Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-30
DIVORCED FROM roLrrlcs
Progress Made in the Reform Of the Public
Service

- WIG .sCAOEAAA - sHAO oOAsC
Service.
The National Civil Service Reform League is
In session at Buffalo. Mr.. George William
Curtis. its president last night delivered his
annual address. After reviewing the work of
the league since its organization at Newport in
August 1881, Mr.. Curtis said: "The enforce
ment OF the law through the commission by
the three Presidents who have served since its
passage has been honest and honorable. 1t is
certain that neither Of them has struck at re-
form by entrusting the execution Of the law to
its enemies. They have not adopted, indeed,
all the progressive recommendations of the
commission, but political pressure for the prac
tical betrayal of its work, or for the dismissal
OF any actively aggressive commissioner, has
peen manfully resisted by them.
PLEDGES VIOLATED.
''The moral obligation of reform, as have
said, is not limited to the classified service. II
its principles are sound they are as applicable
to public Offices employing forty nine clerks as
to those employing fifty, and an administration
ing the fifty, but makes spoils of the forty mine
Is not civil service reform administration, as
man who gets drunk occasionally il not tenn
perate man.
OFFICE HOLDERS IN POLITICS.
"By the express direction of President Hayes
and by the known desire Of President Cleve-
land the immediate control Of caucuses and
conventions by office holders was greatly di-
minished during the last few years. But in the
state convention Of the administration party
this year in New York, where in other years, I
nave seen the collector of the port Of New York
In person openly directing the Hotes of his
subordinates, the Office holding force again ap-
peared, and the chief figure in the convention
OF the party whose national platform demands
that the reform shall be extended to every
branch OF the service, and its spirit observed in
every appointment, was that chief state agent
OF spoils, who gaiiy proclaims that public OIL
GERS endear themselves to him not by fidelity
or efficiency, but by violation of their party
pledges and by making the public service party
plumber The appointment of the late collector
OF New York was distinct violat ton OF the
ecutive pledge that the spirit and the purpose
OF reform should be observed in all executive
appointments
The address praises Secretary Tracy's snc-
eess1ui efforts In excluding politics from the
labor system of the navy yards. as also the
Offices.
After referring to 1.-THE usual attempt made
In Congress by members of both parties to
starve and paralyZe the civil service commits
sion, which was briskly and ably resisted also
Dy members Of both parties" the address con-
cludes:
Tho political pirates are at last driven to
show the black flag and deiantly to declare
that at every election the whole public service
In every detail, with all its emoluments and OPP
portunities, shall be made the prize of vast
struggle OF greed and intrigue, of bribery and
dishonesty of every kind, all inhamed to fury
business which is not political shall be kept
free from politics. and shah be transacted upon
the simple principles which are approved by
universal private experience"