Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-03

consent OF the Senate 70 make their appoint
ment- complete would have it govern not the
tenure, but the manner Of making all appoint
ment. There j. no duty which 40 much enbar
rasscs the Executive and bends Of departments =
that Of appointments nor is there any such ar
duous and thankloss labor imposed on senators
and representatives ne that Of finding places for
constituents. The present system does not Sc
cure thc hest men, aud Olten not even fit men foi
public places he elevation and puri6catiun OF
the civil service Of the Government viii lie hailed
with approval by the whole people Of the United
States
And again in his last annual message he
rccurs to thcsubjcct in the following language
ain my message 10 Congress ono year ago
urgently recommended q reform in the civil ser.
vice Of The country. In conformity with the re-
commentator, Congress, In the ninth section Of
nm net making appropriations Tor sundiy ciVN
expenses and for other purposes, approved NJ
3i ISL, gave the necessary authority a. tn,
Executive 10 inaugnrte civil service reform.
and placed upon HIN the re- possibility VI DUNG
20. Under authority Of said act ! convened @
board OF gentlemen, emihently qualified for the
work. ~ devise rules and regulations 10 effect the
needed reform. Their aborsnre not yet complete
but it is believed that they will succeed in devils.
ing plan which can be adopted, 10 the great re-
lief vt the Executive. the heads Of departments,
and members ut Congress. and which will rebound
% the true interest Of the public service At all
events, the experiment shall have q lair trial
The commissioners appointed, under this
act have recently reported, aud the President
has sent in a message accompanying their re-
port, announcing that be has adopted the
rules recommended by it, and asking for an
appropriation for the expenses Of perma.
ncut Advisory Board This Board is to
group the Offices according to the character
Of their duties, and grade each group from
the lowest to the highest for the purpose Of
promotion within the group. Admission to
the civil service is always to be to the lowest
grade in the group, BY competitive examiua.
ton, after due public notice Vacancies in
grades above the lowest are to be filed by
competitive examinations from the members
Of the lower grades in the same group. Post
masters drawing under 5000 salary are to DO
appointed in the old way Assessments on
salaries for political purposes are forbidden
No person is to be invaIidaied for his opin-
ions. The exceptions to these rules are, Of
course, the heads Of departments, ambassa-
doris judges, and all persons holding positions
of trust, for whose fidelity another officer is
responsible
Thus the civil service reform movement
has had its first triumph The President,
whatever may be his motives, and it is as
well to find good motive as bad one for
a good act, has instituted it, and it will not
be likely to 60 backward. Once the appoint
ing power Of the thousands Of government Of
dcias becomes no longer a matter Of political
iavoriti,m and patronage, and it will not be
difficult to perfect the reform. With this
will come the resignation and subsistence OF
party tyranny the overthrow Of rings and
private political corporations, and the gradual
publication Of political life. 1t may not be
impossible bye aud bye to secure the cleo.
ton Of the best men to Office, and to retain
them in it when elected Such consumma-
ton, so deyouiy to be wished, seems now near
at hand We can only express the hope
that Congress, after the recess of the holt
days, will not take measures to nullify the
plan and report of the commission