The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-06
FINE ADDRESS
 BY MIR. GOODWIN One of the Features of Closing Exercises of Connecticut Federation of Wom-
 ems Clubs.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
Officers Elected nt the Morning Scs- slOn--Nilss Helen B. Boswell Tells of Panama-Othcr
 Business.

The closing session Of the twelfth annual meeting of the Connecticut State Federation of Women's clubs, In Toy auditorium, yesterday afternoon was an exceedingly Interesting one, Mrs. C, A. Capen, the president pre- sided and opened the meeting by the announcement and presentation of the new officers. As each was introduced Mrs. Capen made some very gracious and happy remarks. Mrs. w. II. Phipps of Waterbury, the newly elected president, responded as fol lows:
 The Connecticut State Federation has always been fortunate in It's presi- tents. but never more so than when 1t secured the unselfish and devoted services of Mrs w. II Phipps, of Wa terbury. It's newly elected chief,
 Mrs. Phipps Is a woman of great experience. She has been vice-presi- dent of the Connecticut State Feder- ation for several years, Is chairman of the Mary Merriman Abbott Me- morial association which has raised S2.OOO, and in many lines of church and club work has held the position of president Under her guiding hand the Waterbury Womens club did splendid work.
 Upon accepting the gavel of the Connecticut State Federation she sald
 As. I accept thls gave the outward symbol of the honor which you, the members of the Connecticut State Federation have conferred upon mo to-day, l am not only filled with a deep appreciation but | am also keen ly sensitive to the great responsibility that comes to one who is to guide the affairs of such an organization as ours. thank you for your contl- dence. As look into your. faces, earnest, sincere, purposTul and real ize that you are but the representa- tives of hundreds of other women throughout this commonwealth, wom- en who stand ready to meet the de- mands that this century is making upon them, then there comes to me a vision of what we together may ac- complish fl we but keep before us q high ideal of responsibility and priv ileEe.
 II has been said that "Only as we serve shall we deserve" Will you accept as my gift to you the best ser vice that it is in my power to give and you will make this service great CT and more effective if you will free ly give to me of your suggestion and experiences. only by concerted ac- ton shall we as a federation have any share in the uplifting of tho so- cial, civic, or industrial life of our state. With this unity of effort it Is possible for an influence to go out from us that shall add beauty as well as righteousness to tho world.
 I am but tho voice for this whole group of your officials when l pledge to you our earnest service for the coming year. Wlll you surround us with your loyalty, your sympathy, your personal effort? Then with new inspiration and enthusiasm we shall undertake the work and the high ideal which is but vision to-day may at the end of the twelve months have become 9 reality
 Mrs Emma Allen Hull, the con tralto sang two pleasing solos, and Mrs, Capen introduced Elliot II. Good win the secretary of the National Civil Service Reform league, who gave very interesting address on Civil Service Reform Mir. Goodwin said in part.
 When l have been asked to speak on the subject of civil service reform in a state or city of which l am not resident, 1t has seemed to me that | there were some real grounds for hes itation. Each one of us regards him partner in the business of govern ment, particularly local government and whiletwe will freely condemn ats | faults and criticise It's shortcomings to | our neighbors, we do. not like to have them pointed ont and preached about | of the country where, perhaps the To- l cal government has none too savory a reputation Under such circumstance es one is likely to call attention tc the homclY adagc, charity begins al homc.' But in the discussion of civil service reform, we are treating of q remedy for evils which are prcvalent in our democratic government whcr. ever 1t exists, and civil service reform has never been q sectional Issue noi vet partisan issue. The federal gov. ernment has carried 1t Into all parts of the United States, Massachusetts New York and New Jersey have adopted it. but so also have Illinois | Wisconsin and Colorado. We find fl included in the system of admlnistra. ton of many eastern cities, but alsC In tho cities of Chicago, Denver, Seat 1 tic, San Francisco and Los Angeles and as far south as New orleans.
 A civil service law Is plain propo sltion applying to the, public servIc 8 system analogous t1 that ohtainnJ in private corporations. No prlvat business could exist under the condI tions which were prevalent in the pub lie service during the reign of tn spells system, and the government could not have continued in bushes had 1t not had practically unlimited means to draw upon. The object 0 the law in the first instance fig to ex cude political considerations from ap pointments, and, secondly. to proyid a test by which only those who ar fitted for the position shall obtain fl This is in line with the theory Q democratic institutions and Is q strict ly democratic system Where, undc the spells system, no one could hop l tn enrun thn nnMnr11 m nnt ln q nL..u nn,