Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-03
sroIL, sYsrnM DnNoUNoeD.
The Republicans Fsarty ArrniRued
for "a Ti0Iaii1n OS Anfc- election
Pledges and II Wholesale Removal


meeting was tho e.oeaa of president.
Charles j. Bonaparte w.s quickly on his
fee, with motion tiltf the present presi-
dent be declared eiees.i " reclamation.
When President Curtis reminded the
members that tho constitution required
that officers be elected by ballot Mr.. Bona
parte amended his motion By directing the
secretary Of the league 10 cast the ballot of
tina league Tor Geocge William Curtis, and
this was carried without a dissenting voice.
Dtt. Curtis thanked the League for the re-
newed expression OF lis confidence aud re-
MARRIED that 1t was Interesting TO know that
the rule OF a single tern did not APPLY to
all presldeneles. He was glad to note this
sign of happy harmony that had always
DISTINGUISHED the deliberations OF the
league.
The report Of the treasurer showed re-
ceipts during the year OF $97G.I3 and dis
bursements S7lGG2. leaving balance In
tho treasury OF S25Y.46.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. z. The following are
the resolutions read Mt this mornings
meeting OF the Civil Service Reform League
by Mr.. Rogers.
The National Civil Service Reform League
gladly Recognize the steady advance of the
reform sentiment in the public mind and
the good results happily achieved IA iegis-
| lation.
now administering tho government made
the following declaration: 1.-The men who
| abandoned the Republican party IN 1884
and continue to adhere to the Democratic
| party have deserted not only the cause OF
honest government, of sound finance, of
freedom and purity of the ballot, but espec-
| tally have deserted tine cause OF reform
In the civil seryics. We will not fall
| 10 Keep our pledges because they
| have broken theirs, or because their
| candidate has broken his. We there
fore repeat our declaration OF 1884, to wit:
| The reform Of heeivil service ,auspiclously
begun under tho Republican administration
should ba completed by the further extern
zion OF tho reform system already estab-
lished by law, to all grades Of the service
to which II Is applicable. The spirit and
purpose Of the reform should be observed
IN all executive appointments, and all laws
ut variance with the object of existing re-
form Legislation should be repealed to the
cad that the dangers 10 free Institutions
which Turk in the power of official patron
age. may BIO wisely and efrectually
voided.'"
The president elected upon that platform
declared In his letter OF acceptance: In
appointments to every grade and depart
ment fitness and NOT party service should
be the essential and diseriminatingt test and
fidelity and efficiency the only sure tenure
OF office. only the intarest Of the public
service should suggest removal from Of
flee."
1t is the duty OF the league to consider
how these solemn pledges have been full
filled.
The personal character, ability and ex-
perience and the unquestionable end fear
less devotion to reform OF the members Of
the Civil Service Commission appointed by
the administration and the support ac-
corded to them by the President deserve
the heattisst commentator. The admin
lstIation Of the reform law has been i'm.
proved by regulations making the eligible
lists public and permitting the appoint
ment upon local boards of members whose
tenure In the service Is independent of the
heads of the respective classified Offices.
The execution OF the law, however, Is
seriously endangered by the appointments,
with few exceptions, as heads OF offices
within the classified service, OF men who
are not In sympathy with the law or Its
purposes but who are In many cases Its
open or secret enemies. A brief necessary
delay IN the preparation of eligible lists BY
the Civil Service Commission was improved
to sweep out OF the railway mail service
hundreds OF employees regardless OF eff.
cheney and into their vacancies we're hurried
hundreds OF partlsans of the administers
tlon With but subordinate regard to
their fitness. In the civil service generally
the President seems In great measure TO
have abdicated his constitutional power OF
appointment by placing the appointments
al the disposal of partisan leaders, thus
enabling them to debauch constituents and
control elections. Thus the pledge OF the
President that fitness and not party service
should ba the sole discriminating test OF
: appointment is disregarded.
An equally fragrant violation OF pledges
Is the removal Of thousands OIL public
officers, especially IN the postal service, fol
| aSnbRtullU
/ men trained by years OF faithful service
and universally recognized to be peculiarly
fitted for their several positions, and whose
only fault was their upwillingness to seeb
the favor OF influential politicians by sub
ordinating to their interests thos'
! cesses OF the spoils system whereby
Its injustice and cruelty are strikingly
! illustrated the league records Its unqualt
1ed protest. The league also expresses
its regret the refusal OF the President tc
| extend the civil services examinations to the
, census bureau. inasmuch as the proper dis
charge of the duties OF that bureau impera
, lively demands entire freedom from par
tisan spirit.
The league renews It's earnest declaration
/ of the wisdom of q repeal OF the four years
laws which are the fruitful service OF poll
teal removals. When the power OF re-
moval Is unrestricted 1t IL OF the hlghes
held to the responsibility which accom-
. panies authority and that every incentive
othe arbitrary exercise of authority shoulC
I be destroyed. To stimulate tho ofticia
l sense OF this responsibility the league re
oommends to Its constituent association!
: the widest publication Of the details OF re
!, movals that the public may be fully in
formed Of any case In which its service
5 may be made suhservient.
! The league renews Its Recommendation
that public officers entrusted with powe
of appointment and removal should be re
j., quired by executive order to place upoi
Z public record all appointments, removal
4 aud designations, and the reasons 10
> every removal made by them; and II
: appointing officers, when IN their dtscre
tion they do not select those raseI
' highest upon the eligible list pre-
a sented to them, should be require,
8 In each case to file their reasons for sucl
action. While fully recognizing that tbs
absolute power Of removal must ba vestet
il In tho appointing power, subject only to
Q second discretion, the league holds tina
: the system OF making removals upon secra
charges or specified acts preferred by un
u known aecusers without opportunity 10
:. explanation or denial is inqulsitorial In Il
Z character, unjust In its results and like tn
n spells system itself, repugnant to the sptrl
Il OF American Institutions.
n The league warmly approves the ar
: peals to the clergy OF the United States I
:, commend to the psople the moral aspect @
i the questions OF reform, Tho promotion
!. OF public honesty and the stay Of increat
\ ing corruption are not political or partisa
Il questions; they are concerns OF the truea
patrloti-m, and the pulpit IL the discharR
8 OF its office OF applying eternal principle
n of morality TO human conduct and aid
! ing nations as well as individuals TO wal
in the right way may we'll demand Of th
q public conscience that specific and &C
n,,{t, ,of4f,o, tho hIyhas