Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-11
CIVIL SERVICE TALK
The District Reform Association Holds Its
Annual Meeting.
Mr.. Eckels' Stirring Speech-Ex-COm-
missioner Douglass and Rev.
Mackay Smith.

The Civil Service Reform Association OF
the District of Columbia, sixty strong,
with a hundred or more outsiders present,
held IT'S annual meeting last evening In
the assembly room of the Columbian Uni
versity. William B. Webb, ex-Commis-
sioner of the District presided Secretary
Julius Sterling Morton was expected to
make an address, but owing to sickness
was unable to be present, much to the evil
dent regret of the audience.
In his absence, Mr.. ]. H. Eckels. con-
troller of the currency, who had also been
slated for brief speech, extended his eff
fort somewhat with the generous hope of
filling the gap.
Mr.. Eckels' Speech.
Mr.. Eckels is not a fluent speaker, but
he is earnest and honest, two qualities that
go much farther with a civil service re-
form audience than the first. He said the
idea of good government had taken hold of
the people and come to stay. 1t was shown
in New York city, where the voter went to
the polls asking himself, not what sordid
advantage would come to him or to his
party, but what candidates would give the
public the best government.
1t was In obedience to this desire for
good government that republican mayor
was elected in that stronghold of democ-
racy. And while in New York this took
place without definite issue by party action
and without a distinct sponsorship on part
of the reform associations in Chicago the
municipal civil service was directly the
issue, and the Civil Service Reform Asso-
citation of that city was responsible for
the overwhelming triumph that occurred.
The sentiment that now lies behind the
reform movement is SO strong that 1t can
only go forward to greater success. II
submitted to the voters of the United
States now there would be an overwhelm-
ing majority in favor Of civil service re-
form. Mr.. Eckels was applauded again
and again as his clean-cut utterances came
in rapid and logical succession.
The Secretary's Report.
The annual report of the secretary, Mr..
Fred Siddons, was received with the heart
lest enthusiasm. His structures on the
Taylor incident were applauded loudly. He
said: "At the direction Of the executive
committee Of the association I inquired
into the charges against Taylor and learned
that most of them, If not ALL were we'll
founded, and SO reported to the commit
tee. Since then a revolving criminal action
for libel instituted by Taylor against the
colored publisher Of a local paper has been
tried and the public Of Washington thereby
given convincing evidence of the evil re-
suits following the application Of the spoils
system to public places. The gross scan
dals that have arisen in connection with
Taylor.s appointment to the office of record
er of deeds are the legitimate offspring of
the principles invoked in placing him in
that position.
"A committee of the association. in an
interview with the President toward the
close of the winter. urged immediate con-
sideration Of the report and recommended
tons OF the civil service commission re-
ferred to above, and which were made to
him last August. So far as is known,
however, the case has not yet been dis
posed of.
1T is much to be regretted that in this
ard other cases where charges of viola
tons of the civil service law have been
made by the officials who administer the
law there has not followed an immediate
consideration of them by the executive
authority. and where sustained that swift
punishment has not been melted out to the
offenders"
The report expressed the gratitude of
the association to the President for many
extensions of the system during the year.
and also to Secretaries Morton and ex-
Postmaster General Bissell for many evil
nent. The character of Mr.. Bissells sue
cessor promised all, said Mr.. Siddons, that
could be asked of any man in behalf of
the civil service. Upon the motion of Mr.
Edison the report was unanimously adopted
An Ex-COmmiHsiOner'sI Idea Of 1t.
Ex-Commissioner Douglass was intro
duced aud made brief speech full of in
terest to the audience. More than any
other thing. while re was District Com
missioner, the question of offices annoyed
and harassed the board He decided early
In his incumbency to refuse to put out
democrats because they differed from him