The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1877-12-06
CIVIL SERVICE.

| THE NECESSITY FOR REFORM.
! The organization Of the civil service Of the
country has for a number of years attracted
more and more Of public attention. So general
has become the opinion that the methods Of
admission TO 1t and the conditions Of remain.
ing in it are unsound that both the great 20.
litical parties have agreed in most explicit
declarations of the necessity Of reform,
and in the most emphatic demands
for it, have fully considered the
declarations and demands TO be the
expressions of sincere conviction Of the in.
tclllgcnt masses OF the people upon the sub
cct and that they should be recognized and
followed by earnest and prompt action ON the
part OF the legislative and executive depart.
mcnts OF the government. In pursuance of
the purpose indicated before my accession to
Office, II cndeavorcd TO have my own
views distinctly understood, and upon
my inauguration, my accord with the public
| opinion was stated in terms believed to be
plain and unambiguous. My experience in
the executive duties has strongly confirmed
my belief in the great advantage the country
would lind i'll observing strictly the plan Of
the constitution, which imposes upon the
executive
THE SOLE DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY
Of the selection of those federal officer. who
by law are appointed not elected, and which
in like manner assigns to the Senate the
complete right to advise, and consent to or
reject the nominations so madc whilst the
| House Of Representatives stands as the pub-
lie censor of tho performance of official du-
ties, with the prcrOgative of investigation,
and providing in all cases of dereliction.
The blemishes and imperfections in the civil
service may, as | think, be traced in most
cases to Il practical confusion of the duties
assigned TO the several departments Of the
government. My purpose in this respect has
been TO return TO the system established by
the fundamental law, and to do this with the
hcartiest cooperation and most cordial I'M.
dcrstandng with the Senate and House of
| Representatives.
THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES
in the selection of numerous officers for posts
OF widely varying duties and responsibilities
are acknowledged to be very great. No sys.
TEN can be expected to secure absolute free.
dom from mistakes, and the beginning of an
attempted change of custom is quite likely to
be more embarrassed in this respect than at
any subsequent period. 1t is here that the
constitution seems to prove most of its claim
to the great wisdom accorded to it. II giyes
to the executive the assistance Of the knowl.
edge and experience Of the Senate, which,
when acting upon nominations as to which
they may be disinterested and impartial
Judges, secures as strong guaranty Of free
dom OF errors of Importance as is, perhaps,
possible in human affairs.
In addition to this, / recognize the public
advantage Of making all nominations as near
ly as possible on personal grounds in the
sense of being free from
MERE CAPRICE OR FAVOR
in these directions, and in those offices which
special training is of greatly increased value.
| claim such rule as to the tenure of office
should obtain as may induce men of proper
qualifications to apply themselves indus.
triously to the task Of becoming proficient
Bearing these things in mind, have en-
dcavored to reduce the number of changes in
subordinate places usually made upon the
change of the general administration, and
shall most certainly cooperate with Congress
in better systematizing, by such modes and
rules OF admission, the public service and Of
promotion within as may promise to be most
successful in making thorough
COMPETENT EFFICIENCY AND CHARACTER
the decisive tests in these matters ask the
renewed attention of Congress to what has
already been done by the civil service com.
mission appointed in pursuance Of an act Of
Congress by my predecessor, to prepare and
revise the civil service rules in regard tc
much of the departmental service, especially
at Washington. It may be difficult to organ
ize better system than that which has thus
been provided, and 1t is now being used to
considerable extent under my direction. Tn,
commission has still legal existence, al
though for several years no appropriation has
been made for defraying its
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
expenses. Believing that this commission
has rendered valuable agency in improving
the administration of civil service, respect
fully recommend that suitable appropria
, tion be Immediately made t. enable It to con
} tnue Its services. 1t is my purpose to trans
nit to Congress, as early as practicable, tn,
} report by the chairman OF the commission
, and to ask your attention to such measures
on this subject as in my opinion will furthe
promote improvement In civil service.