Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-12

I for president who were in hearty accord
/ with civil service reform. NJ II. Davis of
| Cincinnati also opposed the Objectionable
| plank The resolutions were finally referred
back to the committee, and when they came
before the convention again the obnoxious
/ paragraph had been stricken out. The reso-
lutlons adopted are as follows
I. The National Civil Service Reform
| Ioaguc, assembled I'm this its sixteenth an
nual meeting Is compelled to notice the
! fact that during the past year, for the
/ first time since its orsanizution It's prin-
/ cples were openly repudlated and re-
vival OF discarded abuses threatened in
! the platform put forth by a national con-
! vcntion and In the public declarations of
! a candidate for the presidency. The league
| cordially endorses the protest published
during the contest by It's executive com
mittec against these mischievous and mis-
leading uttCranCcS 1t ConCratuateS Itself
that the purpose thus furgshadOwed to undo
the good accomplished by persistent effort
during a gonCratiun's space have failed of
CCnsummation, and records its hopes that
, 1t may be called upon to meet no similar
resort In the future.
3 The league heartily congratulates the
country on the truly remarkable progress
OF the reform under the second admins
istration of President Cleveland and es-
recialiy during the past year, For this
great achievement, advancing as II does
the fundamental principles of free govern
mcnt, President Cleveland deserves the sin
2ens
3. The league recognizes in the president
elect friend to civil service reform, who
has rendered eminent service in the past
to our cause. His record assures all friends
of the reform that ii will be his desire as
Wen as his duty, to end what remains Of
ward personal or party service.
4. the league Congratulates the state of
Ncw York upon the recent classification
of its state and departmental service.
.. The league observes with peculiar sat
isfaction the remarkably increased number
and activity of the agencies working for
hn
try.
6. The league renews it's recommendations
that the legislation requisite to place the
municipal government and other local Of
fees of the District of Columbia within the
operation of the civil service law be en-
acted.
I. At it's last annual meeting the league
heard with pleasure of the commendable
attempt of the postmaster general to eX-
tend the benefits of the classified service
to many postmasters of smaller postofiices
by consolidating their offices with those of
the larger cities in the vicinity This meas
ure held out the promise of a considerable
saving of public money and a marked in
crease in mail facilities. beside applying the
merit system to a portion of the public
service wherein its Introduction is at once
most desirable and attended with serious
difficulties. The league has since seen with
regret and Indignation the practical frus-
tration of this judicious measure through
the selfish and INSCRIPTIONS hostility of
certain senators and representatives, a hos
tility cloakcd under various frivolous pre-
texts, but which could be inspired only by
desire to use the public patronage as
rewards for personal adherents or party
workers. and 1t urges upon congress that
TINS eminently practical reform be no longer
delayed
BANQUET CLOSES THE SESSION.
The session closed tonight with a banquet
at the Hotel Walton rendered to the national
association by the Philadelphia branch
There was a number of distinguished men
present, prominent among whom were: Sec
retary of Agriculture Morton, Carl Schurz
Mayor Strong OF New York, President Fran
els j. Patton of Princeton university Hon
John r. Proctor. Charles j. Bonapare of
Baltimore, Bishop Cyrus d. Foss, Horace Z.
Deming OF New York, General William A.
Aiken and Henry Willard. Letters of regret
were received from Postmaster General Will
son and others Herbert Welsh president of
the local branch, presided, and, after an
elaborate menu had been discussed intro
duced Secretary Morton. The secretary re-
ferred to President Cleveland as a "strong
civil service refOrmor," and spoke of the in
creased efficiency of his subordnates in the
Agricultural department as a result of the
classification of the service. Mayor Strong
told of the successful operation OF New
Yorks municipal civil service regulations
Colonel John r. Proctor of Kentucky, chair
man Of the National Civil Service commits
sion, spoke briefly of the work of the COM
mission. He told of one government official
who, under the old system of selection, had
Deen appointed to office upon the very high
est recommendations, but who was dis
missed for drunkenness after a short incum-
bency. Subsequent inquiry proved that in
his home city he had been a notorious
drunkard for ten years. Bishop Foss
Charles j, Bonaparte and Lucius B. Swift
OF indianapolis AGO spoke.