The morning call., 1890-10-03
General Committee Of the Ma
tional League in Session..
Hon. George William Curtis Unanimously
Reelected President.
a Paper Read by Charles ]. Bonaparte Of
Baltimore Report Of the Commit
tee on Resolutions. +.
Special to THE MoaNINa CALL.


General Committee Of the National Civil
Service League to-day it was voted 10 in
crease the Executive Committee by four,
and Edward Carey. Charles Collins and
William d. Foulke of Indiana and Richard
III. Dana of Cambridge were the new MEM
bers elected. At tho business meeting
there was fair attendance of members and
a lew spectators. Hon. George William
Curtis was unanimously chosen President
for.the ensuing year. Charles j. Bonaparte
of Baltimore read a paper on "The Rela-
tion of Civil Service Reform to Other Re-
forms,'' in which he said that it is the
function of the civil service reform to-
provide for all other reforms. To expect to
get solutions to such problems as the tariff,
currency and pension system offer from such
men as make up the bulk of either House of
Congress, or to deal wisely with the labor
and liquor questions through such men as
make up our Legislatures and City Councils,
is as irrational as to expect figs from thistles.
A long discussion was had upon PROPOSE
ton to print different papers, some gentle
men taking exceptions TO a portion OF their
contents, and objecting to their going on
record apparently as being sanctioned by the
association. A resolution was finally
adopted that the Executive Committee be
directed, in preparing papers for publica--
tion, to prefix note that the league is not
responsible for the views therein expressed.
The Committee on Resolutions presented
lengthy report, which was unanimously
adopted. The league congratulates the coun-
try that an attempt TO nGllify the reform
law during the present session was defeated
in the House: that the law was defehded
by distinguished members Of both parties.
The league recognizes the fact that $4,000
places in the public service are now filed
up on the free and fair competition of merit
alone, while Commissioner Roosevelt gives
the assurance that 90 per cent of the clerks
so appointed under the last administration
have been retained. II recalls with satisfac-
ton the action of the Attorney-G General,
sustaining the Civil Service Commission;
the revocation of appointments made
in defiance of the reform law.
and the Indictment of persons for
receiving poll tical contributions; commends
the explanation Of the Civil-service Com
mission before the House committee, and
congratnlates the country upon the choice
of Commission ers by the present Admins
tration. While according the National Ad-
ministraiion the greatest credit for what
ever advances have been made, the league
finds it necessary to remind the country
that pledges made by the successful party
at the last election have been disregarded;
the reform system has not been extended;
the spirit and purpose of reform has not
only not been obst rved in all the executive
al. I L..
variance with reform legislation have not
been repealed. nor has there been any
proposition for their rtp'al Against this
contempt of pledges the hague records an
unqualified protest. The removal of Post
masters for NO other cause than political
opinions or party affiliations, resulting in
the partisan devastation of an important
branch of public service, is a breach OF faith
with the country and a grave offense against
pure politics and the interest of efficient pub
lie service. The important duty of taking
the census should have been COM
cause of fitness and with no regard
to political or partisan considerations. The
league urges the friends of reform to press
upon public attention and on Congress the
repeal OF laws prescribing fixed terms OF
partisan changes without the odium OF ex-
press and positive removal. As measure
of relip4 from one of the worst and most
widely diffused abuses of the spoils system,
the league approves of the principles and
objects of the bill introduced in Congress at
the present session to regulate the appoint
ment of fourth-class Postmasters by causing
their selection to be made upon business
principles. In conclusion the league de-
clareS:-
AS the necessity for reform was never
more urgent the league will prosecute, with
unfagging energy its appeal to that matured
opinion of the American people which re-
forms every abuse that menaceS the welfare
of the republic:
Several association reports were read.
Mr. Bonaparte spoke of the complete de-
moralization of the Republican party in
Baltimore because Of its distribution OF pat
ronagc, and said it seemed certain that the
delegates to the next Republican Convention
will be pledged against Harrison. Adjourned
to meet in Buffalo next Year.
At the closing banquet tonight Mr.. Curtis
made a speech. in which he said: '.It shows
the healthy condition of the public mind
that member OF the United States Senate
has been literally roasted for declaring that
morals and politics have no connection.
Power always intends to intOXicate itself
and the hope of reform always rests in the
minority, Cesar had his Brutus, Charles
had his Cromwell, and we may in our coun-
try profit by their example"