The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-18
CIVIL SERVICE REFoRMERs.
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE ADOPTS
RESOLUTIONS.

RESOLUTIONS.
Carl Schurz Reelected President al
the League by AccInmatiOn-Faith tn
full FuIfiIIment of the Pledges OF
the Republican National Platform
Demanded OF Every Republican
senator and Representative in
COngress-League DenOunces Any
Attempt TO Repeal or Evade the
Law.
Cincinnati. Dec. 1.-THE National Civil
Service Reform League to-day reelected
Carl Schurz president by reclamation.
The report Of the committee on resolu-
tons which was reported through its
chairman, Charles \. Bonaparte Of Balu-
more. was adopted, as follows: THE Ma
tional Civil Service Reform League, as
sembled in seventeenth annual meeting,
reminds the convention of the specific and
emphatic pledges of the last republican
national convention to thoroughly and
honestly enforce the present federal civil
service law and to extend its operation
wherever practicable. The league conf
IDENTIFY expects from the President and de-
mands from every republican senator and
representative a faithful fulhllment Of
this distinct and solemn pledge.
"The league denounces any attempt on
the part Of the republican members Of
either house of congress to repeal the law
OF embarrass its administration, or any
notifications of its provisions, except to
the end that the merit system of selection
of public officers and employees may be
extended and personal or partisan favor
itism in the choice more thoroughly Grad
icated; and declares such attempts not
only unpatrotic and unwise, but gross and
shameful breaches OF party faith, of which
no man Of honor would be guilty.
THE league recognizes in the order OF
President Mckinley forbidding removals
in the classified service unless for good
cause and after due notice to the person
accused, a wise and just measure, fully
Endorsed by an enlightened public opin-
ion, and it demands for this order a fair
construction and a practical enforcement
with adequate punishment for any off
Gals who may disObey or seek to eyade
its provisions.
'The league respectfully urges upon the
President ard upon those members Of his
cabinet and of either house Of congress
WHO d4SD utSilt 10 preserve ana extend lHt
merit system Of appointment in the feder-
al service, the importance of an unfinch-
ing resistance to the impudent demands of
men who wish its destruction.
The league calls attention to the fact
that in those states where the party now
dominant in the federal government Has
sought In the resolutions of ats state con-
ventions TO qualify or evade the unequivo-
cal utterance of its national platform as to
civil service reform, the result a both the
late elections have clearly indicated the
disapproval Of honest and patriotic citi-
zens.
The league Indignantly stigmatized the
mendacity with which the enemies of good
government and pure politics, both in and
out of congress, have misrepresented the
practical working of the merit system, and
the repetition of gross and ridiculous false
hoods, clearly and frequently exposed, are
insults at once to the intelligence and the
conscience Of the American people.
The league demands that the employees
Of the census bureau be selected for merit
and fitness. 10 be determined by fair prac-
teal and thorough competitive examina-
tons under the direction of the civil SER
vice commission. II were better to have
no census at all in 1900 than one taken by
incompetent or untrustworthy political
proteges selected according to the well
known methods Of so-called practical poll
tics.
The league renews its previous deelara-
tons in favor of the repeal of the law pre-
scnDng four year terms for many federal
officers. the extension of merit system to
the consular service and the municipal
service in the District Of Columbia. and
the consolidation of outlying with central
pOstoffices."
At the afternoon session there was a
large attendance as the programme was
adapted to the public.
The municipal system in Ohio" was
presented by Judge Rufus B. Smith of the
superior court of Cincinnati. He said in
part: ut is believed by those who are in
sympathy with the purposes of this asso-
citation that the great underlying radical
cause OF the misgovernment of American
cities is their failure to recognize and an
ply the principles for which this associa-
ton contends, and that IL the people of
the large cities will recognize this fact
they will find in ii a solution of this vexed
and unsettled problem of municipal gov
eminent"
After the usual votes of thanks and
some general discussion the league ad-
Journed to meet next December in Boston.
The banquet at the st. Nicholas tonight
continued until near l o'clock. The prin-
cipal speeches in response to toasts were
made by Hon. Carl Schurz, j. r. GARFIELD
Herman r. Rogers of Buffalo. ]. w. Ella
OF Chicago, Lewis B. Guncskel of Dayton.
Charles J. Bonaparte of Baltimore and
Lawrence Maxwell of Cincinnati.
Judge w. H. Taft of the United States
court presided. There were 100 guests in
GLIDING all the members of the Hamilton
county delegation in the legislature, who
we're invited on the condition that their
presence should have no signifi&- nee. All
the speeches We're severe in criticism of
representative Grosvenor of Ohio and
Senator Deboe of Kentucky
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REVENUE CUTTER PATROL.