Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-15
CARR scnuRz on nEronM.
Believes in the Beautiful Theory OF
Civil Reform.

Chicago, Dec. 14.--Carl Schurz, ex-
senator Of the United States, secretary
Of the interior In President Hayes cab
met and president of the National
Civil Service Reform league, is In the
city to attend the Eleventh annual
convention of the league. Schurz be-
gan his labor in the reform OF the civil
service. the elimination of partisan
parties from clerkships, as soon as he
had laid aside the sword with which he
fought for the Union He was one of
the original band which took up the
question during President Grants adj
minlstratlon. He fought for Ii while
senator from Missouri and he was the
first cabinet officer to make practical
application Of non-partisan rules In his
department.
Carl Schurz was intima.el associated
with the pioneers of this fight. He
aided the first commission app iinted by
President Grant, and of which joseph
Medill and George William Curtis were
members, In every possible way When
the league absorbed the various or
saniaztions in the country he cast his
lot with 1t and heartily supported Mr..
Curtis, Its FIRST president, who con-
tinucd in office while he lived. Tie
opinion Of Schurz, therefore, in the past
present and f4ture Of civil service re-
form must carry with 1t the weight Of
twenty-five years experience and la
Dor.
To the question as to when the agi-
tatIon was begun, General Schurz re-
Piled last night. ut began soon after
the war closed. Indeed, during Grants
second term the old association had
made such progress that the expe l.
ment OF appointing commission was
decided upon. Little good was accAm-
plished at first because Grants party
refused TO pass the bills for the appro-
priations, without which the commis-
sion could do nothing. Mr.. Curtis and
Mr.. Medill were members of this COM
mission but seeing the Republican par
~ was opposed to the merit rule and
stuck to the spells system, these two
gentlemen resigned. However, the
idea had taken root and has been grow
ing ever since.
when l was made secretary of the
interior by President Hayes l put the
system In force in my department. and
1t has never been out long since. The
first law divorcing federal clerks fron
partisan politics was passed In 1888.
Since then there have been several
laws put on the books. Hcient. in
my judgment, II honestly enforced. 10
cover almost every branch Of the SER
vice"
rs II not a fact that the system has
been so extended that there is little
left to do In Federal affalrs?"
BY no means. While the rules have
been greatly extended, there is still
even more to do Under the rules as
they exist at present chiefs OF divis-
Ions are not protected. Fourth-class
clerks are the highest whose appoint
ments are governed by the civil ser
vice rules. The effect Of this Is to pre-
vent the competent clerk from aspiring
to division chiefs position.
He knows he is safe where he Is
and that he puts his head in the way of
tine ak II he goes any higher. This
not only deprives the government of the
services Of men best qualified to take
charge OF important posts. but II has
the bad effect OF sitting the ambition