The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-13
And Josiah Quincy Comes in
for a Share.
PERFORMERS FOR OFFICE ONLY.
When the Admins tration Came Into
Power 1t Swept the Consular
Service Clean.


action of business at 1890 o'clock to-day
In the rooms of the Commerce Club. The
delegates arrived in large numbers this
morning and went at once to the Commerce
Club. The business session was quite pro-
tracted one and the visitors adjourned for
luncheon shortly after O'clock. A public
Meeting was held in the Commerce Club
al 2:30 O'Clock. The size of the audience
was limited only by the seating capacity
OF the parlors. Among the prominent
men who were present at the opening of
the convention were Carl Schurz, presi-
dent of the league; Richard n. Dana of
Boston. Henry Welch of New York.
Mayor Walbridge of st. Louis; William
A. Aiken of Connecticut Henry A. Rich
mond. ex-member of the Civil Service
Commission of New York: Charles j.
Bonaparte of Baltimore. Judge William
Dudley Foulke of Indianapolis, Charles
M. OBrien Of Cleveland. j. G. Alton of
j JAMESTOWN, n. Y. ard William Potts of
New York. Local cIvi! service reformers
wers largely represented at both meetings.
The gathering is an exceed ingly I'm
poriant Que, for 1t has br ought together
distinguished advocates of good govern
ment from all over the country and prac-
tical!y marks the reopening of a vigorous
civil service campaign throughout the land.
The evening session of the organization
was held in Central Music-hall. which was
packed to the doors. The principal feature
OF the evening was the speech of Hon. Carl
SchurZ. who spoke as follows:
The condition of things 10 be reformed is so
obviously unreasonable, so fagranty absurd
and vicious, that we should not believe it could
possibly exist among sensible people had we
not become accustomed 10 it's existence among
ourselves. The spells system, that practice
which turns public office, high and low. from
public trust into objects of prey and booty for
the victorious party, may.wlthout extravaganza
OF language, be called one OF the greatest
crimes In our history, if not the greatest. In
the whole catalogue of our ills there is none
more dangerous to the vitality of our free in
situations.
The observance of the four years. term law
by the President has most coDclusively demon
strated from the point OF view of the public in
terest the utter absurdify and vicousness of
the law Itself. MIR. Josiah Quincy, as First As
sistant Secretary of State, who had the con-
sular appointments in charge during the first
mouths of the present administration, MADE an
almost clean sweep OF that branch OF the SER
vice. When speaking of Mr.. Quincy's doings l
do not mean 10 ignore the Presidents RESPONSE
billy i'll authorizing what was done, but Mr..
Quincy, bearing the reputation CT reform
friend, was the effcial ADVISOR and became the
defender of it. l speak of him as such. / am
sure / do him no injustice when l say that in
order TO avoid the danger of following the ideas
of the advanced civil service refOrmers he fol-
lowed the practice of the most advanced spoils-
man. for no spokesman in Office has ever turned
over the consular service from one parry TO
the other with greater thoroughness and dis
patch.
Ii was naturally assumed that an admins
trati0n aspiring to the title OF a reform admins
tration would with regard to those places do
what in 1888 the Republican party pl dyed
the platform and its party 10 do. How PresI-
dent Harrison redeemed that clear ana en-
phatic pledge was at the time set forth by my
lamented predecessor-GeOrge William Curtis,
blessed be his mem0ry-in words to which, have
nothing 10 add. 1t was hoped President Cleve-
land would abstain from changes in the SER
vices not required by the public interests. but
that hope has not so far been fulfilled. The inter-
ference of members of Congress with the ap-
pointing power has been largely tolerated. 1t
must not be overlooked, however, that except
ing the headlong Oyerturning of the consular
service, the changes have on the whole been
less rapid that under the preceding admins
tratlon. The same may be said OF the appica.
tion of that rule by the Postmaster General to
fourth.class postmasters.
But the result of this proceeding If further
adhered TO, will. after all. before the close OF
the Presidential term. put all the offices con.
cerned into the hands of the party In power
But the end OF this admin iStration is not ye
and there are reasons for hoping that its sec
ond half Will be the most productive OF good
AS TO the observance of the civil service law In
the several Departments of the National Gov
ernment. the Treasury Department. under MIR.
Carlisle, has. regret to say, won an unenvi-
able distinction. Beginning with an act of
gross nepotism, his management has furnished
The strongest proof of the necessity of putting
| the chiefs of division under the civil service
| rules. In this respect the Treasury Depart
ment, under Mr.. Carlisle, has conspcuonsly
| fallen below the standard maintained by his
| predecessors since the enactment OF the civil
| service law
| In other departments very gratifying prog.
ress Is to be observed, especially In the Post
| offic9 department, which has been conducted
| by the Postmaster. General Mr.. Bissel as TO
the observance Of the law in manner entitled
to the highest credit. On the whole, it must in
| justice be said that its shortcomings, notwith-
| standing President Cleveland's second admin
istration, have materially advanced The reform
| cause
| In New York there has been a civil service
law on the statue-book covering the State as
well as the larger cities. 1t was enacted In
1883 under Mr.. Cleveland'S Governorshlp and
put into operation by him In good faith; but
The lamb was at the tender mercies of the wolf
while David b. Hill and Roswell P. Flower oc.
cupied the Governors chair. In New York
/ City it fell into the hands of Tammany Hall.
and need not describe the sport that band OF
! political sharpers made of Ii. The decalogue
itself would become farce If left for enforce-
menr to the devil.
| But the arch enemy of reform, David B. Hill.
now rests under a monumental mountain of
condemnlng votes. On the LIST of January
next Roswell p. Flower will cease 10 be Gov.
ernor of the State and Tammany rule will end
in the city of New York. And then the civil
service law, revived by the voice Of the people.
will also become living and beneficial force.
Lei the will OF the people b. done; let 1t be
done without a~needless delay, and let the
peoples President lead in doing it. Then no
more spols and plumber: no more removals not
required by public interest; no more appoint.
ments for partisan reasons.
! The address was very warmly received.
the speaker being interrupted at frequen I
intervals by enthusiastic applause.
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