The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-12

Grover. Cleveland Applauded for
His Efforts in Strengthen
ing the System.
Preside emit. Elect Mckinley Asked to
Select Officials Solely Upon
Merit.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Dec. 1.-THE
delegates TO the annual meeting of the
National Civil Service Reform League,
which began yesterday in the Hotel Wal
ton, held a business session this morning.
President Schurz was in bad voice, ana
Henry Hitchcock of st. Louis presided.
These officers were elected: President.
Carl Schurz of New York; presidents
Charles Francis Adams of Boston, Au-
gustus r. McDonough OF New York, Right
Rev. Henry c. Potter of New York, j. Hall
Pleasant of Baltimore, Henry Hitchcock
of ST. Louis, Henry G. Lease of Phila-
delphia, Franklin MacVeagh of Chicago,
William Potts OF New York and Arch
bishop Ryan of Philadelphia.
Secretary Acanery read the report OF the
committee on civil service extension, by
Colonel John r. Proctor, president of the
Civil Service Commission. which explained
the operations of the civil service among
Government employees. Addresses on civil
service were made by G. P. Willis of Gin
cinnati, w. f. Cushing of Cleveland, Rev.
w. R. Lord of st. Paul. Henry Hitchcock
of st. Louis, Richard Henry Simon of
Boston and j. G. Thorp of Madison, Wis.
a.
man of the committee on resolutions, pre-
scented the report of that body, which was
adopted after some changes. They refer
to the fact tina: for the first time since the
organization of the league its principles
were openly repudiated and a revival of
discarded abuses threatened in the plat
form put forth by a National convention
and in the public declarations of a candi-
date for the Presidency, and "congratu-
lates the country that the purpose thus
foreshadowed to undo the good accom-
plished by persistent effort during gen.
eration's space has failed of consumma-
tion."
The league congratulates the country on
the truly remarkable progress of the
reform under the second administration
of President Cleveland and especially
during the past year, and declares that
''for this great achievement, advancing as
it does the fundamental principles of free
government, President Cleveland deserves
the sincere and heartfelt thanks of all
good citizens"
The league recognizes in the President
eject friend 10 Civil service reform and
urges that he adopt as soon as practica BILE
plan which may enable him to base his
nominations for non-political Presidential
offices, such as postmasters and consuls,
upon ascertained fitness and efficiency,
regardless of party or other affiliations.
The league further suggests to the Presi-
dent-elect that the public interest would
be advanced if no removals were made OF
fourth class postmasters except for cause,
and it submits the advisa bility of extend
ing the system of registration of laborers
to all departments. This concluded the
work OF the business session
This afternoon these papers were read:
1.-THE Relation OF Women to the Civil
service Reform Movement" by Mrs.
Charles Russell Lowell; "Civilservice
Reform in the West" Colonel J. w. Ella,
Chicago; -Four Years Tenure" Lucius
B. Swift, Indianapolis; "Clvil-service Re-
form in the Constitution of New York
State" Hon. s. A. Rogers, Buffalo; "Civil
Service Commission Essential to Civil-
service Reform Hon. Dorman B. Easton,
New York.
After the reading of the papers, the
meeting adjourned sine die. 1t is proba-
BILE that the next annual meeting will be
held at Cincinnati. The place Will be Sc
lected by the executive committee.
A banquet was given the visiting dele
gates tonight by the Pennsylvania Asso-
ciation. Herbert WEIGH, the president of
the Pennsylvania Association, presided,
and number of addresses were made by
prominent persons.