The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-08-05
rC.nEn1eI from First PaQc. I

IConiiaucd from FIRST Page
order that the ordinary employment of
nublic business may not be fought for ut
the ballot box;a brief reward Of party
zeal instea1, al post OF honor
Assigned for Proved Competency z
and held for the tidelty IN the public
employ. The convention wisely added
that reform is necessary, even more IN
higher grades d! the public service presi-
dent, vice-prasident judges, senators,
repnesen ta,iyes, cabinet officers; these and
air Ahtrs in authority are not u private
perouislte, they are public trust. Two
evils ,nCest the official service oil our led
eral yovernme One is the prevalent
and dshors h ling notion that the public
service exists, not for the business and
benefit htol the whole people, but
for the interest oil otlice-holders
who are, in truth, bu,
servants of the people, Under the iniu-
euce of this pernic:oIs error, pubic EN-
ploymen.s have been multiplled;the num-
beers OF those gathered into the ranks
of ofiice-hoiderS, have been steadiiy
increased Beyond any possible require
ment of public business, while IN
speculation, fraud, mai-administration
ot.public funds from the nigh place OF
power to the lowest have
over.nrea,i the whole service Like
I.rprOsy.
The evil is the organization o! the official
class into body OF political Invertebrates,
governing q carieuses and debating
nominations ut lhcir f1@n party, ara NJ
tempting to carry elections -! ~" p""ll"
by undue influence, and hy Immense cor.
rnption, with funds systematically col
lected from the salariaS, or lees,
of Office. holders. Tho official class
in other countries sometimes, by
lis own weight, and sometimes In ALL
ance with the army, has been able to
rule unorganized masses, even under
universal suffrage Here il has already
grown into agigsntic power, capable OF
singing the inspirations OF sound pub
lie opinion and of resisting an easy
change of administration,
UnttI Misg0vernment Becomes In
tOIerabIe
and public spirit has been stung to the
pitch OF - civil revolution. The first
step IN reform is the elevation OF a stand
ard by hich the appointing power selects
accents to execute official trusts. Next In
lmporlnGce is II conscientious fidelity IN
the exercise OF authority to. hold to account
and
nisnIoce Internationally or Iucapa.
bic SubOr,iinates.
The public interest in the honest, skill.
FIJI performance of official trusts must
not be sacrificed To incompetency. After
these immediate steps, which will insure
the exhibition of better examples, we
may wisely go on to the abolition of
unnecessary officers, and finally to the
potent, careful organization OF better
rlyll service system, under tests when
ever practicable, of prov d competency
and fidelity. While much may be &C
complished by these methods, it might
Encourage DeIusive Expectations
irI withhold here an expression OF my
convection that no reform of civil service
in this country will be complete and
permanent until its chief mag
is,rste is constitutionally disquali'
fled for reelection, experience
having repeatedly expressed the
iutility of tho self-imPosed restrlc-
lions, by candidates or incumbents.
Through this solemnity only can he be
efIectualy delivered from his greatest
temptation to misuse his power and patr-
onare, with which each executive is nee
essnrily charged. Educated IN the belief
that it is the inst duty of citizen ofthe
Republic to
Take His FAIR Allotment of Care and
Trouble
in public affairs, l have for forty years
Ma y private citizen fulfilled that duty,
Though occupied in an unusual degree
during I'll that period with the concerns
of the government, | have never acquir-
ed the habit of official life. When year
and "A half ago entered upon my pres
.pt trust. il was in order TO coRsumate re-
forms to which l had already devoted
several years Of my life. knowing as
do, therefore, from fresh experience how
Great the difference is between gliding
through an official routine and
working ont n Reform
of systems and policies, it is impossible
Tor me to contemplate what needs to be
done IN the federal administration with
,ul An anxious sense of official difficulties
nr the undertaking. If summoned by
the SURFACES of my countrymen TO at
teurt this work, shall endeavor with
Gods help to be the efficient instrument
ol their. will.
Signed.I SAMUEL D. IlLpkN.
10 GEN. John 4. McCernand, Chairman,
GsA, ". y franklin, Hon. j. AJboH,
Hon. III. i Sooanhorst, Hon. +. s. Lyon,
and others of the Committee.
n