Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-04-04
Electing Federal Officers.

Mr.. McCrary, of Iowa, has the
credit and honor Of introducing in
Congress perhaps the most import
and effective proposition yet advanc-
ed in behalf OF Civil Service Reform.
1t consists of proposed Sixteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of
the United States, which shall trans
fer from the President to the people
the power to choose Postmasters,
Collectors and Assessors of Internal
Revenue, and other officers whose
sphere OF duty is local. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Resolved BY the Senate and House Of Rep
.esentatires Of III. United States Of america in
Congress assembled (two-thirds of both houses
concurring). That the following amendment
to the Constitution Of the United States be,
Of the several States:
ARTICLE 49,.
All civil officers Of the United States, ex-
ecpt Judges Of the Supreme and Inferisr
Courts, the heads of Departments. and those
whose duties are temporary in their char,
| acter, shall hold Office for term Of four
wears, unless q longer term shall be fixed
by law. Congress may by law provide for
the election, BY the people. of Postmasters,
and other officers whose duties are to be
performe within the limits Of any State or
part of State; tut the President shall have
the power of removal of any such officer,
whether appointed or elected, for any cause
affecting the incumbents character, habits,
or other qualifications, excepting political
or religious opinions.
Mr.. Hay, of Illinois, IN advocating
the resolution, prudently suggested
that it be SO revised that the Presi-
dents pow er to remove for causes af-
fecting the incumbents character,
habits, or other qualifications, be lin
tied to cases in which these causes
render him unfit to perform the du
ties OF his Office.
There are now from forty FIVE to
fifty thousand appointments depend
ing on the will Of the President and
his suborainates. Mr.. Hay states
that there are 30,950 Postmasters
alone. Four years ago, there were
over II 900 under the Secretary Of
the Treasury alone. The duties OF
these officers are as local As those OF
any State officers. Twenty thous-
and Of the Postmasters receive sala
ries of not more than s20) a year
Their returns, like those of officers OF
Internal Revenue, are mailed to
Wasl ington; but the reasons which
should govern their selection relate
to the people among whom they are
to act. Great efforts are constantly
made by correspondence and inquiry
to consult the wishes of the people
from among whom they are chosen:
petitions and letters are received and
fled, though coniesscdly they are
generally got up by interested par
ties, aud may express exactly the op
positc feeling from that of MAORI
ty Of the people interested. A sort
Of necessity has arisen for referring
| many OF these appointments to tho
members of Congress-, and these have
been led, by prefer ence of their
own highest interest over that OF
their constituents, to give the offices
to those political henchmen and lac.
oueys who have done most to send
them to Congress. 1t is the element
of patronage which underlies the
whole appointing system that con
stitutes the great evil OF the Civil
Service. This element seems to be
inseparablc from the system of ap-
pointing, and is utterly abolished BY
clec,ing. II an Examining and Ap-
pointing Board were substituted for
tho President at Washington, it
| would still have, as the President has
now, three points to inquire into,
viz: competency, character and po
litical fitness. An Examining Board
can determine whether q candidate
| is intellectually competent to perform
tho duties of an Office, bat, as te
character and political antecedents
they would have to consult the same
sources of information as the Presi
dent now consults. This would leaC
to the same reference of these ques
tions to members of Congress, whlcl
would end in the same use Of the ap
pointments by them as patronage
The substitution Of an Examlnin!