Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-30
.EITIL SERVICE REFORM.
The National League at Its Session
in Baltimore.
PASSES STRONG RESOLUTIONS,
COndsmning the Republican Party and President
Harrison for the Failure to Redeem the
Pledges TO Institute Civil Ser
vice Reform.

BALTIMORE, April Z9.-lne annual HleoI'
ing of the National Civil Service Reform
League has brought TO this city represen
tative body of perhaps the most distin-
guished citizens of the country who con-
Germ themselves with the publication and
perfection OF the civil service. The hrst
general business session OF the League was
held this forenoon in the parlors OF the
! Lyceum Theatre. The papers were READ
as follows:
The application the reform system to
our public laborers,r by Charles Theodore
| Russell, Jr., of Massachusetts.
1.-The Postmaster; method of appoint
ment; term and tenure" by Il. Francis
Wood.
George William Curtis was reelected
President of the National League with
great enthusiasm and entire unanlmlty.
The afternoon session was called 10
order at 2:30. A letter from Mr.. VIM.
Dudley Foulke of Indiana, to President
Harrison of date December 20, and the
answer of President Harrison thereto were
read.
Mr. Foulke in his letter said:
1.-The civil service reform act designated
postofficeS and custom houses having less
than fifty employees as offices to which the
system is applicable by providing for its
extension to these places whenever so or
dered by you. The declaration OF platform
could have no meaning if it did not refer
to such offices. The able civil service
commissioners appointed by you have re-
peatedly urged that this system be extend
| cd TO postofices having twenty-five en-
ploves or more-yet, during nearly three
| years of your term, you have not made it.
President Harrison wrote in reply under
date December 81, 1891
al have not time this morning TO discuss
at any length the question which you pre-
sent or TO attempt any re- statement OF what
have attempted to do in the promotion of
civil service reform movements since l have
| been here My thought was that the
/ first thing TO do was TO satisfy
the country that the law was
being faithfully and impartially admins
tered as to these offices already classified.
| I think great deal has been accomplished
/ in that direction, and there has been an inn
portant extension of the classified service.
| The subject presented by you, as well as
some other suggested movements, has been
having and Will have my consideration,
| but l am not prepared to announce any pro-
gramme. Very truly yours,
! GSigned BENJAMIN HARRISON.
The report OF the Committee on Reso-
lutionS was read by Carl Schurz and
was adopted. 1t says:
The present administration entered upon
/ it's duties with unprecedented promises
/ from its party OF thorough reform by eX-
/ tending the reformed system to all grades
! of the service to which it was applicable
\ bv observing the spirit of the reform in all
| executive appointments and by repeating
all laws at variance with the objects pro-
posed by reform legislation.
To fulfill these extraordinary pledges
the President has appointed an admirable
commission which has enforced the re-
louirements of the law, and has awakened
\ i'm the southern States confidence in its
honest operations Of that equities OF APP
pointmenIS may be equalized among all
| States and has every where stimulated a
wholesome apprehension.
Much has been accomplished for reform
/ by the force of public opinion, by the tidel-
itv of the Civil Service Commission and by
the action of the Secretary of the Navy
during the this administration, but the sol
emn promises of the Republican platform
of 1883 have been broken. the volun-
tarv pledges Of the President are
united and the claim Of the
Republican party, as the party OF civil
service reform is not sustained by the
course of the administration and against
this gross breach of plighted faith with the
people OF Tue OullCu oAdAOo biiO ANoNiOhoi
| Civil Service Reform League earnestly pro-
tests.
In the discussion which preceded the
adoption OF the report Mr.. Dorman b.
Eaton suggested that it include SEN
tence stating that the League com
mend President Harrison, because in
the appointment of the nine new
United States Judges he had named
two Democrats. Discussion wazed
warm when Mr.. Schurz offered as d
substitute for the original amendme
that 1.-The Presidents judicial appoint
ments are a sign Of progress in the
right direction" This was adopted.
The following Vice Presidents were
elected:
Charles Francis Adams, Henry Hitch
cock. John Jaw, Franklin Macveagh, Right
Rev. Henry c. Potter, Henry. c. Lea,
Right Rev. Stephen Y. Ryan, Augustus
Marlborough and S. T. Wallis.