Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-12

mai value materially above their COM
mercial value, and the restoration of the
silver dollar, at a rate which once was
but has ceased to be q commercial
value. Certainly the issue Of our gold
coinage, reduced in weight materially
below its legal tender value, would not
be any the less Il present debasement OF
the coinage, by reason of it's equality
or even exceeding in weight good
coinage, which at some past time had
been commercially useful to the legal
tender value assigned to the new issue.
In recommending that the regulation
of any coinage which may be author
lied 10y CONGRESS-. -shauld observe these
conditions Of commercial value and
limited legal tender, | am gov
erend by the feeling that
every possible increase should be
given to the volume of metallic money
which can be kept in circulation and
thereby every possible aid afforded the
people in the process Of resuming specie
payments. 1t is the excuse of my CON
viction that a disregard of these condi-
tons would Illustrate the goodl results
which are desired from the proposed
coinage and embarrass, with new ele-
ment of confusion and uncertainty, the
business of the country, that [ urge up
on your attention these considerations
/ respectfully recommend to congress
that in any regulation providing for a
silver coinage and imparting to it the
quality oflegal tender, there be impress
ed In the measure a provision exempt
ing the public debt heretofore issued
and now outstanding, from payment
either of principal or interest in any
coinage of less value than the present
gold coinage of the country.
THR ORGANIZATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
of the country has for a number of years
attracted more and more Of public atten-
ton, SO general has become the opinion
that the methods of admission to it and
the conditions Of remaining in it are
unsound; that both of the great political
parties have agreed in the most explicit
declarations of the necessity of reform,
and in the most emphatic demands for
it. [ have fully considered the declara-
tons and the demands to be the express
siOns of sincere convictions Of the intel
ligent masses of the people upon the
subject, and that they should be recog-
nized and followed by earnest and
prompt action on the part of the legis-
lative and executive departments
Of the government IN pursu-
ance OF the purpose indicated.
Before my accession to Office / endeav-
ored 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 con-
firmed the belief IN the great advant-
age the country would find, in observ-
ing strictly the plan of the constitution,
which imposes upon the executive the
sole duty and responsibility of the
selection of those federal officers, 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 to reject the nominations
so made, whilst the house Of represen-
tatives stands as the public censor OF
the performance Of official duties with
the prerogative Of investigation, and
providing for all cases of dereliction. The
blemishes and imperfections in the civil
service may, as [ think, be traced in
most cases to a practical confusion OF
the duties assigned to the several de-
partments Of the government. Ny
purpose in this respect has been to re-
turn to the system established by the
fundamental law, and to do this with
the heartiest cooperation, and most
cordial understanding with the senate
and house Of representatives. The po-
litical difficulties in the selection of nu-
merous officers for posts of widely
varying responsibilities and duties are
Acknowledged to be very great. No
system can be expected to secure abso-
lutte freedom from mistakes, and the
beginning Of any attempted change Of
custom is quite likely to be more en-
barrassed in this respect than any sub
sequent period. 1t is here that the consti-
tuition seems to most cOnclusively prove
its claim to be the great wisdom accorded
to it. 1t gives to the executive the assist
ance Of the knowledge and experience
Of the senate, which when acting upon
nominations as to which they may be
disinterested and impartial judges Sc
cure as strong guarantee Of freedom
of errors of Importance as is perhaps
possible in human affairs. In addition
to this, [ recognize the public advantage
of making all nominations as nearly as
possible impersonal, in the sense of be-
ing free from mere caprice, OF favor in
these directions, and in these offices,
which special training has greatly in
creased in value. I believe such rule,
as to the tenure of office, should obtain,
as may induce men Of proper qualifca-
tons, to apply themselves industriously
to the task Of becoming proficient.
Bearing those things in mind, have
endeavored to reduce the number of
changes in subordinate places, usually
made upon the change of the general
administration, and shall most heartily
cooperate with congress in the best
systematizing Of such methods and
rules of admission to the
public service, and of promotion
within it, as may promise to be most
successful, in making thorough COM
potency, efficiency and character the
decisive tests in these matters. [ ask the
renewed attention of congress to what
has already been done by the civil SER
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