Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1885 — CIVIL SERVICE. [ARTICLE]

CIVIL SERVICE.

Correspondence Between Gov. Cleveland and G. W. Curtis on , / . the Subject. The President-Elect Regards Himself as Hedged to Civil Service Reform. The following correspondence, which has just been made public at New York, explains itself: National Civil Service Reform League, i Office No. 4 Pine street, JNew York, Dec. 29, 1884. ) Eton. Grover Cleveland: Hie—We have the honor to address yon on behalf of the National Civil Servioe Reform League, an association composed of citizens of ail parties, whose sole purpose is Indicated by its name, and which takes no part whatever in party controversy. The vast increase in the number of persons engaged in the civil servioe and the great mischiefs and dangers arising from general proscription in the service which for, half a century has followed the change of party control of the national administration have produced so profound an impression upon the public mind that the first effective steps toward reform were taken with the co-operation of both parties in the passage of the reform act of Jan. 16, 1883. The abuses which that act seeks to correct, however, are so strongly intrenched in the traditions and usages of both parties that there is naturally a widespread anxiety lest the party change in the National Executive effected by the late election should show them to be insuperable; but believing, aa we do, that the reformed system can not be held to be securely established until it has safely passed the ordeal of such party changes, and recalling with satisfaction and confidence your public expressions favorable to reform and your official acts as chief. executive of the State of New York, we confidently commend the cause to your patriotic care in the exercise of the great power with which the American people have Intrusted you. Respectfully yours, George William Curtis, President. William Potts, Secretary. John Jay, Morefield Storey, J. Hall Pleasants, W. W. Montgomery, Everett P. Wheeler, Frederic Cromwell, Morrill Wyman, Jr., Carl Schurz, Silas W. Burt, A R. MacDonongh, William Carey Sanger, William W. Aiken, Executive Committee. Albany, Dec. 25; 1884. Hon. George William Curtis, President, etc. Dear Sir: Yonr communication, dated Dec. ' 20, addressed to me on behalf ot the National 'Civil Service Reform League, has been received. That practical reform in the civil service is de-manded-ls abundantly established by the fact that the statute referred to in your communication to secure such result had been passed in Congress with the assent of both political parties, and by the further fact that a sentiment is generally prevalent among patriotic people calling for a fair and honest enforcement of the law which has been thus enacted. I regard myself pledged to this, because my conception of the true democratic faith and public dnty requires that this and all other statutes should be in good faith, and without evasion, enforced, and because in the many utterances made prior to my election as President, approved by the party to which 1 belong and which I have no disposition to disclaim. I have, in effect, promised the people that this should be done. lam not unmindful of the fact to which you refer, that many of our citizens fear that the recent party change in the National Executive may demonstrate that the abuses which have grown up in the civil service are ineradicable. I know they are deeply rooted, and that the spoils system has been supposed to be intimately related to success in the maintenance of party organization, and I am not sure that those who profess to be friends of that reform will stand firmly among its advocates when they find it obstructing their way to patronage and place; but, fnlly appreciating the trust committed to my charge, no such consideration shall cause a relaxation on my pirt of an earnest effort to enforce this law. There is a class of Government positions which are not within the letter of the civil-service statute, but which are so disconnected with the policy of an administration that removal therefrom of present Incumbents, In my opinion, should not be made during the terms for which they were appointed, solely on partisan grounds, and for the purpose of putting in their places those who are in political accord with the appointing power; but many now holding positions have forfeited all just claim to retention, because they have used their places for party purposes in disregard of their duty to the people, and because, instead of being decent public servants, they have proved themselves offensive partisans and unscrupulous manipulators of local party management. The lessons ot the past should be unlearned, and snoh officials, as well as their successors, should be taught that efficiency, fitness, and devotion to pubuo duty are conditions ot their continuance in pnblio places, and that a quiet and unobtrusive exercise of Individual political rights is the reasonable measure of their party servioe. If I were addressing none but party friends I should deem it entirely proper to remind them that, though the coming administration is to be Democratic), a due regard for the people's interest does aot permit faithful party work to be always rewarded by appointment to offloe; and to say to them that, while Democrats may expect all proper consideration, selections for office not embraced within civil service rules will be based upon sufficient inquiry as to fitness, instituted by those charged with that dnty, rather than upon the persistent importunity or self-solicited recommendation on behalf of candidates for appointment. Yours very .truly, Grover Cleveland.