Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-16
Loss

In the great work of the Internal Revenu,
Bureau, the astonishing une xampled spectacle
was presented of more than one hundred
millions of dollars being collected yearly fo
seven years, through an army of employee
numbering more than five thousand. ever,
dollar of which has been turned into tn,
United States Treasury, not even one cen
being lost to the Government
In the national election in 1884 both partie,
recognized, in their platforms, civil service
reform. The Republican declaration wa.
straightforward and explicit; that of the
Democrats, evasive and meaningless. Here
are the two
From the Republican platform.
Reform of the Civil Service, auspiciously begun
under Republican administration, should be com
peted by the further extension of the reform system
already established by law, to all the grades of the
service to which it is applicable. The spirit and pur
pose of the reform should be observed In all eNecu
tive appointments, and all laws at variance with tn,
objects of existing reform legislation should be re
pealed to the end that the dangers of free institutions
which lurk in the power of official patronage may he
wisely and effectively avoided.
From the Democratic platform
We favor honest Civil Service Reform.
But as the canvass progressed it was seen
that a considerable number of men, who had
previously affiliated with the Republican
party, were bent upon opposing.its candidate
and it gradually became apparent that these
men were not only opposing Mr.. Blaine and
urging their friends to oppose him but look
ing about for reasons that would justify them
in supporting his opponent, Mr.. Cleveland
The Democratic candidate was not slow to
recognize this, and in his letter of acceptance
dated August Is, 1854, he takes occasion to
express his belief that the misuse of patron
int ha salaptipp of officials hn 10
their business to interfere improperly in
elections should be prevented, even at the
expense of an amendment to the Constitution
disqualifying the President for reelection.
| quote from the letter
When we consider the patronage of this great Office
the allurements of power, the temptation to retain
public places once gained. and, more than all. the
availability party finds in an incumbent when a
hoard of Office holders with "A zeal born of benefit re
ceived and fostered by the hope of fayors yet
stand ready to aid with money and trained political
service recognize in the eligibility of the Presi
dent for reelection most serious danger to that
calm deliberate and intelligent political action which
must characterize a government by the people.
Warming to his subject. Governor Cleve-
land, little further on in the same letter,
announced his views as follows:
The people pay the wages of the public employees,
and thev entitled to the fair and honest work
which the money thus paid should command. II is
the duty of those intrustsd with the of
these affairs to that such public service IL forth
coming. The selection and retention of subordinates
in government employment should depe nd upon their
ascertained fitness and the value of their work and
they should be neither expected nor allowed to do
questionable party service The interests of the
people will be better protected the estimate of pub.
lie labor and duty will be immensely improved ;
public employment will be open TO all who can dem
onstrate their fitness TO enter it. The unseemly
scramble for place under the government, with the
consequent importantly which emhitters official life
will cease, and the public departments will be
filled with those who conceive 1t TO be their first
duty to aid the party TO which they owe their places
instead Of rendering patient and honest return to
the people
These utterances are clear and distinct
and may be presumed to have had their effect
The seceders from the Republican party
voted the Democratic ticket, and in
the close States their numbers were suffi-
cient to decide the result. and Governor
Cleveland was elected President If anybody
doubts the moving consideration which i'm
PEELED this seeding vote in the direction of
the Democratic candidate, he has only to read
the declarations of the leaders in the Civil
Service reform movement made many times
since the election.
am now approaching, Mr. President, the
consideration of the course of President
Cieveland's administration, elected upon the
statements and pledges which l have just
quoted. These statements and pledges, in
connection with subsequent utterances made
by the President, are the foundation for the
declaration of Mr.. George William Curtis in
his address to the annual meeting of the
National Civil Service Reform League held
at Newport August g. 1886, that President
Cleveland is identified in the public mind
with the cause of reform"
Subsequent to the election, and previous to
his Inauguration, on December 25, 1884, Mr..
Cleveland, in letter to Hon. George Will
liam Curtis, among other things, enunciates