The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-12-19
OWL SERVICE REFORM.


s. Remarkable Progress Made.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The Civil
Service Reform league, at It's closing
session Friday evening, adopted the
following resolutions:
1. The past year has witnessed a
continuous and remarkable progress
in the civil service reform. It IL at
tested not only by the large extensions
made by the president TO the classi-
fed service, but by the appreciation
with which those extensions have
been received by the people.
The testimony Of the heads Of the de.
partments and departmental divisions
as TO the operation of the reform sys-
tenn in the conduct Of the public ser.
vice, 10 concurrent and more then ever
favorable, and the press, with few ex-
ceptions, have given to the movement
. support which indicates that in its
judgment the experimental period has
passed. There are unmistakable indi-
cations also that at least the char
acter Of the civil service reform
is being recognized in the great
cities Of the country and that any at
tempt to remedy the evils which affiict,
and to remove the scandals which dis
grace municipal life must be futile SO
long as its public service is in the
hands of such men. The magnificent,
popular victory in Chicago for civil
service reform is the herald of like VIC
tories in all the other great cities Of
the country.
2. The adoption by the state of New
York of constitutional amendment
giving to the competitive system the
sanction and security of the organic law
has been followed by marked improve
ment in the administration of the civil
service law in that state. Only an
honest recognition by appointing of.
ficers of their plain duty under the
constitution, in the appointment and re.
tention of suitable officials seems now
to be necessary, in order to give that
great state, with it's numerous cities,
thorough and harmoniously work.
ing system of appointments to offices
upon the ground of merit and fitness
alone.
8. The league commends the order Of
the postmaster general requiring that
no letter carrier shall be removed ex-
cept for cause and upon written
charges, and it urges the application
of a similar rule to other branches of
the classified service.
4. The league renews its demand for
the repeal of the law limiting to four
years the term of certain administra-
ton officers as unjust, impolitic, pro-
life source of Generalization and mis-
chief to the public service and to our
whole political life. and especially cal
culated to impair the bene ficent effects
of recent reforms "Merit appoint
ments must logically be accompanied
by merit tenure"
5. The league recommends that the
present law against soliciting contri-
buttons for political purposes from fed
eral employees be so amended 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.
g. The reforms in the federal and
state service already made, are in the
highest degree important and crafty
ing, but they are only part of the
work to be done. Municipal mal-ad-
ministration is the deepest disgrace
and one of the gravest dan
gers of the present time. The
great spoilsmen of to-day are
plundering our cities. Their power to
do so lies in their control of the offices;
their overthrow would be but sub
stitution for political influence of the
merit system as the test of appoint
ment to office. All municipal reforms
must be based upon civil service re-
form. We therefore urge upon all
seeking good government for our
cities the paramount Importance of Sc
curing the adoption herein of the mer.
it system of appointment
And we respectfully urge upon con.
gress the extension of the system by
law to the District of Columbia.
z. The league econgratulates the coun.
try upon the recent order of the presi.
dent authorizing the postmaster gen.
eral 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
employ therein, including the post.
masters of the branch offices, within
the classified service.
We trust that the authority con.
ferred by this order may be exercised
with energy and courage, SO that it
may receive prompt and general ap.
plication.
8. The league commends the order
of President Cleveland of September
20, 1895, concerning the mode of ap
pointing consular officers as an effort
to promote the efficiency of the service
and as recognition of the principle
that fitness and qualification should
control such appointments and promo.
tions
O. The league recommends that this
order be extended to all purely consu
lar officers whose compensation ex.
ceeds So, 500, and that it also includes
subordinate officers in the diplomatic
service.
TO- The league further recommends,
in order that the reform be enduring