The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-12
REFORM LEAGUE.
Annual Business Session
Was Held Yesterday.
Carl SChurz REFLECTED President
of the Organization.
Praise Accorded President Cleveland and
Presldent'elect Mckinley.

ASAstA tAAN N%A9ADli CT NAlN dlAtilOoll otS
sion yesterday Of the National Civi
Service Reform league over one plank
In the resolutions when they were Of
fered by Chairman Bonaparte The
plank which caused the trouble was as
follows: THE ignomious and we'll
merited defeat of the Democratic party
at the polls at the recent election Is a
source of qualification"
There We're half dozen delegates on
their feet, scrambling for recognition be-
fore the last word was out of the speak
er's mouth. Colonel Ella of Chicago
asked that the paragraph be stricken
out, as he knew several persons who
voted for William j. Bryan for presl-
dent who We're In hearty accord with civil
service. N. III. Davis OF Cincinnati also
opposed the Objectionable plank. The
resolutions were f8llly referred back
to committee. and when they came be-
fore the convention again the obnoxious
paragraph had been stricken out. The
resolutions adopted are as follows:
j. The National Civil Service Reform
league, assembled I'm this, it's 18th annual
meeting. Is compelled to notice the fact
that during the past year, for the first
Time since its organization, its principles
were openly repudiated and a revival Of
discarded abuses threatened In the plat
form put forth by national convention
and In the public declarations OF a candi-
date for the presidency. The league cor
daily endorses the protest published
during the contest by its executive COM
mittee against these mischievous and
misleading utteranceS. IL congratulates
the country that the purpose thus fore
snadowed To undo thS good accom-
plished by persistent effort during a gen
eration's space has failed of consumma.
tion, and records its hope that 1t may be
called upon 20 meet no similar assault
in the future.
2. The league heartily congratulates
the country on the truly remarkable
progress of the reform under the second
administration of President Cleveland.
and especially during the past year. For
this great achievement, advancing, as Ii
does. the fundamental principles of free
government, President Cleveland de-
serves the sincere and heartfelt thanks
of all good citizens
3. The league recognizes in the preSi-
dent-electa a friend ociVil service reform,
who has rendered eminent service in the
past to our cause. His record assures all
other friends of the reform that il will
be his desire, as we'll as his duty, to end
what remains of the practice of using
party service.
4. The league congratulates the state
OF New York upon the recent classifica
tion of it's state and departmental serv
ice
5. The league observes, with peculiar
satisfaction, the remarkable increased
number and activity of the agencies
working for better government through
out the country.
6. The league renews its recommends
ton that the legislation requisite TO place
the municipal government and other
local offices of the District of Columbia
within the operation of the civil service
law be enacted.
Z. At its last annual meeting the
league heard, with pleasure, of the COM
mendable attempt of the postmaster
general to extend 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 measure held out
the promise of q considerable saving of
public money and marked increase i'm
mail facilities, besides applying the merit
system TO a portion of the public service
wherein its introduction is at once most
desirable and attended with serious diff
hculties. The league has since seen,
with regret and indignation, the prac-
teal Illustration OF this Judicious meas
ure through the selfish and unscrupulous
hostility of certain senators ard repre-
seatatives, n hostility cloaked under
various frivolous preteXts. but which
could be inspired only by desire To use
the public patronage as rewards for per-
sonal adherents or party workers. and it
urges upon congress that this eminently
practical reform be no longer delayed.
The session closed last night with n
ba anouet at the Hotel Walton, rendered
10 the National association by the Phila-
delphia branch. There were a number
of distinguished men present prominent
among whom were Secretary of Agri-
culture Morton, Carl Schurz, Mayor
Strsng of New York, President Francis
l.. Patton of Princeton university, Hon
John r. Proctor. Charles Bonaparte of
Bishop Cyrus d. Foss. Horace
f. Deming of New York, General Will
lam A. Aiken, Henry Willard OF New
Wheeler Charles Richardson, Dorman
r. Eaton. Lucius B. Swift. ID. G. Gilman.
Hon. ID. ID. Bruce, Dana Estes, Andrew
Fiske and Stuart Wood. Letters OF re-
gret were received from Postmaster
General Wilson and other eminent men
who were prevented from attending
Addresses were made by Secretary
Morton. Mayo Strong OF New York.
Colonel John X. Proctor of Kentucky,
Bishop Cyrus ID. Foss. Charles j. Bona
parte of Baltimore. Cyrus Il. Swift OF
Indiana anl others