Los Angeles herald., 1890-10-03
fHE CIVIL SERVICE.
former Curtis and His Lit
tie Band.
lhey Do Not Want to Gather
Figs of .Thistles.
ther Do They Want the VictOrs to
MonOpolize the Spoils.
Spirit and Letter of the Law Grossly
Violated by the Present Admin
istration.
IS ciated Press Dispatches. |

GsS ciated Press Dispatches.l
osToN, Mass, Oct. AT the meet
in. of the general committee of the Ma
ioral Civil Service league to-dav, it was
ed to increase the executive commit
- by four, and Edward Carey, Charles
{ ins and William d. Foulke, of In
Ina, and Richard H. Dana, of Cam
.ge, were the new members elected.
a he business meeting there was fair
ndance of members and few spec
RS. Hon. George William Curtis was
aa nlmously chosen president for the
ling year.
harIes L. Bonaparte, of Baltimore,
fesi a paper on the Relation of Civil
Ss vice Reforms to Other Reforms" in
ch he said it is the function of civil
Sc rice reform to provide for all other
~ rms. To expect to get solutions to
81 problems as the tariff, currency
ar6 pension systems, from such men as
"a ke up the bulk OF either house of
ngIess, or to deal wisely with the labor
ard liquor questions, through such men
as make up our legislatures and city
ncils, is as irrational as to expect
fi2 from thistles.
long discussion was had upon the
opposition to print different papers,
some gentlemen taking exceptions to a
PORTION OF their contents, and objected
70 heir going on record, apparently as
be lg sanctioned by the association. A
gs )lution was finally adopted that the
executive committee be directed, in pre-
paying the papers for publication, to
p.e 6x a note that the league is not re-
eponsible for the views therein ex-
p ssed.
The committee on resolutions present.
cd lengthy report which was unani-
molsly adopted. The league congratu-
iotes tho country that the attempt to
llallify the reform law during the pres
ehL session was defeated in the house;
that the law was defended by distin-
gldshed members of both parties. The
league recognizes the fact that $4,000
piS,es in the public service are now
upon free and fair competition Of
1T alone, while Commissioner
'sevelt gives assurance that 92
2 cent OF the clerks so appointed un-
Ger the last administration have been
5e ined. 1t recalls with satisfaction
t action OF the attorney general in sus-
a ing the civil service commission the
s )cation OF an appointment made in
de ance OF the reform law, and the in
ment OF persons for receiving polit-
~ contributions, the explanation of
civil service commission before the
lg Sc committee, and congratulates the
ltry upon the choice of commission
by the present administration.
hile according the national admin
.tion the greatest credit for what
; advances have been made, the
league does notnecessarily remind the
country that pledges made by the sue
cessful partyat the last election have been
disregared, and the reform system has
not been extended. The spirit and the
purpose of the reform law has only not
been observed in all the exc
cutive departments, but often
violated. A law at variance
with reform legislation has not been
repealed, nor has there been any pro-
position for its repeal Against this
the league records an unqualified pro-
test.
The removal of postmasters for no
other cause than political opinions or
party affiliations, resulting in partisan
devastation of important branches of
the public service, is a breach of faith
with the country and grave offense
against pure politics and the interest
OF efficient public service. The impor-
tant duty of taking the census should
have been committed to officers selected
because of their fitness, and with no re-
gard to political or partisan consider
ations.
The league urges the friends of reform
10
on congress the repeal of laws prescrib-
ing fixed terms of Office, which were
designated to facilitate partisan changes
without the odlum OF express and pos
tive removal.
worst and most widely diffused abuses
proves the principles and objects of the
bill introduced in congress the present
session, to regulate the appointment of
fourth-class postmasters, by causing
their selection to be made upon business
principles.
In conclusion the league declares As
the necessity of reform was never more
urgent, the league will prosecute with
un1agging energy its appeal to that ma
tured opinion of the American people
which reforms every abuse which mem
aces 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 the distribution of
patronage, and said it seemed certain
that the delegates to the next Republi-
can convention would be pledged against
Harrison.
The convention adjourned to meet in
Buffalo next year.
At the closing banquet tonight, Mr..
Curtis made speech in which he said:
ut shows the healthy condition of the
public mind, that United States sena-
tor has been literally roasted for declar-
ing that morals and politics have no
connection, Power always intends to
intoxicate itself, and the hope Of reform
always rests in, the minority. Caesar
had his Brutus, Charms |. had his
Cromwell, and a majority crowned, may
in our country profit by these examples"
"a N ~ VI