The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-19

indianapolis. Ind, Dec. 14-At the open
meeting held this afternoon the National
ClVii Service League openly attacked the
administration of President Mckinley in
regard To the order OF May p, removing
offices from the list
The roll-call Of delegates was the first
| business. followed by the report. OF seere-
tary George McAneny, OF New York. who
said the league had attempted to find out
the facts regarding certain violations Of
the rules of the service in the Treasury
| Department OF the national government.
He had written, he said, 10 Secretary
! Gage for the Information, and received a
| letter in reply stating that IL was not
proper 10 give Information TO the public
which was OF private nature.
The matter was taken up by the league.
and the following resolution was offered
by Charles j.. Bonaparte, OF Maryland,
and unanimously adopted:
Condemnatory Resolution.
The league prOnolnees the action OF The rreasary
Department In refusing 10 public records re-
laiing TO matters Of public concern violation %
the undoubted right Of citizens in a free county TO
learn from official sources how faithfully the public
servants they pay administer the laws. The force
OF the reason assigned FOR this refusal is grayey
Impaired BY the fact that similar information had
been previously furnished to the league by the de-
partment under the present Secretary OF the Treas
Vry. This refusal exposes TO reasonable suspicion
the good faith OF the officials responsible for IT, and
suggests the existence OF abuses which tie records
Withheld from inspection might disclose ana We de-
msnd that this unworthy policy Of conceal ueat and
| secrecy be abandoned
Inc Secretary then gave a review of the
conversation between President Mckinley
anu committee from the league. sent To
| MN concerning the order of Nav % when
| SO many officers were removed from the
| civil service lists The secretary said II
was the understanding of the league with
President Mckinley that in case il became
| necessary for him to issue this order. he
would add at least as many offices TO the
| CLASSIFIED service as he was compelled to
remove. Mr. Mckinley was asked, the
secretary said, Il he would not comply
with request Of this kind, and replied
as follows:
1T is my intention to include good
many more than those excluded"
Up 10 the present time no new addi-
tlonS have been made, which is a matter
of great surprise to the league" reported
the secretary. Later. another letter was
-
tention TO his promise which he had made
the committee on former occasion. This
communication, which was sent TO Presi-
dent Mckinley November l6, and not
heretofore made public, was in part as foi-
lows:
The President X eminded.
Sir; The undersigned, members Of the executive
committee OF the National Civil Service Reform
League. respectfully invite your attention 10 ths
following facts: --..--.-..
In January. 1899 a special committee appointed By
the league called upon you for the purpose of re-
mOnStratng against your contemplated executive or
der for excluding certain places from the classified
service, and TO this committee you expressed your
intention Of adding other places to the service.
greater in number than those excluded After the
PRONUNCIATION Of your order Of May g. under date OF
September this special committee, consisting OF
Messrs. William Dudley Foglke. Richard Henry
Dana. and Herbert Welsh, addressed TO you the fol-
lowing letter:
''Sr: The undersigned as members OF a commit
tee OF the National Civil Service Reform League
which waited upon you In January. 1893 in regard
to your then proposed order for excluding certain
places from the classified service beg to remind You
Of the fact that in oCnyersaon We expressed the
hope that il you found 1t necessary to make these
exclusions you would. at the same time iaculs
within the CLASSIFIED list. subject competitive ex-
animation, at least as large number Of places a.
those omitted. 50 that 1t might appear that No back
ward step had been taken.
To this you replied that II was your intention 70
include great many places than those et-
eluded. and that you hoped To make the order SO
comprehensive that the reform OF the civil s-rvic.
would then be 50 complete that nothing further
would need to be done in regard to IT,
Our disappointment was therefore great yhsn
upon the appearance or your order. We found not
only that the number Of exclusions was far greater
than had been previously supposed but that tksfs
was none Of the nclusions which you had assured us
. 1t Was your intention to make May We not
hope that II is still your purpose 70 make some SUP
stantlai and important extensions Of tho present
classified system?
Requested 10 Revoke the Order
I'VE believe that the large number Of exclusions
made by year order OF May % from the reouiremeat
Of competitive examination has been injurious no,
only to the civil serYlCs Of the government but 10
ths country at -aTge. and hope 20 satisfy yO cy
ths BY the results Of certain investigations which
We intend TO lay before you al an early date AMI
ask yOG for revocation OF that order
We beg leave TO inquire whether We NAV not
No" look Tor the additions to the classified service
promised In the Republican platform Of 1856 aud
which We we're then assured it was your inteBtl,p
to make. and. II So whether it will be agreeable =,
you to state what time such additions NAV ks *.
pectsd.'-
This was signed By George McAnsHy. secretary.
Carl sehurz. Richard Henry Dana. and eighteen
Others.
Along with the communication 70 The Pf-sis.,,
was submitted the following:
Executive Mansloa.
Washington. d. C., Nov Is t.,s
NY Dear Sir: beg leave 20 aeknosledge the
receipt ot the letter OF Ihe 18th instant i'm, -
yourself and other members u the Nsfisp.I Cfyt,. .
Service Reform League and to say thar II viii D..
brought TO the attention o. the Presidept ysr,
truly yours. A pngTps ~
Secretary 70 TIE Prtsl4eat
George McAnsay. esq
Letters from Denver and Gan E,,,ct.,.
were read stating that the progress afo,,
GFh service lines was very satisfactory.
The reports from the local assoclations
were an OF a satisfactory nature. ana
showed advancement all along rfie line.
VITA one or Two exceptions.
Carl >eharz's speech.
The evening session was held N ply.
mouth Church, and was taken up entlreJy
with the annual address OF President
can sehurz. ex-senator and ex-Secre,ary
OF the Interior The vigorous denuncia.
iion OF the attitude OF Presi1err
Mckinley against civil service re-
form was appiauded enthuslastieaI-
- by the large audience presrnt In
the audience were many Of She most dis.
unguished residents Of the city and state
including Gov. Mount and wife. E,ucius
h. Swift. Of Indianapolis. presided.
Following the address a reception was
rendered the delegates at the University
Club, and a buffet lunch was served
Noticeable among the 90 guests from the
city and State were * President ReDfa
min Harrison and wife and Coy. Mount
and wife. The meeting between Mr
Schurz and Gen. Harrison was most cor
dial.
THREE DEAD IN TENEMENT FIRE.