English VI.

Question: "Resolved, That the policy of Cleveland in regard to the reform of the Civil Service during his two administrations is, on the whole, deserving of praise."

Brief for the Affirmative.J. J. SHEPPARD and C. M. READE.Best general references: Civil Service Reform under President Cleveland, Baltimore Address by R. H. Dana; Harper's Weekly, '87, '89 passim; Pol. Sci. Quarterly, III, 247. "Good Government" 1893.

I. He has carried out the Civil Service Law faithfully. (a) Good choice of commissioners. (b) Removal of recalcitrant officials: Topeka, Baltimore, New York. (c) Slight change in classified service.

II. He has improved and extended the classification of the civil service. (a) Reduction of number on certified list for vacancies. (b) Establishment of rules preventing evasion of law. (c) Promotion allowed upon examination only. (d) Extension of competitive system to independent bureaus of the government. (e) Great increase in classified list.

III. His appointments in the unclassified service have shown a regard for reform principles. (a) Important appointments at Boston and New York. (b) No disturbance of three-fourths of four year term officers. (c) But small increase, notwithstanding the change of party, in number of changes over preceding administrations. (d) The changes made were largely necessary for the good of the service.

IV. Progress of Civil Service Reform inevitably slow: impossible for a president to go far in advance of public opinion, or of his party.

Brief for the Negative.A. F. Travis and C. H. Beckwith.Best general references: Roosevelt's Article in No. Am. Review, vol. 141, p. 388 (Oct. 1885); Speech of Senator Hale in the U. S. Senate, Jan. 11, 1888, Cong. Record, vol. XIX, Pt. 1, p. 370. For evidence at large see Report of Senate Committee in Senate Reports of 1st. Ses., 50th Cong., vol. 10.

I. Cleveland has professed sympathy with civil service reform, especially condemning, (a) offensive partisanship, (b) contributions from office-holder, (c) removals except for cause. Cleveland's Inaugural Speech, Mch. 4, 1885, and his Letter of Acceptance, Aug. 12, 1884.

II. Yet offensive partisanship continued unchecked, (a) on the part of the president: Cleveland's letter in the Fellows-Nicoll election, (b) on the part of his subordinate officials: In the Indiana campaign of 1886, Pennsylvania campaign of 1887, New York campaign of 1887, and Maryland campaign of 1887.

III. Contributions have continued (a) On the part of the president: In the national campaign of 1888, the Virginia campaign of 1893, (b) and on the part of subordinate officials: In New York and Pennsylvania in 1887, etc.

IV. Removals have been made for in sufficient cause: The clean sweep in the internal revenue service in 1885-8 and Quincy's looting of the consular service last summer.