The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-26
S;p'UlIlls SYSTEM EVILS.
IRwseat Civil Service Crisis Discussed
by Friends Of Reform.
President and Ex-Presidents
Criticised.
pisisguisAed Gathering at Banquet Of Massa
chusetts Association.

Boston, March 26. - THE Present
Crisis In Civil Service Reform was the
general topic of discussion at the meet
ang of the Massachusetts Reform club
In Youngs hotel last evening. There
was a large attendance. and President
George s. Hale presided.
About 100 members Of the club were
present, including Richard II. Dana, ].
J. Myers. Colonel Charles II. Goldman,
Archibald M. Howe and Hon. Edward
u. Haskell.
The President Of the United States, the
ex-presidents and several men prominent
in political affairs were criticised and
severely, too, at times. The speakers
Of the evening were Hon. Marriott
tBrosius. member Of congress from
Pennsylvania, and chairr an of the
house committee on civil service reform;
Lucius b. Swift Of Indianapolis, for
nleriy editor of The Civil Service Reform
Chronicle; Hon. Edward M. Shepard Of
BROOKLYN and Hon. Charles ]. Bona
parte OF Baltimore.
The first speaker was Congressman
Brosius, who devoted the greater part
cf his address to the recent attacks upon
civil service in congress. THE subject
~f the evening" began Mr. Brosius. mo
doubt refers to the quadrennial agita-
tion or the outburst which we have every
four years. particularly after there has
been q change In administration. Like
the custom of old, to serve bitter herbs
At q feast" the speaker continued, this
agitation and furry against civil SER
vice reform Is prevalent at the Capitol.
There is no crisis In this work Of reform.
You may as well say there is a crisis I'm
a mans life when he has a boil on his
arm or corn on his toe"
Mr.. Brosius here paid a tribute to
President Mckinley, who. he said.
stands like a stone wall to turn back
the food Of office seekers and patronage
purvey0rs. who stand like a swarm
about the White House today" The
congressman said the friends Of civil
service had two kinds Of men to deal
with In public life. those men who
thought there was no safety unless the
boiler was nearly empty, and those who
thought they were making no progress
unless the boiler was ready TO burst. He
Aeionged to the middle class, he added.
Mr.. Brosius contrasted the appointive
system In En- -land and that in this coun-
try. He said that In the former coun-
cry not more than 20 places could be
called a spoil after an election, and that
here the president had hardly time to
psrform the duties of his office the num-
Der OF applicants for onice was SO large.
why should system carrying on its
wings such immeasurable benefits" the
- peaker continued. produce such dis
lf/aktsfaotion? There are two sorts of
4 complaints. In some instances there
are serious grounds for complaints, as
she civil service system unhappily af-
fords an asylum for the spoils system
within the service. The party in power
sxtends favors to its own friends. The
next administration comes In, and IL a
change in political complexion puts in
les own men II possible. The extension
Of the competitive system is done to
cover friends Of the party in the as
cendancy. .ndor compels me to say
that the cha res I'm the last administra-
tion were too numerous not to have been
made for political reasons The re-
movais In the departmental service at
Washington amounted to 20 per cent of
the whole number from March 1s. 1893.
to June 5. 1896. Is per cent of the total
force resigned during that time. 43 per
cent were promoted, and Is per cent re-
duced. How many removals were due
TO the proper reduction of the force. or
how many whose resignation were re-
fined modes of removal, do not know. -
The congressman then declared with
vehemence: The spoils devil being
driven from the gateway found shelter
~ithin the gate, and did his devilment
within the very shadow Of the altar"
Politicians no longer had the oppor.
kvIrN IN n -
fhe speaker continued. "and had en-
Trenched themselves inside to do the
work the spoils system did on the out
side. Until the spoils system shall be
destroyed and the abuses stopped
periodical seasons of agitation will con-
nnue. and sooner or later. will put the
whole civil service system in peril" Mr..
srosius. during his address, compli-
mented both ex-Secretary Of Navy Her.
bert and Secretary Long.
Hon. Lucius b. Swift OF Indianapo,,s
he next speaker. arraigned President
Mckinley for appointing men to i'm
,ortant positions, unfit to represent the
,eople Of the United states" The an
pointment OF ex-Chairman Gowdv ot
ne Indiana Republican state committee
ps consul general at Paris. his choice
q minister to Mexico and seyer,
appointments in Indiana were criti
|ized at considerable length. Mr.. Swift
Id not forget Senator Fairbanks I'm his
General arraignment. Mr.. Swift was
iven three cheers at the conclusion OF
is vigorous address.
The last speaker was Hon. Charles J.
'onaparte of Baltimore During his
pirited address he also scored past and
resent administrations at Washington
pr ignoring the principles of the civil
eryice.
NEW ENGLAND GREEKS.