of
their party service.
''If were addressing none but party friend.
should deem it entirely proper TO remind them
that though the coming administration is 20 he
democratic due reg 'rd for the peoples inter
est does not permit faithful party work to be
always rewarded by appointment TO sff-e, and
to say to them that while democrats may ex.
pect ali proper consideration, selections for Of
ice not embraced within the civilsrr ru Is |
will be based upon fiirient inquiry to Fl
ness, Instituted by those charged with that
duty, rather than upon persistnut importantly
or self solicited recommendation on behalf OF
candidates for appointment.
Yours, very truly
"GROyER CLEVELAND"