The Everything Theodore Roosevelt Book by Arthur G. Sharp
Authors: Arthur G. Sharp
Tags: United States, General, History, Biography & Autobiography, Americas (North; Central; South; West Indies)
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continued to pursue reform, which he knew many of his colleagues opposed.
In his January 26, 1883, speech at Buffalo, New York, “The Duties of American Citizenship,” TR said, “Nothing is more effective in thwarting the purposes of the spoilsmen than the civil service reform. To be sure, practical politicians sneer at it.” He considered himself practical, but he never sneered at reform, civil or otherwise.
TR had to fight his battles against corruption on two fronts. He estimated that at least one-third of the members of the Legislature were corrupt. As a result, he had to fight corruption from within the Legislature and among the outsiders who were trying to influence representatives to pass bills in their best interests. TR fought hard, along with a phalanx of friends from both parties, against both groups.
TR kept up the pressure against corruption on all fronts, while introducing bill after bill to establish a park in New York City, lower taxes for New Yorkers and raise them on certain businesses, strengthen laws governing child abuse, and change machine politics. Not all passed, and he did not always succeed in his reform attempts, but he never stopped trying.
The three years TR spent in the Legislature provided him with some valuable lessons about morality, chicanery, constitutionality, and political principles in general. During that time he grasped the connection between business and politics, which he later made a habit of severing. The lessons played a subsequent role in how he conducted his affairs in his politically appointed and elected positions.
Working for Social Justice
Roosevelt was re-elected as state assemblyman by a two-to-one margin in the 1882 elections and nominated on January 1, 1883, to stand as the Republican candidate for Assembly speaker. Although he lost to the nominee of the majority Democrats, Roosevelt served as minority leader.
By the beginning of his second term, TR was feeling more comfortable in the Assembly. Quickly, he introduced a civil service reform bill to enhance job seekers’ chances for acquiring government jobs. The legislation was modeled on a similar bill, the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, passed by the United States Congress in January 1883.
The Pendleton Act addressed political patronage at the federal level. It mandated that government jobs had to be awarded on the basis of merit, introduced competitive exams for civil service jobs, and made it illegal to fire or demote government employees for political reasons. The law also created the United States Civil Service Commission to enforce the mandates.
One of TR’s strongest allies in enacting his proposed legislation was the New York state governor, Grover Cleveland. The two men formed an unholy and unpopular alliance early in Cleveland’s tenure, even though TR was a Republican and Cleveland was a Democrat.
Despite their differences in political philosophy, Roosevelt and Cleveland were both committed to honest, efficient government. Cleveland privately discussed strategy with Roosevelt and publicly endorsed the bill, which passed both houses and was signed into law in May 1883.
Another early 1883 bill that highlighted the connection between Cleveland and Roosevelt reduced fares on New York City’s elevated trains from ten cents to a nickel. Jay Gould had instituted the increases in an effort to make the city’s failing railway system solvent. The legislators, including TR, voted to reverse the hikes, because Gould was unpopular. The governor vetoed the bill—one of eight vetoes he delivered in his first two months in office.
The governor’s veto was as unpopular among legislators as Gould. Yet, he had a valid reason for vetoing the bill. He believed it was unjust, since the fee hike was necessary. Cleveland also argued that legislatively changing Gould’s franchise violated the contract clause of the U.S. Constitution. Newspapers sided with the governor.
Democrat Grover Cleveland was elected
In his January 26, 1883, speech at Buffalo, New York, “The Duties of American Citizenship,” TR said, “Nothing is more effective in thwarting the purposes of the spoilsmen than the civil service reform. To be sure, practical politicians sneer at it.” He considered himself practical, but he never sneered at reform, civil or otherwise.
TR had to fight his battles against corruption on two fronts. He estimated that at least one-third of the members of the Legislature were corrupt. As a result, he had to fight corruption from within the Legislature and among the outsiders who were trying to influence representatives to pass bills in their best interests. TR fought hard, along with a phalanx of friends from both parties, against both groups.
TR kept up the pressure against corruption on all fronts, while introducing bill after bill to establish a park in New York City, lower taxes for New Yorkers and raise them on certain businesses, strengthen laws governing child abuse, and change machine politics. Not all passed, and he did not always succeed in his reform attempts, but he never stopped trying.
The three years TR spent in the Legislature provided him with some valuable lessons about morality, chicanery, constitutionality, and political principles in general. During that time he grasped the connection between business and politics, which he later made a habit of severing. The lessons played a subsequent role in how he conducted his affairs in his politically appointed and elected positions.
Working for Social Justice
Roosevelt was re-elected as state assemblyman by a two-to-one margin in the 1882 elections and nominated on January 1, 1883, to stand as the Republican candidate for Assembly speaker. Although he lost to the nominee of the majority Democrats, Roosevelt served as minority leader.
By the beginning of his second term, TR was feeling more comfortable in the Assembly. Quickly, he introduced a civil service reform bill to enhance job seekers’ chances for acquiring government jobs. The legislation was modeled on a similar bill, the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, passed by the United States Congress in January 1883.
The Pendleton Act addressed political patronage at the federal level. It mandated that government jobs had to be awarded on the basis of merit, introduced competitive exams for civil service jobs, and made it illegal to fire or demote government employees for political reasons. The law also created the United States Civil Service Commission to enforce the mandates.
One of TR’s strongest allies in enacting his proposed legislation was the New York state governor, Grover Cleveland. The two men formed an unholy and unpopular alliance early in Cleveland’s tenure, even though TR was a Republican and Cleveland was a Democrat.
Despite their differences in political philosophy, Roosevelt and Cleveland were both committed to honest, efficient government. Cleveland privately discussed strategy with Roosevelt and publicly endorsed the bill, which passed both houses and was signed into law in May 1883.
Another early 1883 bill that highlighted the connection between Cleveland and Roosevelt reduced fares on New York City’s elevated trains from ten cents to a nickel. Jay Gould had instituted the increases in an effort to make the city’s failing railway system solvent. The legislators, including TR, voted to reverse the hikes, because Gould was unpopular. The governor vetoed the bill—one of eight vetoes he delivered in his first two months in office.
The governor’s veto was as unpopular among legislators as Gould. Yet, he had a valid reason for vetoing the bill. He believed it was unjust, since the fee hike was necessary. Cleveland also argued that legislatively changing Gould’s franchise violated the contract clause of the U.S. Constitution. Newspapers sided with the governor.
Democrat Grover Cleveland was elected
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