The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-11
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
Discussed at the Meeting OF the
National League

PHlLADELPHIA, Dec. 10.-The an
maui meeting Of the National CiviI
service Reform League was bee1n at
the Hotel Walton today. The execu.
i've committee chose George A. Me
Anneny and A. s. Frissel. both of New
ork, secretary and treasurer, respec-
lively. After the appointment Of tha
Usual committees recess was taken
Tor lunch. The delegates ineIufIe
Theodore Roosevelt, of New York: N
II. Davis and C. B. Wilby. CINCINNATI:
A X. Alderman and Col J. w. Ella
1hlcago; L. Il. Swift, Indianapolis;
Itev w. r. Lord, ST. Paul, and Henry
Hitchcock. ST. Louis.
Rlchard Henry Dana. of the Boston
civil service, was the first speaker in
the afternoon. His topic was ''The Peo-
pie as Party Spoils.' He was followed
by Charles Richardson, Of this city,
who read a paper on "CiviI Service
Reform in Philadelphia" Hon. SiIa.s
Burt, Of New York. spoke on The
New System in New York" and Mr..
BoWker, of New York, read a paper
on Organizing Power of the
American People" Police Commits
sioner Roosevelt, of New York. was
the next speaker, and chose for his
brief remarks Results Of Reform In
the New York Police Department. He
was listened to with marked attention.
He said he had for twenty months
been trying to reform the New York
police, and had had a chance to test
once and for all the practicability of
the system of civil service reform. II
want to state with all the emphasis Of
which / am capable he added, ''that
not only is it the best practical system
TOR getting good results out of any
civil department, but the only one"
President Carl Sehurz delivered his
annual address to the association at
Musical Fund hall tonight. There was
a large attendance.
Mr.. Schurz compared the condition
of affairs as he asserted they had exist
ed before and since the adoption Of
the merit system and said: Surely,
our custom houses, postoffices, revenue
Offices navy yards and so on have
thoroughly ceased to be mere barracks
for the housing and feeding of the
JanisSaries of the ruling political
party, who are to be let loose on the
community as the exigencies of party
interest may require. This we owe al
together to the Introduction Of the
merit system"
He declared the spoils system suffer-
ed a double defeat in the last cleo
ton. In this connection, he referred
in complimentary manner to the
National Democrats, for whom the
struggle had no victory but the vic
tory of the cause which they believed
to be the cause of the national honor
and welfare,
Had he never done anything else to
advance it. the name Of President
Cleveland, said Mr. Schurz, would for
his order of May 6, which added more
than 10000 places to the classified SER
vice, forever stand pre-eninent in the
annals of the civil service reform
movement
The argumentative fight against
civil service reform had. it was assert
ed. very largely ceased. The demand
of the Chicago platform ''for fixed
terms of office" meant nothing else
than that not only the places hereto
fore usually changed with change of
party in power, but the classified SER
vice, too, should be thrown open to a
general spoils debauch every four
years-this demand was, in fact, selike
a mere war whoop of Goths and Van
dals preparing for the assault OF a
town and eager for the loot" The
dangers threatening civil service re-
form come no longer from open as
sault upon the merit system, but from
insidious attempts to destroy its sub
stance, while preserving its forms
Mr.. Schurz spoke of President-elect Nc
and said II the incomig administration wished
TO signalfze itself by some conspicuous ad-
vance OF the merit system. its ambition could
not permit itself to be satisfied with merely
adding to the competitive schedule a few
hundreds or thousands Of clerks 1t would
have to aim much higher. 1t would have
at least to accomplish the solution of the
postmaster problem, which was the next In
order.
Thanks to the executive order of May g."
ne added, "our cause won its Gettys-
burg under the leadership Of President CIeye-
land We have reason to hope that It win
win its Appomattox under the leadership Of
President Mckinley,
Officers for the ensuing year were elected as
follows: Secretary, George MeEnery; treas
urer, A. s. Grissell; executive committee.
Carl Schurz. chairman Presidents and vice
presidents will be chosen and the place of
holding the next meeting agreed upon To-
morrow.