Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-13
Address of Carl ,IiSchurz Before thu
Civil Service Reform League.
EVILS OF THE SPgLSSYSTEM SHOWN
A Monarchy on a Small Scale De-
veIoped in the Republic.
MR.. EDSON'S INTRODUCTION

at Metzerott Hall on the ccasion Of the
public meeting of the Civil Service Reform
League. On the stage were number OF
the more active and prominent delegates
to the fifteenth annual convention, men
who have long held a firm position on the
subject OF civil service reform. The prin-
cipal address of the evening was delivered
by Mr.. Carl Schurz, eX-Secretary OF the
Interior, the president of the league.
MIR. EdsOn's Introduction.
Mr.. SchurZ was introduced in brief but
happy address by Mr. John Joy Edison,
who, as chairman of the local committee,
has done much to make the meeting a
great success. He spoke of the work Of
the local Civil Service Reform Association,
saying i'll the course of his address:
1T is quite singular that notWlthstand-
ing there have been fifteen annual meet
ings of the league, not until within the
last two years has there been civil Ser
vice Reform Association, composed OIL CIT
liens outside of government officials, at
the capital. Washington should nave been
one of the first to lead off in such move
lnent. Our citizens occupy probably the
best positions for acquiring knowledge OF
the practical working of the civil service:
They have seen in full blast the 'spoils'
system, and the improvements made and
steadily progressing with the merit sys-
TEN under the civil service law. Those VINO
have lived at the capital for the past
thirty or forty years have witnessed the
changes step by step from the one system
to the other through the various admins
trations, and fully realize the wonderful
improvements in the civil service and the
beneficial effect upon the social and busl-
ness interests of Washington. In olden
times the citizens of Washington We're
about as anxious concerning changes of
administration and sweeping removals as
were the officials themselves.
Under the present law and the Jules
power of removal cannot make diSmssalS
for the reason that the employees refuse to
make contributions for political purposes
or for lack OF support politically to their
superior officers; yet when removals are
made no reasons are required to be assigned
therefor, and the officer keeps his reasons
in his own mind and keeping. Who does
not believe that the reasons in an officials
own mind and keeping are more fire.
quently the very reasons prohibited by
law. namely, lack of political contributions
or political support of superior officers?
This is immoral and wrong. Our Wash
ington association has determined that it
will exert it's influence and efforts to Sc
curing such change of the civil service
rules as will require, iQ, case of removals.
the reasons to be stated in writing, and
confirmed or dsprovea upon proper inquiry
by authorized officers. We believe that APP
pointments when made should be made not
to any particular bureau or department,
but to the civil service of the United
States. At present when in one bureau 1t
Is found necessary to reduce the force for
want of work. experienced men are turned
out, while in another bureau where an in
crease in force is needed new men are APP
poin tied. 4
THE Washington association has one
other and important object to work for,
namely, to secure the necessary legislation
to bring the municipal government of
this we have the efsneSt cooperation of
law and the rules of the civil service. In
this we have the earnest cooperation of
the honorable Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia LITTLE is required IN
machinery or expense. to. accomplish this
result. The expense would be nominal
only to cover the blanks or stationery
qured. Never before has the United
States civil service commission been work
ing more effectually in carrying out the
law and more in accord with the different
departments of the government
Ladies' and gentlemen, l now have the
pleasure Of introducing to you one well
known to the city Of Washington. and
known throughout the country for his pa
triotism and devotion to this great work,
Hon. Carl Schurz."
Mr.. Carl Schurz's Address.
Mr.. Schurz began his address by express
ing the satisfaction he felt at greeting the
fifteenth annual meeting of the league, and
by referring to the evidences of the growth
Of the national government in the magni
tude and scope of its functions, correspond
ing to the multiplication of the public and
private interests that come into contact
with it.
According to present appearances" he
said, the time is not very distant when
majority of the American people will be
congregated In towns. Altogether, We can
not close our eyes to the fact that in some
important respects we are approach hing the
social conditions of the old world. 1t Is true,
we still observe striking and essential differ
ences, but they are gradually growing less.
There are certain propositions so self-evi-
dent and so easily understood that it would
tn hon, he
fore persons of intelligence. Such a one it
is that as the functions of government grow
In extent, Importance and completely the
necessity grows of their being administered
not only with honesty, but also with trained
ability and knowledge, and that in the same
measure as this necessity is disregarded in
a democratic government, the success and
the stability of democratic institutions will
be impaired. But while every sane man ac-
cepts this proposition as sef-evident in
theory, it may be said that every opponent
of civil service reform denies it in practice
and, l regret to add, good many men
deny it in practice who would object to be-
ing called opponents of civil service reform.
Monarchy on n Small Scale.
1.-The appearance among us of American
men and women who have fallen in love
with the spendor Of monarchical courts,
and who also please themselves by Imagi-
native limitations of aristocratic society,
has, from time to time called forth in
democracy of the American republic will
not eventually be turned into a monarchy.
I am convinced that, If there be any such
danger at all in store for us, 1t will not
come from such lotteries of weak minds and
impotent ambitions: but It might arise eth
er from failure Of democratic government
to afford the necessary protection to indi-
v:dual rights, to property, to public order
and safety, so that society would turn for
that protection to a strong man, or from
democratic government becoming an instru-
ment of private cupidity and falling into
looking for plunder.o +
There has actually been such a mon
archy on small SCALE in existence among
many of my hearers. We have witnessed
in the greatest city Of the United States one
man welding the powersiof municipal gov
eminent like a monarchs. in some respects
like an absolute monarch, TOO. Standing
at the head of pretended political organi-
zation ruled by him with autocratic power,