New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-17
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
CHARLES j. BONAPARTE, OF BALTI-
MORE, ADDRESSES THE WOMAN'S
AUXILIARY.
MUCH OPPOSITION. HE DECLARES. Is TRAcEABLr
TO THE FAILURE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
PRINCIPLE AND DETAII.-THE MORAL
ASPECTS DISCUSSED.

ASPECTS DISCUSSED.
M Charles J. Bonaparte. of Baltimore. addressed
the Womans Auxiliary OF the Civil Service Reform
Association and the League for Political Education
Yesterday afternoon in the Berkeley Lyceum' Oh
The Moral Aspects OF Civil Service Reform Mrs
Winthrop Cowdn occupied the chair. and before
Introducing the speaker said that she had recently
heard that the women OF the West were much III
terested in this reform, and glad the New
York women were taking it up and showing them
how TO further the interests of the cause
Mr. Bonapa-te began his address by asserting
that Civil Service reform was a moral question
about which all honest men who we're sufhclenty
Informed on the subject must think alike There
might be differences of opinion. he SAID regarding
the merits of competitive examinations DIS q means
Of determining ftne-s for ONCE or regard
ing other details of the present system. but those
details had nothing 10 DO with It's fundamental
nr,no,ules about which there could be no disagree
mon. A man might have doubts as to the adVis-
ability Of introducing the Australian Dahot system
into this country. but 1t is not therefore, 10 oe III
ferred that he did not see the crlminaiy Vi TAM
nar,np with the electorate. In Mr. Bonapartes
,ior much confusion OF mind results from
t,re m distinguish between the principle and the
do.ous and much opposition is uraceable 10 this
cause , /,
VIVA, the Civil Service reformers demand he
said il, that good faith and fair dealing be exer-
Used IN the Nations business. No one would thinh
- ,,,,,acing his own business in the manner as
W.
,,s managed that Of the country before TINS re-
forn, WAS instituted. If man were 10 MI up MS
.tore with employees whose only qualihcatIon Tor
choir respective places that they held opl'oAs
similar TO his own. ne would probably be IN
.ra,f-acket even before he reached the bankruptcy
,ourt. vet ne would only be doing as he pleased
with his own re would he regarded merely as
fool: but if his foreman. in ms absence "crc 10
do The same thing he would merit mucii "ol~r
nm. and this is precisely what Is done Dy every
man who puts his political adhcTents lHto pun
IL offices he might well give them Inc puDhc
'"ere ~ the strongest arguments in favor OF CiVl
Service reform continued the speaheI - , oilai
ma incurred the deadly cnmity or professional
rolIricians What bad men cordldlN detns Nius
Ly. some clement Of good IN II; II II wei Ioi tic
FORMERS 10 be hated by TammSny ana us ie-
publican allies. - - oe.oc,ad IN feel reea I'd
i'm, th. results OF Civil Service law nave becH
az ia he crolndlcss 10y its operation II ma
70 ,rd.rmined the Constitution OF endangered our
iiIer,ies vet their opposition continues, anu ui's
sh,,e that their arguments were u~eu IHti'9 I"
Hind he public and Themselves . .--.
a. an example Of opposition logic NJ. bohdl,dLI,e
o,oied the words OF Il prominent ponlcldn' VIZ
a. ~ ,i,ne he so expressed himself was a mem
be- ~ ,he National Senate The purhration CT p'I-
a.. 81, the opinion Of this publc-splriiec citlzc.:
- 49,, ..irfdcscent dream. and the Tnodcfn cant.
On 49,. s,,niec; ne found "fatiruins III the cKttmc.
r5s,e rond be no place In politics Tor inc Deca-
Id ar the Golden Rpe." and any artumenft 70
the contrary could proceed only from inc iiNo'o1'
VI I,nr',nar,c has been Identified with the ClVii
Ser. reform movement since us lnceptloi d'I1
- ,c,, = member OF the Executive committee Oh
tho < ,,ionaj civil Service Reform AssoclaUoh.