New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-24
CIVIL SERVICE PROBLEMS.
THE PRESIDENT-ELECT SILENT AS TO HIS
PURPOSE
BUT AN EDITORIAL ATTRIBUTED TO PRIVATE
SECRETARY HALFoRp CAUTIONS THOSE WHO
ADVOCATE CLEAN swEEP-JoHN G.
NEW AND CHAIRMAN HUSTON
CALLING ON GENERAL
rnr rxrscnArn TO TIE TRIBUNE.

HARRISON
.YpY rxIscRArH TO TIE rRIsUSEl
Annapolis Now a3.-Relicved Of his correspond
cnce and with fewer callers than usual 10 give p"ue
attention the Presldentelect had enough spare uhe
today to spend nearly the whole OF the Afternoon
downtown and In walking for the sake OF the exercise
which was all the more exharatdng and en1oyaoe DC
CAUSE a. WAS an ideal Indian summer day. Ho goes
alone on his daily tramps, and between tho pus OF
his mild cigar docs great deal Of solid thinking That
the country will probably know about some aas'
Among the few ou,-oftown people who called was
Charles IL Cramp, the Philadelphia shipbuider, who
happened to be passing through indianapolis
bridal couple. Mr.. and Mrs. william Henry Woods
from New.York were also among the callers.
The most significant incidents Of the day at the homo
of tho Presdentelect however were calls by John T.
New and James N. Huston the two men who inquire
most prominently probable members Of the Cabinet
from Indiana 1t the second call that they have
each made since the election. Mr.. Huston, who has
remained at his home In Connersvllle since the week
of the election. returned to Indianapolis last night
os,ensiby for the purpose OF looking af'cr iha'oi
connected with the management OF the campsisn' ~
It IL generally suspected that the object OF ms 'S
was really to give attention TO personal Interests No
expects TO be Postmas General and he Is heRoons
no opporunity TO siren ghen his chances OF success
news paper representative sndeavored to ara" IA"
into an interview regarding his aspirations 'eo"s'
but no stopped all inquiries by remarxhg WIN a
laugh
II have nothing whatever to say about the matter
In conversations that were not intended Ior puphca
t,on he talked more freely however He Is greatly
over the appointment Of E. w. Halford as inc
nriyac secretary Of the Presdenelect, not pcoauso
he is interested In Mr. Haford, but bca,se IL is oe
lIevcd that, as mere matter Of policy, General Har
rIson will not take two men from The Journai ih'o
important confidential relations The fiends Vi 'n0
State Chairman believe that he is as likely to DO maze
tba w,
Mr. Haford's appointment great point In their
favor The friends OF Mr. New, however oeioNo
that the appointment will affect the Cabinet selec
tons but if t has any significance bearing upon IN,
Cabinet Is favorable to Mr.. New as an inoicaon "a
the feeling OF the Presidenteect toward the Kepuoh-
can State organ and its managers. ASIDE from thcSo
theories however, ii IS known that Mr. New was WIN
The consent of General HARRISON made the recogzeu
head of the Harrison movement, that no was u'e ia'
with whom General Harrison most irequeh'S hoiu
consultations prior TO the National convention anu '
st Chicago Mr. New the Indiana representative
10 whom General Harrison sent such Geographic IN
s,r,ct,ons or advice as he deemed 1t worth While to
offer to his supporters. Mr.. HusSn did important
work. but It was after the convention. Both men are
certain to be given high recognition, but In INDIANA
f. Is the prevailing opinion that, II either OF them is
taken into the Cabinet the honor Is most hheH 10 TAU
upon New. The bitterness of feeling when Is oe-
volopng between the friends of the two men, however,
realizing their aspirations.
some importance Is attached to an
editorial article that appeared In the
Journal to-day under the caption ClVii
Service Reform and Clean Sweep 1t is believed
that tho article written by Private secretary
Haford, who is still in charge OF g The Joufnais
editorial page. The article dsappioves of the old
partisan doctrine that 10 the victors belong the
spolss which created the necessity for Civil Service
REFORM The so-called clean-sweepers OF the Re
pubican party are cautioned not to be unreasonable
IN their demands on the next Administration
"lf there is any honesty in politics." the editorial
saws. the Republican party is pledged to use dis
elimination In removals from Office well as In ap
pointments thereto, and to both primarily for
the public welfare rather than for supposed party
advantage"
Republican clean sweepers are also reminded that
The President-cect will be surrounded By some resic
lions IN the matter of removals and appointments
which he cannot disregard. After enumeratlng the
Offices that are not embraced in the Civil Service Act
the article concludes
nFrom what has been said, It is evident that there
are many things be taken into account In connec
ton with the demand OF the cleansweepeis, ana II
they have the welfare of the party at heart they VIII
recognize the necessary limitations OF the SITUATION
One thing they can rest assured of-the President
elect Is as old and earnest Republican as any Oh
them and can be depended on to do the very best
thing for the psrty as well as the country"
what do the Civil Service reformers have reason
TO expect of the new Administration N was asked Of
Luclus B. Swift president Of the Indiana Civil Service
Reform Association, this evening Mr. swift was
the leading Independent supporter OF Cleveland in
Indiana four years ago. and dld not advocate inc
election of General Harrison until after no had re-
ceived from the Republican candidate private as
surances as to his intentions relative to the Civii
Service u he should become President.
speaking for myself replied Mr.. Swift. i
should say there is reason why they ought not to
expect everything. Tho President has the power
under the Constitution to turn every Federal place
holder out but he has right to exercise that
power than he has to pardon every criminal out Of
prison. He has right under the Constitution TO
use the places as party spols 1t would be In the
line Of Civil Service reform TO restore every man
who has been uDiustly dismissed from the
classified service. This could be done and still leave
lsrSe proportion Of the Cleveland appontees When
that is done, dismissal from that service should
be allowed without good business reason TO be made
public record so that the people may Judge If the
reason Is good This does not enhte dismissed
man TO trial. except as public opinion tries him.
There should be new Civil Service Commission. made
up of men who have backbone and who do not
spend all their time in trying TO find what the law
does not cover and how little power they have and IN
done than the Others. We need local boards, who
ss be .sd eeed 10 Il E1 s amy
man who competes whatever his pontcs, staDds on
the same footing as every other man In the indian a..
and railway mall services large number Of in.
competent and worthless should be dismissed
and 10 far as possible their competent predecessors
should be restored, but the culllng process should
mepts between the parties: The same course should
be pursued with regard to az letter t,srs. carriers
barring FIVE or six in an office. This
still leaves the great bulk Of Federal officers untouched
The platform upon which General Harrison was
elected permits him 10 make resolution II he Will
and his oath of Office will lay the duty upon him."
THETA DELTA CHI MEN AT DINNER