Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-17
SCHURZ REELECTED
Succeeds Himself as President of
National Civil Service League.
RINGINt1g RESOLUTIONS Al
ADOPTED
League Will Take No Back Step
On Merit System.
M'KINLEY IS EULOG1ZED


CINCINNATI, Ohio. December 1.-THE
National Civil Service Reform League to-
day reelected Carl Schurz president nv
reclamation. The remainder of the officers
as selected are as follows:
Vice presidents. Charles Francis Adams.
Boston; Henry Hitchcock St. Louis: Henry
Charies Lee, Philadelphia; Augustus R.
marlborough, New York; Franklin Mac
Feagn' chicago; ]. Hall Peasants, Balti-
more; Right Rev. Henry C. Potter, New
YORK. William Potts. New York; Right
rev. 2. J. Ryan, Philadelphia; secretary.
George McAneny. New York; treasurer.
A. s. Frissell. New York
Executive committeeman Schurz. New
york; chairman; Moorfeld Storey and Rich
ara Henry Dana. Boston; Sherman 8, Roy
ers, Buffalo; VIM. A. Aiken, Norwich: Ed
ward NJ Shepard and VIM. G. Low, Brook
1yh; Ch2s. j. Bonaparte, Baltimore; Everett
r. wheeler, Silas w. Burt, Edward Cary,
Potts and Dorman b. Eaton, New York:
MorriH Wyman. jr., Cambridge; VIM Dud-
ley Fouike, Richmond, Ind; Lucius B.
swift Indianapolis; Herbert Walsh and
Ella, Chicago.
Inc report of the treasurer, A. 8. Frissell
Of New York, showed: Receipts, A.2a.05:
sanissabursements, $3,S7sS2; balance on hand,
Resolutions Adopted.
The report Of the committee on resolu-
lions. which reported through its chairman,
Charles J. Bonaparte of Baltimore, was
adopted as follows:
%. National Civil Service Reform League
assembled in this its seventeenth annual
meeting, reminds the country Of the specific
ana emphatic pledges Of the last republican
ilatlonal convention thoroughly and honest
~ 70 enforce the present federal civil
service law. and to extend it's operation
Wherever practicable. The league conf
dently expects from the President and de-
mands from every republican senator and
representative a faithful fulfillment of this
distinct and solemn pledge.
". The league denounces any ATTEMPT
en- the part of republican members of either
house of Congress to repeal the law or
eihoarrass Its administration, or any modi-
ncauon of its provisions, except to the
end That the merit system of selection for
rubllc officers and employees may be ex-
tended, and personal or partisan fayorit-
Ism IN their choice more thoroughly eradi-
Cated; ana 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.
Presidents Order Commended,
3) Inc league recognizes in the order of
President Mckinley, forbidding removals in
the CLASSIFIED service unless for good cause
ana after due notice to the person accused,
a wise and just measure, fully Endorsed by
an enlightened public opinion, and It de-
mands for this order a fair construction
and practical enforcement, with adequate
punishment for any officials who may dis
obey or seek to evade it's provisions
O. The league respectfully urges upon
the President and upon those members of
his cabinet and of either house Of Con-
gress who also desire to preserve and ex-
tend the merit system of appointment in
the federaf service, the Importance of an
unf1inchin2 resistance to the impudent de-
/ mands of men who wish it's destruction.
The least concession to demands inspired
by such motives will greatly encourage
these men and increase their greedy
clamor. while making resistance to such
pressure more difficult in the future
(o). 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 it's state con-
ventions to qualify evade the uneauivo-
cal utterance of it's national platform as to
CIVIL service reform, the results of the late
elections have clearly indicated the disap-
prevail Of honest and patriotic citizens The
league further recognizes with pleasure the
steady and rapid growth Of sympathy with
It's principles and purposes among enlight-
classes.
Its Enemies Stigmatixed.
CO. The league Indignantly stigmatizes the
mendacity with which the enemies of good
Ssvernment and pure politics, both in and
at of Congress, have misrepresented the
practical working Of the merit system and
their persistent repetition of gross and RI
diculous falsehoods. clearly and frequently
exposed, as insults at once to the intell:-
genee and the conscience of the American
people.
90. The league demands that the en-
ployes of the census bureau be selected for
merit and fitness, to be determined by fair
practical and thorough competitive exam
nations under the direction Of the civil ser
vice commissioner. With the warning ex-
ample of the last census before its eyes, 1T
protests against any enactment which may
prevent or impede such selection, as in
volving a ScandalOus waste of money and
sacrifice of the country's interests 1t 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
politics.
FOur-Ycar Terms Unjust.
80. The league renews it's previous dec
larations in favor of the repeal of the law
prescribing four-year terms for many fed
Ell al offices. the extension of the merit sys-
tenn to the consular service and the NUM-
cpal civil service of the District of Column
bia. and the consolidation of outlying with
central post offices. 1t expressly disclaims
any advocacy of civil service pensions as
a part of the merit system, which contem-
plates such pensions no more than did the
system Of appointment and removal by
favor, prevailing before the merit system
was introduced; on the contrary, the pro-
lection which an assured tenure during eff
ficiency affords to public servants, should
enable them by the exercise of the frugal
ity and forethought displayed by all pru-
dent persons, to provide out of their cur
rent earnings for the ordinary contingent
cies and imirmities Of old age.
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