New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-14
CIVIL SERVICE VICTORIES
THE LEAGUE REVIEWS THE WORK OF
THE LAST YEAR.

GRATIFYING PROGRESS MADE IN THE EXTENSION
OF THE MERIT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
RECoMMENDED-THE PRESENT
OFFICERS REFLECTED.
Washington Dec. Is-The Civil Service Reform
League to-day reelected all its present officers
and approved the budget of rs Finance committee
ror the expenditure OF $500 during the ensuing
year The report Of the special Committee on EN-
tensions OF which Charles J. Bonaparte is CHAIR
man. showed a great number OF additions TO the
Classified service by order of President Cleveland.
and discussed considerable length the Executive
order concerning the consular service. The COM
n,iiiee agrees with Secretary Olneys letter 10 the
President on this subject, in which he says that
the order should be considered in no sense final
X exhaustive but rather mere step in the
right direction" But the committee IS OF the opin-
ion that mere Executive order OF this kind, which
could be ignored by a succeeding Administration.
REQUIRES legislative enactment, and the friends OF
civil Service Reform urged 10 press the
passage OF the Lodge and Morgan bills providing
for consular and diplomatic service reforms.
oscar : Straus eX-Mnister to Turkey. made a
verbal report on consular reform. not differing ma
t.rialiv in Its conclusions from that OF the EN-
tension Committee. The report OF the Committee
IN Resolutions provoked discussion, and ii was
os,poned until the afternoon session the delegates
taking a recess 1880 p. m. TO attend a luncheon
in their honor rendered by United States Ci'h
service Commissioner William c. Rice.
At the afternoon session papers were read by
Holman Justi Of Nashville, Tenn, on The state
OF civil Service Reform Sentiment in the South
C. j. Bonsparte. of Baltimore, on The Reign ana
overthrow OF an Ofice-hoding Oligarchy'; Her
bert Welsh oe Philadelphia. on The Interest OF
the Workingman in Civil Service Reform, ana
F. NJ CialIaudet of the Columbian Institution for
The Deaf and Dumb
The League at It's closing session TINS evening
adopted the following resolutions
T4 last sq s T W
attested not only by the large extensions maae pH
appreciation with which those extensions have been
received by the people. The testimony OF lhe heats
the operation of the reform system in the conduct
OF the public service is coneufrgnI anu anu xcenions
have given TO the movement support Whch IN,
dcate that in It's Judgment the expermenai period
that at last the character OF CNii service ne ~
form is being recognized in the great c1ties OF lhe
country, and that any attempt to remedy the eXiIs
which aifiic and 10 remove the scandals when uis
public service is in the hands OF spoilsmen. The
eryd 3to nSPs Is the serad Of IKE in ali
the other great cities OF the country VI,
constitutional amendment giving 10 he comPetii i've
has been followed by a marked improvement in the
administration Of the Civil Service law III that
State only an honest recognition by appointing
officers of their plain duty under the Constitution IN
the appointment and retention OF suitaoie o't hs
great State with its numerous cities thorough and
% %1on Se sTSEnd of merit and }nes alone
g. The League commends the order or the Posi-,
he removed except for cause and upon written
charges and it urges the G e f4ce
The League renews its demand for the appeal
OF the law limiting TO years the terms Of Ger
tain Administration officers unjust, impolitic
prolific of Decentralization ana nsciie 10 ,ri'
public service and TO our whole Politea me- anu
especially calculated TO impair the 6enecent eeGs5
Of recent reforms M h or 'eir1 must
The League recommends that the present Jaw
roses rom Federal employees be so amended as
10 prohibit such solicitations In any manner or
the power to compel the auendance of witnesses
1a tho 9 Put Pgo4m hsm in Hp2 se Fda and service
already made in the highest degree important
Work to BE- done Municipal maadmnisiration is
the deepest disgrace and one OF the gr1yess dangers
day are pundering our cities Their power over to 90
throw would be the substitution for political m
huence OF the merit system as the test OF ap,
be- based upon Civil Service Reform We therefore
1rge mon ali seeking good government for our
adoption therein of the merit system OF appoii,to
ment And we respectfully urge upon Congress the
extension OF this system BY Law 10 the District OF
The League congratuates the country upon
the recent order Of the President authorizng me
clpal postofices the smaller ones sur end
SO as to make the latter mere branch oices ; ana
the posmasteis OF these branch offices within the
classified service uS5 'na aerrised Win energy
and courage so that il may receive prompt and
general application. . r..,,.,,
s The League commends the order OF President
Cleveland OF September 90 lS95 concerning me
mode OF appointing consular officers as an enort TO
nromoe the efficiency OF the service and as rec0g-
hilton OF the principle that fitness and quallilcaton
ehof,i1 control such appointments ana promotions.
Q The League recommends that TINS orner De
extended TO all purely consular ofhcers whose cono
nonsafion exceeds $500, and that IL also lhciuue
subordinate officers in the diplomatic service. ,.r
The League further recommends, IN oIGtI
.ba, tho reform be enduring and TINS Executive
order may not meet the same fate as similar EAecu-
i've orders Of 1896 1872 and 1873, that suitable law
he enacted by Congress embcdying these REFORMS
ana aIso Thai such provide, so taf as possible
e. cnn,neti,fve examina tons, to be conducted al
ias, H., paTt bv members Of tine Civil Service COM
mission.
letter was read from Collector James !. hli-
.,t -, rho mart of New-York. suggesting trat
ac,on he taken by the League LOOKING loWaru 1Ie
extension OF the Civil Service rules 10 usputE ~
lec,ors of customs II referred 10 tie E1heVuu
10 iirge the matter on the PTesi-