National Republican., 1877-08-17
CONGRESS AND CIVIL SERVICE RE-
FORM

CONGRESS AND CIVIL SERVItE RE-
FORM
The Republican platform upon which Mr.
HAYES was elected President declares in
The most explicit Language that appoint
mcnts to office should not be subject to the
1ictation of members of Congress. This
ection Of the platform is in strict conform
ty to the Constitution, which contcmplates
that the functions of the several depart
nents of the Government should be kept
iistinct. II is the duty Of the Executive to
,ominate for appointment and Of the Sem
ate to confirm or reject The House may
be called upon to impcach persons thus ap-
pointed, and therefore it is highly improper
hat they should recommend persons for
appointment. In short, the exercise OF any
sontr0l by Congressman over appointments
IA gross and unconstitutional usurpation
u authority.
In it's practical operation the assumption
BY Congressman OF q right to dictate ap-
p0intments amounts to an absolute usurpa-
lion OF the appointing power. That which
was intended by the iIamcrs of the COnstl-
tuition to be the act OF the President be-
comes the act Of a Senator or Representa-
live in Congress The responsibility which
should rest upon the President alone is di-
vided. Oihces which were created 10 serve
useful public ends have hitherto been made
mere rewards for public services, and have
consequently been iilled, in too many in
stances, by persons not appointed upon the
grounds Of their qualifications for such 10
sitions. Thus the interests Of the public
service have b,en notoriously sacrificed IN
order that Congressman might he enabled
10 reward their followers ioT campaign ser
vices.
m "a lh.a alma. n La. nj inu t,nN
oi rather its usuipLtI by members Of Con
g,ess which, us much Us auy other cause,
induced tn. people oi the United States 10
demand 4 reluIni IN the administration OF
the Government by which the executive
branch thereof should resume the independ
eni and unrestricted rAeiCse ~! the appoint
my power. Tins demand was accompanied
by another uur, whuh required that the
tenure OF offices should he rendered pcrma-
pcnL THIS principle is essential to the com
pleten.ss of the reioun both in order that
the number Of appointments to he made
may In diminished, and the power OF the
Executive 10 that extent limited, and for
the good Of the public service, in order that
officers we'll qualified by their talents and
and experience may he permanently retained
in the service OF the Government.
The extent 10 which this abuse had been
Of tue Government men were found who
held their places by the favor OF Senators
and Representatives, aud were always
spoken of as their appomtccs, That such
instances still exist is OWING to the fact that
there has not yet been time 10 carry into
practice the principles Of the reform de-
nianded by the platforms Of both the polit-
ical parties duIing the last Presidential
campaign.
Our system Of law and our political ira
ditions have taught both English and
Americans 10 have great respect for prcce-
dents. 1t having been the practice Of the
Executive branch Of the Government for
many years TO permit Congressman to in
teiiere to q greater or less exten, in making
appointments, it was not to be expected
that the old system could at once be
sbrupt!y broken up, for preccdents had as
sumed the force of law. When Mr.. HAYEs
became President he found the old practic,
in full force. He was ut once met by III,
requests Of Congressman to have appoint
ments made as personal iavOrs
1t is not wonderful that the Presidcn
found great difficulty in dispensing entirel,
with the old system before he had had tim
70 settle the rules by which the reformed
system should be administered. 1t wa
not possible to abolish in a day the abuse
which had been the growth of half q cen
tury This fact should be considered il
judging the actions of the President in re
1ation 10 appointments to Office. ii is ex
ceedingly unjust to expect that 10 be ac
complished in few months which cal
only be done in years. and never at al
without the active and sincere support o
Congress, both by necessary legislation an'
the personal cooperation Of the members.
ll...p.a - I..tl.I tn Lao E..tt hat 81,
Overwhelming majority of the people of tn
nation earnestly desire to see the civil servic
reformed. This is conclusively shown b.
the iact that both political parties in III
Presidential campaign incorporated th
principle in their platform. AS an abstrat
principle it is right to take the offices on
Of politics. The doctrine is approved b
the practice Of the most cnlightcnc
countries in the world and by the teachin
Of the most intelligent political writers.
Notwithstanding all these facts there
very great danger that the reform may M
be successful IN this country, and the grea
est dangers il will have to encounter will /
from the secret and open hostility of men
bers Of Congress. The Washington corr,
pondent OF the New York Graphic, VIII
seems to be very well informed on this sui
jcct, after predicting such opposition, say
that they will see whether the Executive ca
Hub nIvinl,crs ot Congress with impunity; that
Executive will hud that that Is u game that tv
eau play Mt that the President will find that Co
grss can get along without him quite rs well as
can get along without them that II lac viii
npthing they want done. they will du nothing III
he wants done. The English OF which Is, that 4
President mu't make Executive appointments
thc dlclaiiun Of members Of ConEfcss or he "
get no sappUH or supplies Can the President,
krrwHrned, be iUrcarncd Rnh fortified?
Olcourse, ifthe President is met in his efio
st reform by such spirit, practical results
n favorable character cannot be expect,
Immediately. But We have no fears rs
the ultimate triumph Of principles whi
have been so emphatically indorsed by 4
people. 1t should be understood in Il
connection that the interests of the peoI
and of the politicians in regard to this m'
ter are diametrically opposed. The form
are interested in having the Offices perm
nently filled by well-qualiiied men, the Il