Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1888-06-01
cIvIL SERVICE REFORM.


the National League.
New YORK, May 29.-The national civil
service reform league had its annual meet
ing here tonight and was addressed by
George w. Curtis on the "reason and the
result of civil service reform.'' Among
other things he said: "Undoubtedly more
had been expected of this administration
than OF any its predecessors, because of
the frequent and friendly declarations of
the president, and because his election by
party authorized independence OF action.
which a president elected solely by the
vote of his party might feel to be denied to
him. This anticipation has been largely
disappointed, but disappointment mustnot
make us unjust or unmindful OF the fact
that although the president has done much
and has permitted much that every friend
of reform must deplore, yet he has MAIN
tanned all that had been gained in exam
nations, he has extended the range of
classified service and he has revised and
strengthened rules. Certainly this is not
all that had been expected, but that
general and intelligent public regret that
he has done no more shows how strong is
the desire of reform in the public mind.
Twenty years ago, when Mr.. Jenckes of
Rhode Island, spoke here in New York to
few persons in the chapel of the univer-
sity upon reform in the civil service, he
was
LIKE PAUL IN ATHENS
declaring the unknown God. To-day there
has been for six years law of congress
embodying his views. In the white house
there is a president elected because he
held those views The press of the opposi-
ton party assails him chiefly for abandon
ing them and the opposition committee OF
the senate is accommodating evidence to
prove, if it can, that he has done even less
for reform than other presidents, and
therefore ought not to be reelected. This
is hardly consonant with the theory Of the
death and burial of reform" Mr.. Curtis
then reviewed the history of civil service
in England and America, finding in our
own system parallel to the universal cor
ruption under the house of Hanover. AS
TO the burning importance OF this, reform
Mr.. Curtis said: 81 can imagine the Ques-
tiOn of suffrage left to the states and re-
lieved from eternal pressure gradually and
wisely solved. 1t is conceivable that the
vigorous enterprise and marvellous pros
perity of the country might endure inde-
finitely even an unjust and xOrbitant tariff.
But it is not conceivable that the executive
patronage can increase in the ratio of
growth Of the last few years, unregulated
and unrestrained, without the greatest
peril to the government" After reviewing
some of the results gained in the direction
of reform the speaker said: "There are
Two IMPORTANT MEASURES
yet to be adopted, first, the repeal of the
four years law, law which enables
complete partisan change of the service to
be made in way which permits the ex-
ecutive to escape. as in such case he ought
not to escape, the odium of arbitrary re-
movals. This repeal We have constantly
and warmly urged. The other practically
seems to me of even greater importance,
but which the league has not yet advocated,
is an amendment to the constitution ex-
tending somewhat the term of presidency
and making the president ineligible for
second term. It would emancipate every
president from the absolute despOtism of
party and from the temptation of personal
motives, and leave him in the greatest of
offices with no motive for official action
but the wish to deserve the praise of his
tory by promoting the welfare of his whole
country"