New-York tribune., 1909-12-11
REJOICE In REFORM
LEAGUE At DINNER.
Optimistic OUer CiUH SerUicc
I'm prOremenf.

The twenty-ninfh annual meeting of the
National Civil Service Reform League came
20 an end last might with a brilliant and
well attended dinner al the Hotel Knicker-
booker Praise for President TAFT and his
administration IN the handling Of civil Ser
vice questions was the keynote of several
speeches. and general enthusiasm AZ the
progress of the reform movement was man
ffested. as Il has been at AL the sessions
~ the two-Gay convention
Joseph II. Ch0ate. former Ambassador 20
the Court OF ST. Jamess. presided. and
SPOKE enthusiastically OF the recent order
~ President Tart concerning examinations
FOR appointments 20 the diplomatic service.
Ee spoke Of this as one Of the most i'm
portnnt steps among those recently taken
.or the furtherance of real Civn Service
reform
The dinner was unusual IN that a woman
was one ~ the speakers. Mrs. lmogen r.
osklcy. ~ Philadelphia. representing the
National Federation of Woman's Clubs and
fts committee or civil service reform. was
the frst speaker introduced by Mr.. Chostc.
who MADE much of the variation In the
ordinary routine % the formal dinner af-
sorded by her presence. and she was greet
&C with the utmost enthusiasm hv the
oiners. Every man rose 20 his feet and
s-ttAeAAFA a. rLt AAAtA AAN AAAAtlANTs nAA
she was IN no whit disconcerted- Unlike
most Of the men who speak at dinners. she
read from a prepared manuscript
Charles u. Eliot. president emeritus OF
Harvard and now president of the league.
an Office 10 which he was reelected yesler-
gay morning, dwelf upon what was left 20
ne done before the work OF the league
could he called complete. He vas followed
ny ex-Arforney General Charles J. Bona
sarre. one OF the founders OF the orEani-
cation: Richard II Dana and Geose Nc
-Aneuy. Fresident-elect OF the Borough of
1fanhsrtEn.
NOT A SIDE ISSUE.
Woman IS no longer a SIDE issue" said
rir. Choste. as he beEan his Introduction
Of Mrs. oakley. and a storm OF laughter
greeted his 5est. 'She is certainly entitled
70 her share OF the credit for the work
~ this league. Men and women have been
born and have grown 10 manhood IN The
swenty-nine years that this work has
been going on. ] am afraid however. that
smother twenty-nine years viii hardly
bring Us up 10 what ] saw in England.
where political influence has nothing 10
sno with the holding -of Office"
M. Choate went on 10 discuss the work
az the league and 81 civil service COM
Emissions, particularly as applied 10 the
national government lie said.
Il al depends IN the las resort upon
the president himself. upon HE viii 10 de-
serrnlne the issue but the leeEue has p
great deal 10 90, ar lle civil Service COM
,nlssion has e great oeal 10 40. n INFORM
sng IN guiding. N leading The President
-Ano oes-rS 70 sah' ~ 't,l-Li p. ~ .le
presidents who have had 70 40 with This
waiter. that they have all been faithful
and have deserved great credit And OF
our presefT- president. elth0uEh perhaps he
enough he one for
20 inc fault With hin. he gives signs al
ready OF s1rpasslng ali his predecessors IN
the promotion of this noble work.
Mrs. oakley described ~ length the work
a. he- COMMITTEES in educating the people 10
-ealize the importance OF civil Service re-
form and ms relation 70 the general vel
fare. Michigan women she said. had made
the grestest record for efficiency in this
work Corporate dishonesty and corrup-
fion. she said. could he traced directly 20
loose civic morals.
SEES BIG GAIN
An snorrnous gain has been made IL
tv-euty-nine years. said President Eliot
who followed Mrs. Oakley. ''TwO-rhirds Of
Tho employees Of the national government
are now under Civil Service. But while
We rejoice in what has already been ac-
,omplished we should remember that much
tliuo that remains outside 81 the civil Ser
slce includes the men VINO hold the highest
ofices"
President Eliot went on 20 say that the
situation was hopeful in the extreme. owing
20 q change in the attitude Of the popular
mind. lie instanoed the improvement In
the census ana gave unstinted praise 70
president Tuft for what he called his iufiu-
ence on Congress IN obtaining the massage
uf a law bringing the census appointments
largely under civil Service. But lie re-
GREETED the continuance OF some appOint-
ments for census work with the advice and
consent % the Senate. and added that that
system was the bulwark OF the spoils sys-
ten.
Among those present were the following:
General William A. Aiken Frederick Alray
p c. J. Brown. Brinton Buckwalter. Colo
ne. Silas w. Burt. Everett Colby. r. Full
Ton Cutting. Horace T. Deming. Robert
Erslz,ne Ely. Dr. !. X. Punk. Mrs A. Bar
ton Hepburn NJ. and Mrs. X J. Imauishi.
Wills Fischer Johnson. Mrs NJ. ? Meade
ltt- Clair McKelway. Dr. 7. J. Martin Isaac
y cefirTuau I KerneGv ToS a,s r-...-...