The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-03
TIE CIVIL SERVICE
Reform League Discusses Some
Public Matters.
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS SPEAKS
On Minorities and Majorities-A Paper by
Charles j. Bonaparte- Patronage
is Running the Republicans.

eral committee of the National Civil Serv
ice league to-day it was voted to increase
the executive committee by four, and Ed
ward Carry, Charles Caldens and William
d. Foulke, OF Indiana, and Richard H
Dana, OF Cambridge, were the new mem
bers elected. AT the business meeting
there was fair attendance of members and
few spectators. Hon. George William
Curtis was unanimously chosen president
for the ensuing year
Charles j. Bonaparte, sof Baltimore.
read paper on Relation of Civil
Service Reform to Other Reforms, -
III which he said it is the func-
ton of civil service reform to
provide for all other reforms
70 expect to get solutions to such prob
lens as the tariff, currency and the pension
system offer from such men as make up the
bulk OF the houses of Congress, or to deal
wisely with the labor and liquor questions,
or such men as make up our legislature aud
city councils, is as irrational as to expect
figs from thistles.
a long discussion was had upon the
proposition to print the different papers,
some gentlemen taking exceptions to "a por-
ton of the contents and Directing to their
going on record apparently as being sane
toned by the association. A resolution
was finally adopted that the executive com
mittee be directed in preparing papers for
publication to prefix a note that the league
is not responsible for the view therein ex-
pressed.
The committee on resolutions presented
a lengthy report which was unanimously
adopted.
The league congratulates the country
! that the attempt to nullify the reform law
during the present session was defeated in
the House. That law was defended by
distinguished members of both parties.
The league recognizes the fact that 81, 900
places in the public service are now filled
upon free and fair competition by merit
alone, while Commissioner Roosevelt gives
| assurance that 90 per cent. of the clerks so
appointed under the last administration
have been retained. 1t recalls with salts
faction heaction of the attorney general in
sustaining the civil service commissions
| revocation of appointments made in defiance
OF reform law, and the Indictment of persons
Tor receiving political contributions. 1t
comments on the explanation of the civil
service commission before the House COM
mittee, and congratulates the country upon
the choice of commissioners by the present
administration. While according the ma
| tional administration the greatest credit
for whatever advances have been
made, the league finds it necessary
| to remind the country that the
| pledges made by the successful party
at the last election have been dis
regarded. The reform system has not been
extended The spirit and purpose of re-
| form not only have not been observed in all
the executive departments, but often VIC
| lated. Some laws are at variance with re-
form and legislation has not been repealed
nor mas there been any proposition for such
repeal.
The league records an unqualified protest
against the dismissal of posumasters for no
| other cause than political opinions or party
| affiliations resulting in partisan devasta-
ton OF an important breach of the public
service and Is a breach of faith with the
country and grave offense against pure
policies and interests affecting the public
service The Important duty of taking the
census should have been committed to an
| officer selected because of fitness, and with
no regard to policy or partisan considera-
lions. The league urges the friends of re
form to press upon public attention and on
Congress repeal of the laws pre-
scribing fixed terms of office which
were designed. to facilitate partisan
changes without the odlum of express and
| positive removal.
| AS measure of relief from one of the
worst and most widely diffused abuses of
the spoils system, the league approves the
principles and the objects of the bill intro
duced into 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 the
necessity OF reform; it was never more ur-
gent. The league will prosecute with IN
| tagging energy its appeal to that matured
| opinion OF the American people which re-
| forms every abuse that menaces the wei
| fare of the republic.
| Several reports were read MIR, Bona
parte spoke of the complete decentralization
| Of the Republican party because of the dis
tribution of patronage, and said it seemed
certain that the delegates to the next Re-
publican national convention would be
pledged against Harrison. Adjourned to
meet in Buffalo next year.
AT the closing banquet to ight Mr.. Curtis
made speech in which he said: ssIt
shows healthy condition of the public
mind that a United States Senator has
been literally roasted for declaring morals
and policies have no connection. Power
always tends to intoxicate itself, and so
the hope of reform always rests with the
minority. Caesar had his Brutus, Charles
the First had his Cromwell and the major
ity crowned may in this country, profit bv
their example"