The Portland daily press., 1885-10-27
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
commissioner Thoman Resigns.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-Civil Service Com
missioner Thoman has rendered his resigna-
ton and it has been accepted by the Presi-
dent, to take effect Nov. 1st next.
The resignation was rendered and accepted
by means of the following correspondence:
WASHINGTON d. c., Oct 20, 1886.
Sr,-ReSpecnully referring to conversation
had with you as early as March 10TH in which
member OF the United States Civil Service Com
mission, and also to the apparent fact that it was
not then your y pleasure to consider my requesI ssgl
nation and earnestly ask for an early consdera-
tion of the same and its acceptance. While thus
asking my release from so honorable trust, de,
sire to record my qualification over the proved
practicability and remedial effectiveness of the
reform procedure Tried veterans in political
warfare view with amazement the face though
radical departure from the familiar methods OF the
spoils system of distributing patronage, strenuous
and sincere argument and also deliberate perver.
sion mark the opposition of different groups OF
antagonists, and yet it must be considered that
majority of the political leaders in either party
is in accord with the Pendleton law if its original
enactment and emphatic endorsement by the sub
sequent Congress were honest legislative express
sion and not the coercion of moral cowardice by
popular sentiment and no partisan legsrdemain.
In the great task of administrative reform which
you have undertaken in accordance with personal
has been my pleasure within the last two months
TO visit quite number OF the States and IerIl-
tories Of this Union and it was good fortune to to
know the people confide in the equiyocal inten-
tiOn of the President to sustain the merit system
in the civil service. They had condemned the
evils of the former methods, and long experience
had made their knowledge accurate. They well
coined the Inauguration of the new and the dis
tinctive features of the present reform appealed
to the typically American sentiment which recon-
mendS and advances merit
I believe that the fundamental idea OF clvll SER
vice reform is characteristic of American thought
and in initial stages of this reform there was
response throughout the nation Polltcal con- n
corruption were discouraged and bosSlSin was
grappled with fresh vigor Ii the vicious elements
Still seek obtrusion into elections the chances OF
their success have been lessened The reform
spirit is militant and advancesitoWard complete
success, while corruption by official patronage has
been removed with the imparting OF pnrer lie TO
official circles and the power OF a private purse
to purchase political honors will be less danger
Gus.
Public appreciation of the fact that this reform
does not trench upon sturdy partisanship came
late. 1t was sedately maintained that the, civil
service was to be composed of men who should
abjure certain rights of citizenship. With the
gradual but inevitable reputation OF this false
view the outline OF reform az iast st6oa @ iofta IN
vice as a vast business agency-its search is Tor
the best attainable merit.
With q confident trust in the success OF your ad-
ministration
am your obedient servant,
LEROY d. THoMAN.
The President replied as follows;
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Oct. "a
Hon. Leroy D. 7homan, ci01 Service Commits
siOner:
MY Dear Sir-I have received your letter tend
ering your resignation as member of the CIVIL
Service Commission which is in flrtherance OF the
inclination expressed by you very soon after my
Inauguration as President. The resignation thus
rendered is hereby accepted, to take effect on the
first day of November next: Icongratulate you
upon the fact that in the office you relnquish you
have been able by sincere and earnest work and
by steady devotion to the cause which you nave
had in charge to do much in the interest of good
government and improved political methods.
Yours sincerely,
GROVER CLEVELAND.