Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-02
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Resolutions Passed by the National
League I'm philadelphia Today.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 2.-The National civil
service reform league met in Parlor c, Of the
Continental hotel this morning. The members
were little slow in arriving. and it was nearly
IL O'Clock before the doors were thrown open.
President George William Curtis announced
that the first business of the meeting was the
election of a president.
Charles j. Bonaparte was quickly on his feet
with motion that the present president be
declared elected by acciamation. When
President Curtis reminded the members
n1s.r. t1Ss the constitution 1at,aS required that
Bonaparte amended his motion by direct
ing the secretary of the league to cast the bal
lot OF the league for George William Curtis,
and this was carried without dissenting voice.
Mr.. Curtis thanked the league for the re-
newed expression of its confidence, and re-
marked that it was interesting to know that
the rule of a single term did not apply TO all
presidencies. 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 receipts
during the year Of S976.0S, and disbursements
s716.62, leaving q balance in the treasury Of
S259.46.
Sherman s. Rogers read
The Following Resolutions:
The resolutions, after recognizing the steady
advance of the reform sentiment in the public
mind quotes the civil service plank in the last
Presidents letter Of acceptance referring there
to, says:
1t is the duty of the league to consider
how these solemn pledges have been
fulfilled. The personal character, ability
and experience and the unquestionable
and fearless devotion to reform Of
the members Of the civil service commission
appointed by the administration. and the sup
port accorded to them by the President de-
serve the heartiest commendation.
The administration of the re-
form law has been improved by
regulations making the eligible lists public and
permitting the appointment upon local boards
OF members whose tenure in the service is in
dependent of the heads of the respective class
ihed offices.
The execution Of the Law, however. is se-
riously endangered by the appointment, with
few exceptions. as heads of Offices within the
classified service of men who are not in SYM
pathy with the law or Its purposes. but who are
III many cases Its open or secret enemies.
brief necessary delay in the preparation of
eligible lists by the civil service commission
was improved 10 sweep out of the railway
mail service hundreds OF employees, regard
less OF efficiency, and into their
vacancies we're hurried hundreds of partisans
of the administration with but a subordinate
regard to their fitness. In the civil service
generally the President seems in great meas.
ure TO have abdicated his constitu-
tionsl power of appointment by placing the
appointments at the disposal of partisan
leaders, thus enabling them TO debauch con-
sttuenoes and control elections. Thus the
pledge Of the President that fitness and not
party services should De the sole discr eliminating
test Of appointment is disregarded.
REMOVALS OF posTMAsrERs.
An equally fragrant violation of pledges is
the removal of thousands Of public officers, es-
pecially in the postal service, for mere parti-
san reasons, and especially Of men trained by
years Of faithful service and universally
recognized to be peculiarly fitted for
their several positions and whose only fault
was their unwillingness to seek the favor
of influential politicians by subordinating
to their interests those of the country.
Against these excesses OF the spoils
system, whereby its injustice and cruelty are
unqualified protest. The league also ex-
pressed its regret at the refusal
Of the president to extend the
civil service examinations to the census bureau,
inasmuch as the proper discharge OF the duties
of that bureau lmperatlyely demands entire
freedom from partisan spirit
A EEpEAL OF THE FOUR TEARS LAW
The league renews ii earnest declara tion q
the wisdom of a repeal of the four years laws
which are the fruitful source of political re-
moyals When the power Of removal 10
unrestricted it is of the highest
importance that every officer should be held
to the responsibility which accompanies au-
thority and that every incentive to the arbi-
trary exercise Of authority should be de-
stroyed.
To stimulate the official sense Of this re-
sposibiity the league recommends TO it's con-
stituent associations the widest publication Of
the details Of removals, that the public may be
fully informed OF any case in which its service
may be made subservient
z. The league renews its recommendation
that public officers entrusted with power Of APP
pointment and removals should be required BY
law or executive order to place upon public
record all appointments, removals and resgua-
tions and the reasons for every removal made by
them, and appointing officers, when in their
discretion they do not select those rated
highest upon the eligible list presented 70
them, should be required in each case 10 die
their reasons for such action.
During the discussion of the resolutions
Nessrs. Bonaparte, Potts and others warmly
denounced the present postal administration Tor
the disregard Of public interest IL has shown
in the Wholesale removals in the railway mail
service, charging that efficiency has been
wholly subordinsted 10 political considerations
Mr. Potts pointed out that during the entire
term Of Mr.. Clevelsnds administration
l. 999 changes had been made In that branch OF
the service. while In the seven months Of Mr..
Harrison's administrstion there have bssa ovse
z. 400 chaagsa