New-York tribune., 1896-12-11
CIVIL SERVICE VICTORIES.
GREAT PROGRESS OF REFORM IN THE
LAST YEAR
ADDRESSES OF CARL sCHURZ AND OTHERS AT
TIE ANIMAL MEETING OF TIE LEAGUE IN
Observation-Disclosures PAID TO
THE ATTITUDE AND WORK OF

iif- ANNUAL. MEETING OF TIE LEAGUE IN
PHIIADELPIIIA--TRIBUTEs PAID TO
THE ATTITUDE AND WORK OF
MAJOR MKINLEY
Philadelphia. Dec io-The annual meeting of the
National Civil Service Reform League began here
to-day In the Hotel Walton, and will close to-mor
row night when a banquet will be rendered to the
visiting delegates by the Pennsylvania association.
prominent men from various parts of the country
are In attendance The members Of the General
Committee and the Executive Committee OF the
League met this morning in secret session and out
lined the proceedings OF the meeting. The business
session OF the League will be held tomorrow
morning. when a president and vice-pres!dens Will
be elected and various reports and resolutions will
be presented
ADDRESS OF CARL SCHURZ
Carl Schurz. Of New-York. delivered his annual
address tonight at meeting in Musical Fund
Hall. lie said In part:
The year which has elapsed since our last annual
o the ss of % erSce S1
The recent election campaign has served to exhibit
and ar SSr sSmS me- OF sr s a
wrought IN our political life. and to expose in their
superions whc the H1 re refoar1 has hnG
and md, in some measure. still hts to overcome
only suspicious, event upo.. which may CON
srauate ,sn. , ourselves The hope expressed year
tension OF the classified service far as 1t could be
effected by Executive action alone. leave TO his sue
The executive order promulgated by him on May 6.
@ marks one Of the nd G most
ment This order added TO the classified service &c
the pen more than 10000 places. so that the number
OF positions in the National service placed under the
dent Arthur Twelve years. ago has has now risen TO
nearly 900co while the number Of excepted places In
less than SEQ That order provided for promotion
examina tions in all the departments. 1t put an enh
tons tic se as o those of chs Of division in the
ment departments, and Of deputies Of various sorts
reach OF party politics. and 1t dispersed the charm
by which places Of very ordnaGy G sort m wTne
ply calling them "confdental" That order con-
I ton Of T Civil Service rules which in the course Of
time had accumulated into simple. clear ana
eesiabIished SY the general principle that it is the
natural and normal status Of persons serving under
ment 10 be under the Civil Service rules-n other
words. that 1t shall not require special ediet 70
and treated being there unless exempted by
special edict.
PROGRESS IN THIS STATE AND CITY.
1t is not In the National service alone that we find
evidence OF gratifying progress. The establishment
and maintenance of the merit system in the various
State and municipal governments is next in i'm
por,ance The complete expulsion OF the spoils
spirit from the National service hardly be ex-
pesid SO long that t. spirit + kepi ana aTe unpa
ties: AS you are aware the ConstitutIoh& & Oh ,he ,h
Siase U Of he Grs merit IN the
service of the State and municipalities obligatory
rs .a here ts are such @ in that should
at have applied Itself TO ne task oi crcuh- cum
ily "f believe % without % the produson adsyiis But
Ssr qdses in n the as ,ne Of
construed the Civil Service section OF the consiitu.
o Ss, ,Se s nni
and that while the existing Clyii service s'a'ues @
be woS be so dged s .Ny IN IN the such
statutes TO pronounce az appoinIments naue % ih
competitive examination are practicable TO be II,
Th aGDn nas retn sy
VINO o had According to the Court OF Appeals been q
ssyH, sg o Tna he whom
attempted TO steal places dislike as much TO serve
dn dUr 1G'hek o the own POCKETS have
plan Of campaign OF mich M ns bs psA ovefnor Of
New-York mindful OF his constitutional obligations.
Sae SnH hayihs a bs ar Instructed the c
Service Commission TO prepare ioT ms cohsuerauo' t
Would carry into full effect the constitutional man
date construed by the courts Inc new elass,ra %
mugated by the Governor who by ,hs act & entitled
himself to that honor which public duty wei Pd, per-
ibis s the completest embodiment, of the Cyil Ser
strong has greatly extended ihe 0l nos
lions total number OF about l, anc sonn
ing the exceptions TO depuiles. hecIc'ai''o
and few professional places
,,xINrEy,s WORK FOR THE CAUSE
Tho partv which was victorious IN the late Ma |
t,onal election stands upon this platform: THE |
Civil Service law was placed upon the statute
books by the Republican party. which has always
susta aimed H. and renew our repeated deciara-
zion that It shall be thoroughly and honestly en-
,orced and extended wherever practicable" The |
p.ruhlican candidate Mr. Mckinley In his letter |
NJ ecceptance spoke thus: The pledge OF thee
Republican National Conxen,ion ,hat oSyb, our ana
Sonnstiv enforced and extended wherever prac-
is in Ksepng %1n yaa ns snd viii III be
fuilv observed. Our opponents decry these reforms
They apPsa 20 xnx ny 10 years OF agitation and
They encourage return TO methods OF parry Ia
WHICH experience has condemned and WHICH the |
people repeatedly disapproyea me Eepun and
ensirey % uniusthabe policy 1t w LII take .s no back TX;
sp bs Ss ds sSssSS" Ss public S
nor is this clear and emphatic declaration n |
mere mere pgt'"nS5U exprasses Mr McKnieys own honest
for 10 his n0n9r % ne sdi TO give ne he
cvil Service law hearty. and effective support;
he who in 1880 when some n nGRna1y Ei ns
Gained on the floor OF the House Of Representa.
10 sns any oss sns
he maintenance OF the Cvil Service Iaw er ana us
ment mental and its further appca tion to & the public ser,
vice The merit system Is hers Sha hm dob,s nere that
Stt@rs Mckinley meant what he said. and that he Is
%nnestly determined TO act. as President. accord
up underestimate neither the strength nor the cum
ming OF opponents But am neverthTess n,n rhs,
nav deh, skiIfuIly and stubbornly, but already
their cause is morally lost. The question Is only II
thev trht on how many dead and wounded they
.rili leave on the field and how many captivcs In
bur- lines civil Service reform has carried position
,stor nositon at first against apparently over
Hheming odds. and with each advance its force
hao groWn stronger and the resistance weaker:
ISmt Sestcrdav we were only handful, rdicued
and neglected To-day we count well-nigh the
,,,m ,nn,e Intelligence ard moral OF the Nation
" ~ an earnest ally Of our cause. do not say that
Tho contest is already ended. but ! do say that II
10 M Ioneer doubtful There were nearly two
~ ~ ,.,r,ar ionh Ce,tvsiurR and Appomattox But