The San Francisco call., 1895-12-14
That Alone Recommended as a
Guide for the Tenure of
Federal Employees.
EXTENSION OF THE SERVICE.
President Cleveland Complimented for
His Suggestions as to the
Consular Offices.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 13.-The
Civil Service Reform League, at its closing
session this evening, adopted the following
resolutions;
First-The past year has witnessed a con-
tinued and remarkable progress in the civil
service reform. 1t is attested not only by the
large extensions made by the President to the
classified service, but by the appreciation with
which this extension has been received by the
people.
Second-Only an honest recognition by the
appointing officers OF their plain duty under
the constitution in the appointment and reten-
tion OF suitable officials seems now to be neces-
sary in order to give the State of New York,
with its numerous cities, a thorough and har-
moniously working system of appointment to
office upon the ground OF merit and fitness
alone.
Third-The league commends the order of
the PostmaSter-General requiring that no let
ter-carriers shall be removed except for cause
and upon written charges, and it urges the ap-
plieation of similar rule to other branches OF
The classified service.
Fourth-The league renews its demand for
the repeal of the law limiting to four years the
term OF certain administration officers un-
just, impolitic, prolific source of demoraliza-
ton and mischief to the public service and to
our whole political life and especially calcu-
lated TO impair the beneficent effects of recent
reforms. Merit appointments must logically
be accompanied by merit tenure.
FIfth-The league recommends that the pres
ent law against soliciting contributions for
political purposes from Federal employees be so
amended as to prohibit such solicitations in
any manner or place, and that the Civil Service
Commission be given the power TO compel the
attendance OF witnesses and to put them upon
oath or affirmation.
Sixth-The reforms in the Federal and State
service already made are in the highest degree
important and gratifying, but they are only a
part OF the work to be done Municipal malad-
ministration is the deep disgrace and one of
the graYest dangers OF the present time. All
municipal reforms must be based upon civil
service reform.
Seventh-The league congratulates the coun-
try upon the recent order of the President ar-
thorizing the Postmaster-Generalt to consolidate
with the principal Offices the smaller ones sur
rounding them so as TO make the latter mere
branch offices and to place all persons employed
therein, including the Postmasters of these
branch offices, within the classified service.
Eighth-The league commends the order of
President Cleveland of September 20, 1895,
concerning the mode of appointing consular
officers as an effort to promote the efficiency of
he service, and as a recognition of the princi-
pie that fitness and qualification should control
such appointments and promotions.
Ninth-The league recommends that this
order be extended to all purely consular officers
whose compensation exceeds $25O0, and that it
also include subordinate offices in the diplo-
matte service.
Tenth = The league further recommends
in order that the reform be enduring
that this executive order may not meet the
same fate similar exep11five ordarc Of Q6e
and 1873, that a suitable law be enacted by
Congress embodying these reforms and also
that such law provide, so far as possible for
competitive examinations TO be conducted, at
least in part, by members OF the Civil Service
Commission.
A letter was read from Collector James
I. Kilbreth OF the port of New York sug-
gesting that action be taken by the league
looking toward the extension of the civil
service rules to deputy collectors of customs.
About 200 persons attended the recep-
ton given at the Arlington Hotel tonight
to the officers and delegates of the National
Civil Service Reform League. The COM
pany included many of the most prom
inent personages in Washington. After
the levee collation. was served. Several
speeches were made in the course of the
evening, the principal topic being Civil
Service Reform
Among those who spoke were Mr.. Bona
parte of Baltimore, Mr.. Foulke of Indiana,
Colonel Rogers of Buffalo, Everett T.
Wheeler of New York, Comptroller of the
Currency Eckels, Secretary of Agriculture
Morton, and John Joy Edison.
Rev. DR.. McKay-Smith of st. Johns
Episcopal Church was the master of cere-
monies, and was introduced by Mr.. Ed
son, president of the local branch of the
league