Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-30
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Many Abuses That Need Cor
rectiOn,
The Reform League Holds It's
Annual Meeting.
''e ---
George william Curtis. Arraigns the
Administration. ~
Secretary Tracy Receives a Mced of
Observation-Disclosures PortePsN
Partisan Census Ripped
Up the Back.
Associated Press DISPATCHES.

BUFFALO, Sept. 20.--The National
Civil Service Reform league began its
annual meeting here today. In the
evening George William Curtis delivered
the annual address, which was APP
plauded, notably his commendation OF
Secretary Tracy's courageous reforms at
the navy yard. In summing up his re-
marks about the reforms in the navy
yards, Mr.. Curtis said
while General Tracy is secretary of
the navy there is no doubt that the ulcer
of the spoils will not thrive in the navy
yards. But when he retires will he have
extirpated its roots? His scheme is ad-
mirable and effective and it is based upon
sound principles OF reform. But it is only
his official regulation. It is not yet law
and with his successor the devils whom
the secretary has expelled may return.
If the rules of the civil service are to
be applied, as they certainly should be,
to the navy yards, is there any good
reason why they should not be applied
as in all other departments and as they
are applied in the clerical branch of the
navy department? 1t is a reform too
important to be left to the changing
sympathies Of successive secretaries, and
its inception and execution are SO inn
portant as to entitle Secretary Tracy to
the gratitude of the country while they
write his name high on the roll of prac-
tical reformers."
With reference to the civil service
records of Presidents Cleveland and
Harrison he said
president Cleveland, to whose per-
sonal interest while governor of New
York the passage Of the reform law in
this state was chiefly due, had demon
strated the sincerity of his purpose by
the appointment of state civil SER
vice commission, whose personal char
acter and ability and answering
fidelity to the cause were not only the
earnest of the honest observance OF
the law, but commended the reason
and the essential value of reform to the
sound judgment OF the state. AS presi-
dent, Mr.. Cleveland enlarged the
range of the classified service, revised
and Strengthened ttiGTuies oi the COIN
mission and sustained it in the firm
enforcement of the law. President
Harrison's selection of civil service COM
missioners, also, was in strict conform
ity to the spirit of the platform upon
which he was elected, and to his own
professions and pledges as candidate,
and he also has extended somewhat the
classified service.
but the moral obligation OF reform is
not limited to the classified service. Ii
its principles are sound they are as ap-
plicable to public offices employing for
ty-nine clerks as to those employing
fifty, and an administration which OBJ
serves the letter OF the law in appoint
ing the fifty, but makes spoils of the
forty-nine, is not civil service reform
administration, as man who gets
drunk occasionally, is not a temperate
man.
''It was doubtless in recognition OF
this truth, and to seem to conform to
the highest standard that the platform
OF the party of administration declared
that the spirit and purpose of reform
should be observed in all executive
appointments When, therefore, the
assistant postmaster-general endeared
himself to the administration by cutting
off official heads as fast as possible, he
violated the express pledge OF his party
to respect the spirit Of reform as much
as if, being soldier OF the union, he
had broken the orders OF the march and
disgraced his flag; and the president,
by tolerating such riot of contempt for
his own professions and for the promises
of his party, made all such promises
contemplate, and forfeited the claim of
his administration to be considered a
reform administration"