The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-14
ernment Employees.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-The Ma
tional Civil Service Reform League to-
day elected the following officers: Pres
ident, Carl Schurz; Vice-Presidents-
Charles Francis Adams of Boston, Au-
gust X. McDonough of New York,
Henry c.. Potter of New York, ]. Hill
Pleasant of Baltimore, Henry Hitch
cock of st. Louis, Henry C. Lea of
Philadelphia, Franklin McVeagh of
Chicago, Right Rev. c. Ryan of Buff
falo, and William Potts of Farming
ton.
The report of the official committee
on extension entered into details re-
garding the recommendations con-
tanned in the recent order of President
Cleveland extending the civil service
rules. The committee recommended
that applicants for positions in the Dip
lOmatic service be given a fair and open
examination under the Civil Service
Commission, thereby relieving the ap-
pointing power of the temptation to
have men it desires pass the eXamina-
tion unfairly. The report was adopted.
The report of the Committee on Leg
islation recommended the preparation
OF bills looking to the betterment of
civil service and it was agreed to.
The Committee on the District of Co
lumbia recommended that the govern
ment of the District be placed under
civil service rules, and it was adopted.
The league at its closing session this
evening adopted the following resolu-
tions:
First-The past year has witnessed
continued and remarkable progress
in the civil service reform. 1t is attested
not only by the large extensions made
by the President to the classified serv-
ice, but by the appreciation with which
these extensions have been received by
the people.
Second-Only an honest recognition
by the appointing officers of their plain
duty under the Constitution in the ap-
pointment and retention of suitable OIL
Gals seems now to be necessary in or
der to give the State of New York, with
its numerous cities, a thorough and har-
nlOniously working system of appoint
ment to offices upon the ground of
merit and fitness alone.
Third-The league commendS the or
der of the General requir-
ing that no letter carrier shall be re-
moved except for cause and upon writ
ten charges, and it urges the applica-
tion of similar rule to other branches
OF the classified service.
Fourth-The league renews its de-
mand for the repeal of the law limiting
TO four years the term of certain Off
GERS as unjust, prolific source of de-
moralization and mischief to the public
service and to our whole political life,
and especially calculated to impair the
beneficent effects of recent reforms.
Merit appointments must logically be
accompanied by merit tenure.
Fifth-The league recommends that
the present law against soliciting con-
tIibutions for political purposes from
Federal employees be so amnded as to
prohibit such solicitations in any man
ner or place, and that the Civil Service
Commission be given the power to com
pei 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-
mnistration is the deep disgrace and
one of the gravest dangers of the pres
ent time. All municipal reforms must
be based upon civil service reform
Seventh-The league congratulates
the country upon the recent order of
the President authorizing the PoStmas-
ter-General to consolidate with the
principal offices the smaller ones
surrounding 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 or
der of President Cleveland of Septem-
Der 20. 1895. concerning the mode of ap-
pointing consular officers as an effort
to promote the efficiency of the service,
and as a recognition of the principle
that fitness and qualification should
control such appointments and promo
tions.
Ninth-The league recommends that
this order be extended to all purely
consular officers whose compensation
exceeds 50, 800, and that it also include
subordinate officers in the diplomatic
service.
Tenth-The league further recon-
mends, in order that the reform be en-
during, that this executive order may
not meet the same fate as similar ex-
ecutive orders of 1866 and 1875, that
suitable law be enacted by Congress
embodying these reforms; and also that
such law provide so far as possible for
competitive examinations to be con-
Quoted at least in part, by members of
the Civil Service Commission.
A letter was read from Collector
James T. Kilbreth of the port of New
York suggesting that action be taken
by the league looking toward the ex-
tension of civil service rules to deputy
collectors of customs.
About 200 persons attended the re-
ception given at the Arlington Hotel
tonight to the officers and delegates
of the National Civil Service Reform
League. The company included many
of the most prominent personages in
Washington. After the levee, a COLA
tion was served.
Several speeches were made in the
coures Of the evening, the principal
topic being civil service reform.
Among those who spoke were Mr.. Bo-
naparte 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 Jay Edison.
Rev. DIR. Mckay Smith of st. Johns
Episcopal Church was the master of
ceremonies. and was introduced by
Mr. Edison, President of the local
branch of the league.
HOUSE COMMITTEES.