Warren sheaf., 1896-12-17
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Officers Elected and Resolutions Adopted
by the National League.

Officers Elected and Resolutions Adopted
by the National League.
Philadelphia, Dec. l2.-rhe delegates
to the annual meeting of the National
Civic Service Reform league, which be-
gan Thursday in Hotel Walton, held 4
business session Friday morning. Pres
idcnt Schurz was in bad voice. and
Henry Hitchcock. of st. Louis, presided.
The officers elected were:
President, Carl schurz. New York:
vice presidents, Charles Francis Adams.
Boston: Augustus r. McDonough. New
York: Rt. Rev. Henry c.. Potter, New
York; ]. Hall Pleasant. Baltimore: Henry
Hitchcock. st. Louis: Henry G. Lea. Phila-
delphia: Franklin MacVeagh. Chicago;
William Potts, New York. and Archbishop
p. J. Ryan. Philadelphia.
Secretary McAnery read the report of
thccommittee on civil service extension;
Col. John r. Proctor, president of the
civil service commission. explained the
operations of the civil service among
government employees, and addresses
on civil service were made by C. B. Will
lis. of Cincinnati; w. E. Cushing, of
Cleveland; Rev. w. r. Lord, of st. Paul;
Henry Hitchcock, of st. Louis; Richard
Henry Dana. of Boston, and j. &. Thorp,
OF Madison. Wis.
Charles j. Bonaparte, of Baltimore,
chairman of the committee on resolu-
tions, presented the report of that body.
which was adopted after some changes.
A synopsis Of the resolutions follows:
They refer to the fact that for the first
time since the organization of the league
its principles were openly repudiated and
revival of discarded abuses threatened in
venon and in ey
candidate for the presidency, and ''con-
graduates the country that the purpose
thus foreshadowed to undo the good ac-
complished by persistent effort during
summation" Theleague congratulates the
country on the ''truly remarkable" prog
ress of reform under the second adminis-
trat1on OF President Cleveland, and espe-
cially during the past year, and declares
that for this great achievement, advanc-
OF free government, President Cleveland
deserves the sincere and heartfelt thanks
Of all good citizens" The league recognizes
In the president-elect a friend to civil-se1v-
ice reform, and urges that he adopt as soon
as may be practicable q plan which mas
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 president-elect that the
public interest would be advanced if no re-
movals were made Of fourth-class post
masters, except for cause, and it submits
the advisability Of extending the system of
registration of laborers to all departments.
At the afternoon session a number
of interesting papers were read, and the
meeting adjourned sine die. 1t is prob
able that the next annual meeting will
be held at Cincinnati. The place will
be selected by the executive committee.
A banquet was given the visiting dele
gates at night by the Pennsylvania as
sociation. Herbert Welsh, of Philadel-
phia, the president of the Pennsylvania
association, presided and number of
addresses were made by prominent per-
sons. .s