The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-29
THE STATE CIVIL SERVICE
Attitude Of the Parties as Indicated by
Expressions from Candidates.
All Republicans Favor a Non-Partisan Policy,
While the Democrats, as q Rule, Main
tain an Intensely Suggestive Silence.

On the 10th of September, Mr.. Charles R.
Lane, secretary Of the Indiana Civll-ssrvics Re-
form Association, addressed to the legislative
candidates of the various parties q circular letter
containing these queries:
First-Are you in favor OF taking the public
institutions of the State out of politics2
Second-If elected will you vote for the in
closed bill. which is based upon the New York
and Massachusetts, laws lit being, in our opin-
ion, the best bill ever framed for the p~urpoee),
and which passed the Indiana House Of Repre-
eentatives at the last Assembly,
To these queries Republican candidates have
responded as follows:
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 29.-In reply to your favor
in which you submit certain questions to me for
answer, i desire to say. First, / am strongly in favor
of taking the pnblic Institutions Of lsdiana out of
favored by the party that / expect TO have the honor
to represent in our next General Assembly, but be-
cause it is slso in direct accord with my personal
views. No party should be allowed to prey upon
Gods unfortunates. Second, il elected II will ce>
tainly vote for the bill submitted to me for inspection.
end in view. You say rightly, sir. that these meas.
ures should be supported by all. irrespective of party.
The interest of the people should be, and is, greater
than any party. WV. 4. TousEY.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sent. 23.-Replying TO your letter
Of inquiry of the 10th, which is just received. 1 am
LIZ " u tIeSA o1 tfSS LA VI teAiiS sAG
public institutions of the State out of politics, and if
elected to the next General Assembly, will do all I
bill for that purpose which was introduced and passed
by lower house of last General Assembly.
G.. q. WEBSTER, JR.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept 23.-In reply TO yours of the
10th inst, received on the Path. inclosing pamphlet
entitled. "A bin for an act to improve the civil serv-
and it seems TO me that the plank in the Republican
platform on this question is sufficient TO cover the OBJ
iect sought by your association, if carried out by the
Republican candidates, should they be elected. Per-
sonally. I am in favor of civil-servics reform in the
benevolent and penal Institutions of the State. believ-
ing that 1t is for the best interests OF the people Of
the State that politics be As far as possible removed
from the governing power of these institutions. Be-
lisving that that this will be satisfactory, and assur.
ing yon that l stand squarely on the State platform,
as enunciated in their last State convention, l re-
main. WILLARD +. CONNECT.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. PA. your communication
of the 10th inst. was not mailed to me until the 22d.
/ could scarcely have been expected to answer it
in favor of taking the public institutions of the State
out of the control of partisan politics. and shall sup
port legislation to that end. As to the propossa bill.
l can say that If it is the same rs that passed by the
House at the last session Of tie Assembly. and no bet
ter should be offered, 1 should favor its adoption, in
the main, reserving, of course, the submission of de-
tails TO my own Judgment and the advice Of people of
this county. after such investigation as should prop
erly be made ey q member OF the House.
CHAs. c. HICKMAN.
INDIANAPOLIS. Sept. 27.-Absence from the city
for more than two weeks il my excuse for not an.
swering your favor of the 10th inst. more promptly.
In answer to your first question. emphatically, yes.
In answer to your second question. 1 would make the
same answer, excepting one or two features contained
In the fourteenth section of the bill you propose. /
think that competent. experienced and well-behaved
men should not be required to pass the civilservice
examination within eighteen months or any other
time. 1t would work a hardship to many good men.
In my opinion. Our experience with the Indianapolis
postofice in the last three years has settled that cues.
GEO. F. McGINNIs.
NEW BURLINGTON. Oct. S.-Yours. containing bill,
received and hastily considered viii answer both
OF your questions by saying that | heartily indorse
the proposition TO place the management of our in
situations. beyond the reach of hungry politicians.
anG would gladly support a bill to prevent any person
from holding any position in the public institutions
of our State as a reward for political service. 1 have
not had time to thoroughly consider the bill, but could
at present suggest nothing better.
ANDERSON, Oct. 9.-To question first, yes. To
measures. The county 1 am running for Representa-
tive in tMadison county, is, as you know. hopelessly
Democratic. but 1 may be elected and if am wiz
vote as l have indicated above. w. A. kITTINGER.
LAPoRTE. Sept. 25.-Yours of the 10th inst. was
received yesterday. In reply, will say ] am in favor
Of placing all the public institutions of the State un-
der the control of a non-partisan board. and If elected
a member Of the next General Assembly will earn.
purpose. / am also in favor of cfvii-service reform
Estate as well as sstioua), and win support the best
measure to accomplish that result
GARRETT, Oct. 1O.-Your letter Of the 10th Sep
TENDER was duly received. hut. owing to the urgent
demands of local politics upon my time and energies,
was put aside momeutarily and forgotten. I beg to
assure you at this late day that l am unequivosally in
favor Of taking the public Institutions as described
out of the domain of politics, and. if elected, l would
vote for a bill that would most wisely and efectually
tend to that result. CHAS. E. WILCOX.
sHELBYvILLE. Sept. PIN response to above
questions, viii say that I c~heerfully answer in the af-
frmative. ST.. CARPENTER.
NEW CASTLE, Sept. 26.-In response to yours Of
the 10th inst. | NAV say that / voted for the civil.
tives of this State. and presume I would vote similar
ly if in the Legislature again. WV. GaosE.
TERRE HAuTE. Oct. PA bill entitled an
act to improve the civil service of Indiana. ac-
companied by q letter from you asking IL I
will vote for this bill Should / be elected) is now be-
fore me. In reply, will only say that 1 have not had
the time to carefully read and study the bill with al
its provisions. Suffice it to say that my sentiments
in regard to the future management Of the public ia.
situations of the State are in accordance with the
platform of tho Republican party adopted by the
State convention and that 1 will favor any law that,
in nv Judgment. viii have a tendency, toward tho
purity of the ballotbox- W.. II. BERRY.
WEST LEBANON. Sept. 20.-Yours of the 10Th
inst. at hand. VIII FAY in reply that 1 would,
il elected to the next General, Assembly of
the State, give my support 10 any measure which
has for its sole object the entire separation Of the
civil service of the State from party politics. which I
believe to be the true intent and meaning of our Con-
/ ~stitution and the statutes of the State. and hope to see
such become law at the next General Assembly of the
State. GEO. w. CRoEK-
M%EyT0NE. Sept. PIN answering your INQUIRIES
/ will say that the proposed bill meets my views on
the subject of civil-service reform in every respect.
Therefore would support the bill. Furthermore, I
am in favor of taking the public institutions ont Of
| politics. K. Z. CHRISTIAN.
CoNNERsvILLE. Sept. 2l--Your letter asking
my views in regard to the application of civil
service reform TO our State affairs Is before
me. In reply to your first query: "Are you in
favor of taking the public institutions of the State
out of ~politicsi" can only say that am, most EN-.
phaticslly. To your second question, "If elected viii
you vote for the inclosed bill, which is based upon
New York and Massachusetts, laws. Gt being in our
opinion the best bill ever framed for the purpose) and
which passed the Indiana House of Representatives at
the last Assembly," l have to say that if elected .
member of the next Legislature I will vote for and
support any measure thatcomes before that body hav.
ing in view the elevation and reform of the civil
service of the State, which I think will accomplish
such q result and is not otherwise Objectionable
j. II. CLAYPooL.
HAMILTON. Sept. 26.-Your circular dated Sept.
10, together with q bill entitled "a bin for