New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-09
CIVIL SERVICE REFOP NJ.
Meeting of the National Le0gue-A
Paper by Carl Schurs.

washington Dec. S.-The twenty-fourth annual
! convention of the National Civil Service Reform
| reap,e began here to-day. with about five hundred
| DELEGATES from all parts of the country present.
| This morning meeting of the council. the 'execu-
tive body of league, was held at which Charles
| 7 Bonaparte, of Baltimore. presided. This meet
/ ing was devoted to routine business. and COM
| mittee was appointed to pay the respects of the
! organization to President Roosevelt. The conven-
ton proper called to order by Dr. Gilman, the
| president There reports from the woInen's
auxiliaries and from the organizations composing
the league. Mrs. Imogen B. Oakley. of Pennsyl-
vania presented the report of the Civil Service
committee of the General Federation OF Women's
Clubs. at the night session DR.. Gilman delivered
his annual address and ex-Commissioner Foulke
congratulated the delegates the progress made
in the year. An address prepared by Carl Schurz
who was unable to be present because OF attack
of bronchitis. read by the secretary Elliott h
Goodwin. 1t was in part follows:
President Roosevelt's accession to power prompt
" brought on a marked change for the better.
Service reform he once recognized the threaten
Ing danger. and one after another he stopped the
his predecessor. had been opened to the invasion
or oher drastic only sc 6a
against the letter or spirit of the Civil Service
that this law was not mere harmless scarecrow,
but law with teeth and claws that must not be
case OF the postmasters of Philadelphia and Of
desrabe ut t6Is afon w0g9 nave Deen
small moment, In view of the unquestionable fact
ditions to the classified service but still by
nndoins the mschievous practices which had crept
INTO 9 the administration of the Civil Service law
and by restoring discipline and 1nfusng whole
ident Roosevelt has greatly strengthened the
form cause and prepared it for new onward move
,as Il t. Therefore with fun eonfdsncst in the Pres
invite atfepton S Ga serves ba receatIv
sprung up and which challenges examination;
rules IN individual cases, when a strict enforce
ment Of them would seem TO carry personal hard
best interests, OF the Service Itself The frequenf
public notice and given rise to some unfaVoraoie
done by the suspensions OF the rules. But VIVA,
harm may they not do IN the future
cannot always expect to have a convinced and NIL
tial chair. Must look for the contingency Of
that chair being occupied by President who dis,
enough about 1t 10 protect it with a strong WI,
not he or his political friends ind in the record Of
suspensions even as Il now stands. precedents. or
serve as tustihcation for any arbitrary appoint
Wfeekne the Whole %ia s9s eG ka Is no Rere
fore devoutly 10 be wished that the administration
suspensions of the rules from becoming precedents
to be used for such evil ends? The administration
has already done for the cause Of Civil Service re
portanf than any Of them and thus encourage the
hope, which We all confidently cherish. that II WI.
carry 1t.
President Gilman presented some data from the
forthcoming annual report of the Civil Service Com
mission showing that on June 30 the whole num-
Der OF places in the executive Civil Service was
nearly 10000 OF which more than one'hah were
competitive, In the year I23,o69 persons
aTnlned OF whom los us passed and $3.50 APP
pointed In the whole year there had been, ne
said marked progress IN the observance not mere
" OF the letter. but OF the spirit OF the Civil Ser
vice act and rules, and notable absence OF COM
plants Of political activity and assessments
In the paper prepared by Mr. schurz be sharply
criticised suspension OF the Civil Service rules
discussion has been caused by suspensions OF the
rules in individual and special exemptions
from their operations directed by executive orders
SO as 10 permit the appointment or persons other
wise disqualified 10 places in the classified service
The subject, the report says. foTcibiy called
10 public attention by the OF James A. pu-
mont formerly inspector OF hulis Of steam vessels
a NsW-foIk, who was removed from Office by
president Roosevelt as one OF results OF the
Slocun disaster. When the administration chooses
as in this case, the report continues aside
sition through the exercise OF its arbitrary la
erection, IL must be held responsible for all unfort-
innate results. for such followed more less
directly from its action IN the particular instance
in question"
The report says it has been a source OF great
satisfaction to the council TO the action OF
civil Service Commission originally appointed by
him for that city on charges preferred BY the New
YORK association. and substituting for II one be-
HeVeo 70 oe IN greater sympathy with the principles
The report commends the executive orders of the
PRESIDENT by which the classified service has been
extended ana conSratulates the country on the in
creased popularity OF the reform movement