New-York tribune., 1896-01-25
FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
MAYOR STRONG PRESIDES AT A MEET
ING AT SHERRY'S.
PRESIDENT LOW. COMMISSIONER wARING.
RANDOLPH ROBINSON AND HERBERT
WELSH ALSO SPEAK

RANDOLPH ROBINSON AND HERBERT
WELSH ALSO SPEAK
The cause of Civil Service Reform was pleaded by
an able array of speakers yesterday afternoon al
Sherry's before audience which crowded the
assemby-room The meeting was held under the
auspices Of the Womens Auxiliary. of the New
York Civil Service Reform Association. Mayor
Strong presided, and the other speakers were II.
Randolph Robinson. Civil Service Commissioner;
George f. Warlng, Commissioner OF Street Clean
ing: Herbert Welsh, Of Philadelphia, and Presi-
dent Seth Low. OF Columbia College Joseph H.
Choate was also expected to speak, but he was de-
tained by business in Washington Mrs Charles
Russell Lowell called the meeting to order, ana
introduced Mayor Strong as the presiding oficer OF
the afternoon. The Mayor said
1T Is with a great deal Of pleasure that am
here to-day to speak the interests Of Civil Ser
vice Reform. for am one Of Its warm friends ana
upholders. / shall try to give you. In few words
an idea OF some of the difficulties which the re-
formers have to encounter. and what an army OF
working against us
There are In New-York lfOo election districts
and thirty five Assembly districts. Each OF these
has a chairman of committee for the Repuoicah
and for the Democratic party within It's precihcts
Now after election. you see there are l45o persons
who, having been successful in their efforts, feel
obliged to reward their followers with the various
offices and appointments which they have prom
ised to them When your Mayor assumes office,
demands made upon him by two or three thou-
sand people who have worked for his election anu
unless he has been elected under the same circum-
stances your present Mayor was he feels com
PEELED to recognize them. There was only one way
to stop this state of affairs. and that was to make
the Civil Service take these appointments out OF
the hands OF the politicians. (Applause)
THE MAYOR FEARS THAT HE is UNPOPU-
LAR.
Il think that a large share OF the unpopularity.
which fear your present Mayor has Incurred. mas
been caused by his interest In Civil Service REFORM
But find II be almost the universal opinion that.
when a passes high in Civil Service sxamina-
tion. he proves TO be good man for the POSITION
(Applause) / am glad to be able to Introduce
70 Won one OF the Civil Service Commissioners. Mr. f..
Randolph Robinson who speak on this topic
with authority"
when a cause has the women of the State behind
IT," said Commissioner Robinson. 1T has the con-
science Of the State behind it. (Applause) am
heartily glad to find the women interested in this
matter. 1t has been suggested that, while you are
in sympathy with the work. there are doubtless
many OF you who are In need OF little more eX,
planation OF its purposes and details. have heaId
that there are who In spite Of their nvestga-
ons in books and maeazines and IN spite OF !t insr
inquiries from friends still somewhat IN me dark
and that even the omniscient Editor of The Evening
Post has failed 10 solve their difficulties Inc uti-
public business OF the United States that which Is
obtained In private busness-the services OF the most
in the principle at the head Of AFFAIR." 10 pui H., :.
spokesman to execute the civil Service law Is IKE
trusting Satan 10 enforce the DecaIogue.
TAMMANY SIMPLY A PIRATE
In referring to Tamnanys victory in lsss. and the
setback which it gave to the reform cause. the
speaker said: Now. need not tell you that Tam
many is not exactly Civil Service organization
Q.aughter) More II IS not even political one Il
Is piratical rather" After dwelling upon its dsas-
rous effects Commissioner Robinson announced that
1 eiu ne clean Or 1874 Things NAl
wonderfully for the better. lie expressed niSS
| gratitude for the support which the Mayor had
Herbert Welsh. o, Philadelphia. sad that there there
were two great obstacles In the way OF the neeGeu
reforms one the spos system ana 'he o'he'
the general indifference OF the pto2aei hetore Won
today In the somewhat unaccUs,omei position OF
/ an awful example Mr. Robinson maze SIC sl,sn ~
| mistake when ne sad that we Of the street lean
Ing IMPAIRMENT were under the civil service Tw ,
for we are law unto ourselves 1;aughteFo o,dd ~
doors OF the Department the Commiss oner aaaeu s w
hod b.en closed absolutely against all poEtc.ah'
seeking appointments for friehds
EX-MAYoR LOWS EXPERIENCE
President Low. whose entrance after the meetn'
had begun the occasion for round OF ap
plause was the last speaker He gave detale'
! account o, his difficulties with the spoi!s system
=, the beginning OF his administration as Mayor
Of Brooklyn. It was only by me exerclse o, ~, uL
varying rnness he said THAI he Vas ape ,,s, 10 max H.
/ served faithfully during his term Win nc 'esdi'
70 ,he ia' Womens Auxiliary OF the Civ Service Re
,n rmV 'snr,,fion was rgan!zed last November Al
the house OF bishop Potter. Its officers are Mrs
| William H. Schicffelin. president; Mrs NhaIIes II
fow@Il yice-pres.dent: Miss Margaret Chanier sec,
rotary aad Mrs. Winthrop C0wdin re dauSlis. n ~
~ "a shon Potter. treasurer. Mss NJ NlorSah M,rs
| Schurz and Mrs f + K!nnicutt are also on th'
| Managing Committee. -, Dr roh,
rfau Mrs Everett T. Wheeler Mrs. william Jay
scheren Mrs Janvgr L. D9c Mss scbyieT TyE Mrs.
! ~ parclav Parsons Professor Webb. OF ColumD'a
Colleee. MIR and Mrs James ;, Pnchot Mss
Eleanor Scheffen and MISS Oaroi'he i"ep'
Stokes