The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-18
IL-SERVICE REFORM
VIGOROUS RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.
President Mckinley Urged to Stand
Firm Against Those Who Seek TO
Weaken the Merit System.

CINCINNATI, Dec. 1.-THE National
Civil-service Reform League to-day re-
elected Carl Schurz president by acclama-
ton. The remainder of the officers selected
are as follows:
Vice Observation-Disclosures Francis Adams
Boston; Henry Hitchcock, ST. Louis; Henry
Charles Lea, Philadelphia; Augustus H.
MacdonOugh. New YORK; Franklin Mac
Veagn, Chicago; j. Hall Peasants, Bati-
more; Rt. Rev. Henry c. Potter, New York;
William Potts, New York; Rt. Rev. z. j.
Secretary-George McAneny, New York.
Treasurer-A. S. Frissell, New York.
Executive CommltteeICarl Scnurz; r5 ne"
ard Henry Dana, Boston; Sherman D.
Rogers, Buffalo; William A. Aiken, Nor
wien; Edward M. Shepard and William G.
Low, Br ,oklyn; Charles J. bonaparte Bal
timore; Everett =. Wheeler, Siias w. Burt,
edward Gary Charles Collins, Richard
Watson Glider, William Potts and Dorman
B. Eaton, New York Morrill, Wyman, jr,
Cambridge. Mass; William Dudley Foulke
Richmond. Ind; Lucius b; Swift lndian-
apolS Herbert Welsh and Charles Rich
ardson, Philadelphia; John W. Ella, Chi
cagO.
The report of the treasurer, A. S. Frissell,
of New York, showed: Receipts, $4,254.95
disbursements, $3,S7S.S2; balance on hand,
$376.13. The report of the committee on
resolutions, which reported through its
chairman, Charles ]. Bonaparte, of Balti-
more, was adopted as follows:
''First-The National Civil-service Reform
League, assembled in this, its seventeenth
annual meeting, reminds the country of the
specific and emphatic pledges OF the last
Republican national convention thoroughly
and honestly to enforce the present FEDERAL
civil-service law and to extend it's opera
ton wherever practicable. The league con-
fidently expects from the President, and
demands from every Republican senator
and representative, a faithful fulhllment of
this distinct and solemn pledge.
''Second-The league denounces any at
tempt on the part of Republican members
of either house of Congress to repeal the
law or embarrass its administration, or any
modification of its provisions, except to the
end that the merit system of selection for
public officers and employees may De eX-
tended, and personal or partisan favorltlsm
in their choice more thoroughly eradicated;
and declares such attempts not only uhPa,
triotic and unwise, but gross and shameful
breaches of party faith, of which no man
of honor would be guilty.
''Third-The league recognizes in the or
der of President Mckinley fOrbidding re-
movals in the classified service, unless for
good cause and after due notice to the per
son accused, a wise and just measure, fully
Endorsed by an enlightened public opinion,
and it demands for this order fair con-
StructiOn and practical enforcement, WIN
adequate punishment for any official VINO
may disobey seek to evade its provisions
"Fourth-The league respectfully urges on
the President and on those members or MS
Cabinet and of either house OF congress
who also desire to preserve and extend the
merit system of appointment IN the ,,ei,s
service the Importance OF an unHlncnlns
resistance to the impudent demands OF men
who wish it's destruction. Ine least COIL
cession to demands inspired by such MOVIES
will greatly encourage these men ana IN
crease their greedy clamor, while making
resistance to such pressure more diincult
in the future.
fact that in those States where the party
now dominant in the fedAral government
has sought in the resolutions OF its state
conventions to qualify or evade the I'M
euuivocal utterance of its national platform
as to ciVi-service reform, the results or the
late elections have clearly indicated its dis
approval of honest and patriotic citizens.
The league further recognizes with pleasure
the steady and rapid growth of sympathy
with its principles and purposes among en-
lightened and conscientious Americans or
''Sixth-The league Indignantly stigma
tizes the mendacity with which the enemies
of good government and pure politics, both
in and out of Congress, have miSrepre-
system and their persistent repetition OF
gross and ridiculous falsehoods, clearly and
frequently exposed. as insults at once TO the
intelligence and the conscience of the Amer
s'Seventh-The league demands that the
employees of the Census Bureau be selected
for merit and fitness. to be determined by
fair practical and thorough competitive
examinations under the direction of the
CiviI-service Commission. With the warn
ing example of the last census before It's
ewes il protests against any enactment
which may prevent impede such selec-
tion. as involving a scandalous waste OF
money and a sacrifice of the countrys in
terests 1t were better TO have no census
at all in 1900 than one taken by incompe-
tent or untrustworthy political proteges, Sc
lected according to the wel-known methods
of so-calIed practical politics.
"Fighth--The league renews its previous
declarations in favor OF the repeal of the
law prescribing four-year terms for many
federal Offices: the extension of the merit
system 10 the consular service ard the
municipal civil service of the District of
Columbia and the consolidation of outlying
with central postoffices. 1t expressly dis
claims any advocacy Of ciyil-service pen
sions as a part of the merit systems which
contemplates such pensions no more than
did the system of appointment and removal
by favor prevailing before the merit sys-
TEN was introduced; on the contrary, the
protection which assured tenure during
efficiency aif"'~'s to rublic servants should