The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-03
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
THE SESSION OF THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE AT PHILADELPHIA.

Presidential Series Of Resolutions
Adopted Condemning the Present
Adm nistration for It's Attitude
Toward the Civil Service Reform
Rules
PHILADELPHIA, PA, Oct. 2.-The annual
meeting Of the Matt nal Civil S -rvice Re
form League begal here yesterday at the
Co tine tai hotel After the transaction CT
routine business, the visiting delegates sat
down to an informal banquet at the Colon
made hotel All of the leading spirits OF
civil service reform IN tue :, untrY were
present. The event of the eve ing was the
speech Of George William Curtis. 1t was
long aud was devoted wholly to the course
of the present administration with reference
to civil service refOrli.
The leagu to-day re- slected George VIII
lam Cults by reclamation to be preslden e.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Following are extracts from the resolu-
tons:
The National Civil Service Reform League
gladly recognizes the steady advance of the
reform S mt ment in the public mini and the
good resut is hlpply &C liev in legi station. The
national convention OF the aarty now 4 iinins
tering the government made the tollown :.
declaration Men who abandoned the Re
publican party in 1884 and continue to adhere
TO the Democratic party, havs deserted not
only the cause of honest government, OF sound
finance and of freedom aud purify OF the
ballot, but especia ly nav deserted the cause of
reform in the civil service We will not
fail TO keep our pledges because they have
broken theirs, or because their candidate has
broken his We therefore repeat our declara-
ton of SS4 to-wlt: Reform of the civil service
so auspiciously BEGUN under the republican ad-
ministration should be completed by further
extension of the reform system already estab-
lished by law to al grades of the service
to winch it is applicable applicable, sbo d39
be observed in all executive appoint
ments, a d all avs at variance with the
object of e existing reform legislation should
be repealed TO tue eod that the dangers to free
institutions, which lux in the power Of official
patronage, may be wisely and efectualy
avoided"
HARRISON QUOTED.
The President elected upon that platform de-
clared in his letter of acceptance: In appoint
ments to every grade and department fitness,
and MT party service, should be the essential
and discriminating test, and fidelity and efici-
ency the only CURE tenure of office. Only the
interest of the public service should suggest
removals from Office"
II is the duty OF the league to con-
slider how, these solemn pledges have
been fulfil ed. The personal character
ability and experience, a d unquestionable and
fearless devotion 10 reform Of tue members o.
the civil service commission appointed by the
by the President, deserve the heartiest comm n
dation. The admins ration of the reform law
has been improved by regulation making the
ell gibe lists public and permit ling the appoint
ment upon local boards of members WIN Sc
tenure in the service is independent of the
heads OF respective cassided officers.
LAX IN EXECUTION.
The execution OF the law, wever, is seriously
endangered by the appointments with few
ceptions, as the heads OF the fflces With the
classified service. OF men who are not in sym
pathy with the law Or its purp nses, but who
are in many cases. its open or secret enemies
Th brief neces AIRY delay in Inc preparation
of the eligible lists by tho civil service
commissio was improved To sweep out of the
railway mail service hundreds of employees,
regardless of eftic ncY; AMI into the vacancies
were hurried hundrs dS of partsans of the
administration, with but subordinate regard to
their fitness. In the civil service generally the
President seem in a gr at meas re to have abdi-
Gated his constitutional power of appointment
by placing appointments at the disposal of par
tisan leaders, thus enabl ng them to ieLauch
consttuenc S and control cleo ions. Thus the
pledge of the President that Mt ess and not
party services should be the lie discriminating
test of appointment is di>regarded
ANOTHER FLAGRANT VIOLATION
An equally fagrant violation of the pledges is
the remov al OF thousands OF pupl officers es-
pecially in tie postal service, for mere partisan
reasons, aud especially Of men trained by years
of faithful service, and universally recognized
to be peculiarly ftte for their several posi-
ness to seek the favor o. influential politicians
by subordinatiuG to their interests those OF the
country.
Against these excuses of the spoils system,
whereby this injustic AID cruelty are strikngly
illustrated the league records its unqualified
protest. The league ais Expresses its regret at
the refusal of the President to extend the civil
service examination TO the census burea mas
much a rope discharge of the duties Of
that bureau impera,ively demands entire free
dom rom partisanship.
The l ague renews it's earnest declaration of
the wisdom of the repeal of the four years laws,
which are fruitful source Of political removals.
When the power of removal is unrestricted 1t
is of the highest importance thai every officer
should be held to the responsibility which &C
companies his authority, and that every in
centiye to arbitrary exercise of authority should
be destroyed.
RECOMMENDATION.
To stimulate official sense of this responsible
ity, the league recommends to its constituent
associations the widest publication of the de-
tails Of the removals that the public may be
fully informed of any case in which its service
may be made subservient. T league renews
its recommendation that public officers in
trusted vita the power Of appointment
and removals should be required
place upon the public record all appointments
removals and designations and the reasons for
every removal made by them; and Apo nting
officers when in tne.r discretion they do not
select those rated highest upon the eligib
list present d to them o aid be required in
each case to file their reasons for such action
TOO ISoUIsIToRIAL.
While fully recognizing that absolute power
of removal must be vested in the appointing
power, subject only to some discre ion the
league holds that the system of making re.
nlovals upon secret char es of specified
acts, preferred by u'iknown accusers witnont
opportunity for explanation or denial is inquisi-
torial Units character, unjust in its results AMI
like the spoils syste n itself repugnant to the
spirit of American institutions.
hR ha
the clergy OF the United States TO com
mend to the people tire moral aspect
of the question of reform. The promotion
OF public honesty and the stay of I increa sipg
corruption are not political or partisan oues
tions. They are concerns Of truest patriotism.
and the pulpit in the discharge of its office of
applying eternal principles OF morality to hu-
man conduct, ami aiding nations as we'll as
individuals TO walk in the right way,
may we'll demand of the public conscience
ehat the specific and Acknowledged evils
affecting the highest public welfare shall be
speedily and effectively redressed.
During the discussion If tie resolutions
Mess S. Bonaparre, Potts and Others
warmly denounced the prese IT posta adj
ministratio for the d sregard of The pubic
Interests it has shown by wholesale re-
movals in the railway mail service, charging
that efficiency has been wholly ubqgdlnatel
to political consilerati ms. Mr.. Potts
pointed out that during the entire term Of
President Clevslan 3 administra ion .g99
changes had been made in Lhst branch Z