New-York tribune., 1886-01-18

and honesty. ana the manner which they have full
well as the ability they have shown in tho management
their affairs DO their neghbors and those who
their hands important uterestsi Are their personal
habits and their personal ana private relations good
those who shall act for the people In the government
better rule cannot he adoDted than the one by
these INQUIRIES.
From Gorernor Cere1nds Messa0e the Ner YORK Lgisat
.urr. Jan. /. 1855
sive state system OF Civil Service. The principle Of
ecting the subordinate employees o. the state on the
ground that OF capacity ana Illness ascertaned accord
Ing to xed aud Impartial rules without regard to pO-
tcal predictions and with reasonable assurance OF
detention and promotion IN case OF merorous service,
is now the established policy Of the state. The
application to the public service Of the same rule which
knowledge and training fit them for the duties
hand without regard To other considerations must ee-
vate and improve the Ciyll service.
From 0opcrnor cl>rclands Letter Aeepngme Nomination
1havo carey E considered the platform adopted by
IL should be rcmombersd that The office Of President i;
essentially executive In its nature. The laws enacted by
the Legislative branch OF the Government the Chief E1
The people pay the wages OF the public employees and
aud retention Of subordnates In Government employ
the value OF their work. and they should be neither eX
pected nor allowed to do questionable party service.
estimate OF public labor and duty Will be Immensely I'M
proved public employment viii be orcn 70 all who can
demonstrate their Illness to enter III the unseomly
scramble Tor place under the Government with the
sequent importantly which embiters official life will
cesso ard the public departments VIII he filed with
those who conceveh TO be their nr't duty to aid the
ing patient and honest return TO the people.
Trcsdentee, Clereiands Let>r 10 M G,orgs wal
IGa cris iIeaa.gt otne National c'r" Servee Refor"
That practical reform in the Civl Service is de-
manded Is auundantly established by the fact That
statute secure such result has been passed In Con
grcss with the assent OF both political parties aud by
the further fact that sentiment Is generally prevalent
enforcement OF the law when hn. been thus enacted
regard myself pledged TO this because my conception OF
Democratic faith and public duty requires That this
and all other statutes should be good faith and with
out evasion enforccl and because In many utterances
party 10 which belong. and which hayo disposl
ton to dsclan. have In effect promised the people that
There IA a class of Government positions which are
not within the letter OF the Cyil Service statute, but
which disconnected with the policy of an Admin
slratOn that the removal thercrom OF present incun
bents. In my opinion, should not be made during the
for which Jey were appointed solely ON partisan
grounds and for the purpo-e OF putting IN thrr places
those who In political accord with the appointing
power. But many holding such positions have for
ietcd all just claim to retention because they have used
duty to Tho psope aud because Instead Of beag dec
public servant thcy have proved themselves offensive
partsans and interruptions mAnipuator OF local party
management .
deem II entirely proper 10 remind mem thAt thOuS inc
coming Administration Is to he Drmucratic duo rc-
party work to be always rewarded By appointment TO
Oicc and to say 10 them that while Democrats may eN
Embraced Gthln the civil service rules viii bo based
upon sucIeut inquiry 10 illness instituted by those
purtuniy selt-olctcd recommendations behalf Of
candidates FOR appointment
From Ir,.tdeat cicceaads hangurll iddre'. March l.
lV1j.
Tho people demand reform ia the Administration OF the
Government and the application Of business principles
10 public affairs As means to this end, Civ service
Reform should be In good fdth indorscd our citizens
the right to protection from the incompetcncy of
public cmploye- who hold their places solely the re-
ward OF partisan services aud from tho corruptng nu
OF those who promise and tho vicious methods OF
those who expect such rewards aud those who worth
y seek public employment nave the right 10 Insist that
merit ana competency shall b, recognized Instead oi
party subscroncy OF The surrender OF honest political
belief.
From JsssideHf CierrlaHds litter o. Tee Hon. Dormdn b.
ErfOH Ssr' II. 1883
The success Wilton thu, fir has attended the work OF
Cv service reform IS largely due to the fact thHt ils
practical friends have proceeded upon the theory that
people who chez peruicOus political Ideas long Osercd
and encouraged by vicious partsanshp arc persuaded
stanal Improvement and benefits, reasonable olera
ton for old prejudice graceful recognition Of overy
promises assistance aud constant effort to demon,ratc
the Advantages OF the new order OF things arc tue means
by this reform movement will In the future bo
further advanced. the opposition OF ncorrgble Spoi-
men rendered Intellectual ana the cause placed upon
or course thcro should surrender OF principle
nor backward step and all Laws the enforcement OF
the reform should bs rigidy executed but the benefits
which itq principles promise VIII not be fully realized
nie,, ihe acGtecece OF the people Is added to the
stern assertibn OF doctrine ana tho vigorous execution
OF the laws II Il source graduation that thete
are so many friends OF civil Service reform marshaled
on the practical side OF the question: and that the mum
ber greater OF those whOproiess
cause aud yet mischryOusy and with supercious self
dscodt every effort not IN exact accord
with their atenuaed ideas decry with carping criticism
ths labor OF those actually in field OF reform and
ignoring tho conditions which hound and qualify every
struggle for radical Improvement In the affairs or
government demand compete and Immediate perfection
believe IN civil Service reform and It's application In
the most practicable form aainable among other rea-
sons because II opens tho door for tho rich and tho poor
alike, 10 a partic patton In public place holding Aud
the tno Ia at hand when all our people Will sec the
or reliance for such an opportunity upon
merit and fitness. instead of dependence upon the
caprice selfish Interest OF those who imprudently
stand between tho pcope and tho machinery OF their
Government. IN the ono case reasonable Intelligence
and the education which Is freely furnished forced
upon the youth Of our land are the credentials to office
In the other the way rs found IN favor secured ny apar
ally and physically for tho responsibilities and duties OF
public employment
am Inclined TO think that Is sentiment more
N 1e of % ho OF the principle!
Mich the law enforcing civil Service reform Is based
the subordinate public positions throughout the country
1t applies the test Of fitness 70 applicants for these places
by means OF competitive examination, and gives large
discretion 70 the Commissioners as to the character OF
the examination aud many other matters connected
with its execution. Thus tue rules ana regulations
adopted by the Commission have much to do with tho
practical Usefulness OF the statute aid with the result OF
The people may we'll the Commission to execute
the law with perfect fairness and with as little Irritation
IL possible But OF csurse relaxation OF the prin
ci pie which underlies it, and no weakening OF tho safe
guards which surround 1t can be expected Experience
iu ia administration will probably suggest amendment
Of the methods OF Its execution, but venture to hope
that we shall never again be remltted TO the system
which distributes public positions purely rewards for
partisan service. The Civil Service law does not pre-
vent the discharge OF the indoen or incompetent clerk
but IL does prevent supplying bis place with the unit
party worker Thus In both those phases Ia seen bene
III to the public service and the people who desire good
having secured this statute win not roln
Iuish It's benens without protest Nor arc they un-
Of the fact that It's fu alvanages can only be
gained through the complete 10 itth OF those having
Us execution IN charge; am hey VIII insist upon
THE ORGANS OF SWEErSESS AND LIGHT AXE
COCKSURE II WILL BE DONE
From Uqrpers Weekly, jan 10 1880
Mr. Clovelands letter to the National ClVl service
Reform League il by far the most important OF recent
political Documents IL IL the tribute OF one OF the aest
lnd most experienced Of great executive and admins-
rtr1IG I aIIsAf fDr