The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-16

was directly opposed to the system there |
tofore and, for that matter, now-in
vogue The declaration that offices should
not be bestowed tor party services or party
zeal must have been understood as mean
ing something entirely different from the
old Jacksonian democratic doctrine 'to the
victor belongs the spells That this was
the intent and meaning of the President, of
Congress, Of the several political plat
forms. and OF the people is fully
shown by the committee, when they
say, ~ substance, that the appoin-
ting power according to the theory of the
constitution and the other declarations re-
forredto, was expected TO be limited to n
few of the worthier applicants "thc less
worthy having been first eliminated by a
just method authorized by law and fairly
exercised under its sanctions. This view
Of the committee was confirmed hy the
construction placed ON the constitution by
the best legal talent in this country ; and
when civil service reform was adopted in
England q similar judicial construction
was placed upon that so called constitution
as wcll as upon the common law. The
meaning of this viii be apparent when it is
stated that the supreme court of the United
states have expressly decided that the
President cannot, directly or indirectly,
delegate the appointing power to either
House Of Congress. or to any member
thereof. Wcnccd not ask whether such q
custom doe, now, or has. cretotore pre-
vailed We have not the time or space to
consider th, report, or the sub
ect OF civil service reform. at any great
length and shall, therefore, simply refer to
such parts thereof including debates in
Congress. as may be confirmalory of the
views above given which, in fact. is all
hcjc IS of il, save the argumentatvlc part
and the illustrations of It's working 10 the
present time.
What then was the idea of Congress in
providing for civil service reform under the
recommendation of the President quoted
above The report, H. well as the debates
" litil XIV ibN was hlliltl AOlSlttldl
plainly show IT, One member declared
that under the then present system appoint
meats were confined ito the personal and
political friends Of politicians. We quote
This SIMPLY 70 show that one idea was, and
the republican national convention CO.
incidcd in it. To take business offices out of
politics or, "a prominent member of our
national councils informed us, 'to settle
business Offices upon business principles. 50
That is to say, in our judgment, that all
parties, no matter what may be their poll
tics, are entitled 10 voice and hearing in
the disposal Of q business Office in which
they are interested or at which they are
compelled to transact business. But is it
sot On the contrary, do we not all OF us
know, or have reason to believe, that this
is not the cascy Said another, in the same
/ debate, at is no more the part of repre-
| sentatyes duty to seek and dispose of exc
cutive Offices than TO solicit pardons for
traitors and CONDEMNED criminals" Allow
Us to ask, here, how many Senators and Re-
representatives. 'seek and dispose Of Offices,
and how few care a snap for an incarce-
rated, alleged criminal, although his limo
cence may have been demonstrated Pro-
Ceeding, he said, and mari, his language,
They have no more right to claim or ex-
ercse any portion of the executive power
than Of the judicial. can fill volume
. Of ,,pototip1,c q =. Chow hnv
| unwarranted by authority OF tradition such
a claim Is II is one of the many corrup-
tons that have threatened to change the
character if not destroy the existence of
this government Another Representa-
tive said, and although M opportunity was
given, no one disputed his statement, II
do not believe that members of Congress
desire the exercise Of any patronage. They
would be glad to yet rid OF it if they conld. y
These were the views and statements of Con
gress which passed the law. Whether they
were honest and sincere in these utterances
or whether they were simply made fol-
buncom'e, time will disclose Gme is dis
ci0sing
Another extract and wc are through. We
have shown the views of Congress, of the
people, and OF the President what did tho
commission do; The very first rule which
was adopted. was in the following words
We give il verbatim: at being essential Il
the public welfare TO maintain in the Exec
utiyc the exercise OF the power of nomna
ton and appointment vested bv the consti
tuition, and thereby to secure that measure
Of independence and separate responsibilt,
which is contemplated by that instrument
and it hcing necdful, in making such nomi
nations ana appointments, that the appoint
ing power should obtain and in tho prope
department preserve the evidence of fitness
in reference to which all such nominations
and appointments should bc made there
fore. recommendations concerning an,
| nomination or appointment 10 office o
place in The civil service cannot be consid
/ cred unless made in writing, signed by tn
persons making them, setting forth tn
character Of the person recommended, am
2 his qualifications for the Office, in refer
| ence 10 which the recommendation is made
, nor, when the recommendation is by per
| son holding an office or station in or unde
. the government Of the United States, ca
= such written recommendation, except whe
. made in response to Il written request b.
3 the officer making the appointment, or i
3. the discharge Of an official duty imposed b.
4 the constitution or the laws, he consdere
0 as entitled to amy greater weight than
G made by such person as a private inliyidr
e al But this iule shall not apply TO recon
c mendations made by officers as to their ow
n subordinates." We do not think any MOI
:, comments are necessary, or any more ea
y tracts needed. Here we are willing to leav
the eubipct and tho rpnort with the uilar,