New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-17
CIVIL SERVICE REFORMERS.
PLATFORM ADOPTED BY THE BALr1-
MORE CONVENTION.
PAPERS READ by DoRMAN r EATON AND OTHERS
DINNER AFTER rHB FINAL ADJOURNMENT.

most all the morning 10 "A discussion OF the report
OF the Committee Resolutions. which charged
the present National Administration with a VIOLA
ton OF the spirit II not the letter OF the Civil
Service rules. The resolutions. as finally adopted.
congratulate the lovers OF good government on
the failure OF the recent attack In Congress upon
the merit system: assert that the convention has
heard with grave concern the report that the
President OF the United States intends withdraw
from Civil Service rules a large number of places
under the Government and expresses the belief that
such action Is contrary to the interests OF the pub
lie service cite number of instances Of alleged
departure from Civil Service rules within tho last
year; charge that the Administration has failed to
redeem Its promise to extend the rule wherever
possible. and assert that the rule Of the newly
acquired dependencies will result in disaster and
disgrace If conducted on the plans Of the spoils
politicians
The following officers elected President
Carl Schurs; vice-presidents. Charles Francis
Adams. Of Boston: Henry Hitchcock OF St Louis
Augustus MacDonough. Of New-York: H c. Lea.
Of Philadelphia: Franklin MacVeagh. Of Chcago
Bishop II. c. Potter. Of New-York; Bishop p. H.
RYAN. Of Philadelphia ard William Potts. Of New
York.
After the morning adjournment the delegates
were entertained al luncheon by the Arundel club
composed OF women.
MR.. EATON's ADDRESS.
The afternoon session was taken up with the
reading Of papers. the first of which was The
Need and Means OF Providing a Stable and Com
petent Civil Service for Our New Dependencies"
by Dornan p. Eaton He said IN part:
Mr.. Eaton said In part:
.r The question Whether the United States can gov N
Fh.Ippines-if the latter must come under our con-
Tol-with honor 10 themselves or advantage TO sucn
dependencies, is but another form OF the question
whether We capable of bringing and are re-
solved 10 bring, worthy and competent men-nt rep
resentativeS OF the best character and capacity
into the official leadership Of the people Of those ISL
ands.
riores Tor neither of them a %as 0 settled from the
United States the people Of neither are Of our
lgious institutions are very unlike our own: they
different from those we intend to establish for
them Their experience, political methods and hao-
ception Of our Institutions but have developed pre-
possessions theories and nrejudices which VIII re-
ments We shall ollsh, to overcome.
whatever kind FEELINGS SYM n-
people and theirs cannot spring from kindred
blood hahs or cS ION non sIs s vi s
tice and good administration. to be established
by us.
ments. favorable TO our success in governing these
dependencies, from the experience OF England In
founded by herself peopled by her own children
and nhertnS her h ss podsad
VIII VIII be very Different aNa Inr m9rf rovern
be made effective over different races diverse
civilizations and semi bar ba isms-despe the eff
institutions. which have prevailed for centuries
and which very unlike those we should seek
to establish Our success will he marvel. even X
we shall use the very best means ,-.,., ,,a,,
in no sense a colony-the problem Of whose govern
ment has prevented on vast scale all the dhicu-
United States can encounter in her new de-
pendencies The manner in which EnSand d. has sur
by which she rose above selfish and partisan
spirit in the selection and government OF the civii
servants of India, is not only especially worthy or
our study at this time but It stands the nobest
the most successful and benefcent example OF the
race and power. to be found in the history Of
ancient or modern times asf
THREE NECESSARY CONDITIONS.
It is plain that there San he no such civil SER
vice as is Indispensable unless these three con-
ditions shall he complied with,
First-The chief officers which shall be appointed
nv the President and the Senate must be COM
peten irrespective OF party
stable that change of Administra ton in the
United States Will not cause an admlnistrat1lve
Second-The Civil Service appointees under these
chief officers. must be selected through free ana
open competitions. regardless Of their parry or
religious opinions and they must he retained IN
Office long they shall remain both faithfui ana
Third--1o make such selections. and retentions
possible. there must be civil service ossd of
men Of character and capacity ana nor sups t he
officers nd or ae eTs @a who shall have
oliate powers and constant duty OF nvestisa1lnE
aha earc cers shall discharge their functions
Nothing less than such safeguards can insure ae 40
and efficiency OF administration In remo,e ue
nendencies and among unassimlated and sus.
pcious communities. where ior SEER aI,,ion vii
least. just and enilgh'eheo Pupno 'p' ~
be an adequate restraint
OBSTACLES AT HOME AND ABROAD
There are two serious obstacles in the way OF
.stshishing the competent and stable Civil Service
which much need; >,
First-There Is the old. hereditary Spanish Spots
system-to say nothing Of the little royai spo'i'
system at the Sandwich Misunderstanding alike 10
noli,ics society and religion. and everywhere cor
rupt mercenary and despouc. II has continued us
degrading influences through so many generations
that the people under It have almost ceased 10 pc
eve in the possibility Of official virtue, ana evs,k
ofticer is sure TO be distrusted and maligned unt
he has actually demonstrated his worm ana huir ,
Second-There Is that familiar American p ar ~
spos system I'm connection with appointmen,ss
with which all sadly familiar VII J, p oors
10 allow these dependencies TO add sun nu'e
vicious and seductive elements TO this system
especially that part OF II which Is connecsn WIN
nominations and the secret sessions oI tIe
where II is now most dangerous The polutclans
and bosses of ALI parties Will hustle sno prg
If we shall have such safeguards as ! nave
prOposea sgrh oregon an 10 Maine from Florida
California and all the states oetween-WISaisnins
and camor t,s oy shall h saSe m Proportion Of The
offices and spos Every great boss and every ht,Ie
J2lar Will
nand share OF them Interruptions corporations.
and rich and able men now In these De
anu dnn insor soon 10 go there TO purchase
PLANTATIONS 10 monopoize docks. to acquire mines
tpa rorests and isheries will hustle for patronage
and will soon become mighty power In congress
nose an honest stable and competent Civil Service
beSause r. would interfere with their schemes ana
" i o,t,,,yoafa gains They Will have abundant
nnm,nees Of tl'.ir own for every .offce-nominees
whom they will conspire with all corrupt poll
W T,s 20 nress upon the Senate and the Pres-
AM No thoughtful can ponder these mat
tsrs without painful sense of the perils con-
.eIs lit Tho subject and of the need of every
is,rnrt,ve lesson OF warning which history can
supply.
midas EXAMPLE.
M lesson is so instructive as that which British
India can teach and, therefore. again turn 10
IT, England through brilliant deeds OF war III inc
~. century had won that vast dependency Of more
,han 1Oo 90 900 people Of diverse civilizations, or