Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-10-02
BROKEN PLEDGES.
How Has the Administration
Kept Its Promises?
ITS CIVIL SERVICE RECORD.
Platform Pledges Flagrantly Violated
by the Republican
Executive.
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatches to the iHERALD


PHILADELPHIA, October 1.-The Ma
tional Civil Service Reform League met
in annual session here today. Follow.
ing are extracts from the annual address
of it's President, Hon. George William
Curtis, of New York:
The speaker began with statement as
to the explicit pledges of the Republican
platform in the last National campaign
and the reiteration of those pledges by
President Harrison to preserve and ex-
tend civil service reform in letter and
spirit. Mr.. Curtis long address was
nearly all devoted to inquiry as to
whether or not those pledges had been
fulfilled. As signboard to show in
what direction he was going, the speaker
pointed out that during the first five
months of the present Administration
Assistant Postmaster General Clark
son removed fifteen thousand fourth
class postmasters, or more than
one-fourth of the entire list. He said it
is not an answer to say that civil service
reform was not favored by the majority
Of the people. The only way in which
the views of the majority can be known
is by the result of the election, and this
Administration was elected on platform
as distinctly pledged to civil service re-.
form as to protective tariff. Whether
or not it is the wish of the majority, it is
certain that the Chief Executive stands
'solemnly pledged to it.
The speaker then quotes from Admin
iGtration newspapers in various parts of
kI,o nd do IS 10 nv1t
for reform in the civil service touches
nifcant silence, in various recent Repub-
lican gatherings and conventions, and
finds that eminent members of the party,
official and otherwise, openly spurn such
reform. Even in the Cabinet there are
members who decline to give open ad-
herence to it. The address then contin-
uss as follows
"While this is the public sentiment of
the party as revealed in all the ordinary
methods, what is its executive actions
Does that conform to the platform prom
Use and the Presidents pledge? The
knowledge of every citizen in his own
community answers. The daily record
of the newspapers for seven months
answers. The general political proscrip-
ton policy which President Harri.
son, when Senator, defined
as the frank and bold, if
not brutal, method of turning
men and women out simply for politics
opinion, the clean sweep which is pro-
ceeding in the Postoffice Department; i
the alarm which pervades every branch
of service; the open, fragrant contempt
for public opinion, for private informa-
ton and for party promise, which was
shown in the appointment of the late
Commissioner of Pensions; executive
refusal to include the Census in
the civil service rules, and the
removal of public officers conspicuously
fitted by character, ability and ex-
perience, who have absolutely and con-
fessedly disregarded politics in their
devotion to official duty and public
service,-all these facts, and such as
these, answer this question. How has
executive action conformed to party
promise and the Presidents pledge :"
Further along he said:
"The President has selected an ad-
mirable Civil Service Commission every
member of it is sincere believer in the
necessity and practicability of reform,
and it's vigilance and vigor are the best
earnest of its effective service. He has
refused also to extend the time appointed
for including the railway mail service
within the rules, and he has authorized
the publication of eligible lists. Besides
these few executive acts, the signif-
canoe of which is destroyed by the gen.
eral executive course, there is little that
shows any effective party regard for the
resounding promises of the platform"
The speaker finds, however, that re-
form of the civil service is making
Roadway as sentiment among the peo-
pie. As with all progress worth fighting
for the contest is stubborn and resolute
delays and defeats are inevitable, but
temporary advance sure.