The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-09
SECRETARY TRACYS SOUND DOCTRINE.
Qualification To BE the Test for Navy
Yard Employees.
Good Speeches Made Before Enthu-
sIastIc Republicans.
One Thousand Persons at the Club
Dinner at the Hub.

DOSTON, Mass, April 6.-Ino largest pOL-
tlcal gathering of the kind held in Boston for
years, the first dinner of the Republican
Club Of Massachusetts, was held in Music
Hall this evening. Covers were laid for $40
besides the guests and speakers and, with
the spectators in the gallery. more than 1000
people were present. Most of the club men,
bers attended the business meeting In Bum
stead Hall. where Curtis Gould, Jr., reported
for the election committe and VIM. d. Sohier
for the executive committee. Adjournment
was then taken to the large hall where din
ner was served at 5 30. President Roger
Walcott sat at the middle of the head table.
On his right were Secretary B. +. Tracy,
Lieut.. Governor Halle. Hon. A. w. Beard,
Hon. Jas. III. Walker, w. E. Barrett. Con-
gressman Elijah A. Morse, ex-Gov. Oliver
Ames and Secretary j. o. Wardwell of the
Republican state committee. On the left at
Senator Nelson w. Aldrich of Rhode Island.
ex-Gov. Bracket, Postmaster Thos. N. Hart,
Congressman Lodge, President Henry FL.
Sprague Of the Massachusetts Senate, Con-
gresham Greenhalge, Chairman j. o. Bur-
deIte of the Republican state committee, and
Gen. Y. L. Banks. The dinner was finished
at $50 and precisely at z O'Clock, President
Roger WalcOtt rose to open the speaking.
He spoke for 20 minutes and his remarks
were received with great enthusiasm. When
President Walcott introduced Secretary
Tracy the latter was greeted with chreers.
Secretary Tracy said: ~ believe it is gen
orally conceded that this has been a working
rather than talking administration, and It
Is enough to know that, so far as personal
integrity is concerned, the record OF the
present administration has never been ex-
celled. Many of our political friends have
complained tnat the President moves too
slowly in making appointments to office.
Does not this record of absolute fidelity in
every position prove the wisdom of his eau
tl0n pOlicyY The speaker recognized as
the underlying power of this administration
sclentiousness OF purpose OF President Har-
ris0n. He also pointed with pride to the
able craftsmanship displayed by Secretary
Blaine In dealing with the important ques-
tions which have confronted him and paid
warm tribute TO the administration Of the
treasury department by the late Secretary
Window. There was much to be said of the
good work done in other departments. The
secretary denied that the appropriations OF
51st Congress were extravagant. They were
larger, 1t is true. than their predecessors but
an increased expenditure must inevitably re-
suit, so long as the country continues to
grow. Twelve millions Of increase for the
navy he deemed a judiclous appropriation
and necessary: He then gave detailed
statement of the work that had been done in
describing the various types Of vessels IL is
proposed TO build and pointing out their ad-
yantages. He expressed great faith in the
movement for the organization Of naval
militia In various states.
Referring to the employment of labor in
the navy yards, Secretary Tracy said that he
proposes to exclude political influence from
all connection Herewith. 1t is an ulcer on
the naval administration. The system he
proposes to adopt Is not yet complete in its
fol hnf mr. of1oo llx To-
tration board at each yard to register all ap-
plicants Tor employment as unskilled labor
eTs, to be selected as required, on the princi-
pie of first come first served, preference only
being given to those who have had expe-
or navy, and to those who have families.
Skilled laborers are to be certified in the
order of their application, with due regard
to their qualifications, and to be placed on
trial for period cf probation, to be ulti-
mately graded or discharged by their merits.
Said he: "And having begun in the way l
have indicated, do not propose to stop un-
Til the principle Of efficiency and worth Is
The only test OF navy yard employment.
am satisfied that such system will be in the
interest, not only Of the work but Of the
working men; that it can be carried out so
that it will remove not only all machine poll
tics from the navy yards, but all suspicion of
machine politics; that economy and efficiency
of the work will be promoted, while a COM
midst, instead of being the focus of local
political intrigue, is place for the employ
ment of body of Independent and self
respecting workingmen, whose only road to
promotion lies in good work, and in whom
slackness. incidence or bad habits will sure
ly lead to discharge. Whether the present
civil service law is the best that could be de-
vised to improve the civil service Of the
country, l do not know; but this do know
from personal observation in my own depart
ment, that persons appointed under this sys-
TEN are unquestionably more efficient, as a
whole, than those selected under any system
of pure patronage, and / know further that
no Republican charged with the responsible
ty Of administering one of the great execu-
tive departments of the government can
be true to himself and to the faith Of the
Republican party, or the people of this great
nation, whose servant he is, If he fails to
employ any and all means within his power
to elevate, purify and render more efficient
the civil service of the country"
Secretary Tracy was warmly applauded
throughout the speech and at its close, his
illusions to Secretary Blaine being the sig
nal for loud applause. Senator Aldrich
and Gen. Stewart L. Woodford also spoke.
Senator Aldrich referring to the position of
the Democratic party on the silver question.
He said: I'VE have President who has
would have stood between the Democratic
party and financial destruction. One Demo-
crat who has been President has written a
letter on that subject, but 1t remains to be
seen whether one man Is more powerful than
the whole organization. Ii reelected he
could not fail to carry out its request"