Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-22
ed, and has been placed upon the 6les Of the
Department for consideration under the rules
of the civil service when vacancies occur. at
nresent none exist (Sioned1

ed, and has been placed upon the 6les OF the
Department for consideration under the rules
of the civil service when vacancies occur. At
present none exist (sigue6 -s
1'aatr Postmaster. General.
Only the other day, the President refused
10 remove an Illinois postmaster on the
ground that he is Democrat, and said before
he would order his removal to make place for
q Republican, it must be shown that the in
cumbent is incompetent. It seems to be gen.
orally understood that unless incompetency
can be shown on the part of an official, few If
any removals will be made. On the subject
of making appointments to Office, the Presl'
dent takes frequent occasion to inform the
senators and members of Congress of his views
as to the relations which ought to exist be-
tween them and the Executive ia the matter
of appointments to Office. He says that he
shall be glad to receive their recommendations
and shall no doubt in many cases appoint the
candidates they commend; but if, he sees
proper to select somebody else, be does not
want them to think that their rights have
been invaded and that they have consequent
" cause to take offence. Under the old sys-
tenn, he says, a Congressman selected from
among the applicants for an Office in his dis
trict whatever man he preferred, and after he
had commended him. his appointment followed
as matter of course, the Executive perform
ing the mere formal function of signing tho
papers. This system the President means to
break up He believes that it is gross per-
version of the Constitution to have the ap-
pointing power virtually exercised BY sena'
tofs and representatives. He feels that he is
responsible for the character of all Presiden.
tial appointees, and that it is his duty to use
his best efforts to secure the services for the
government of the most competent and honest
men. This is a duty which be feels be has no
right to delegate to Others. Morris he willing,
that under the plea of custom, others should
take it out of bis hands.
On this point the Washington correspon-
dent Of the New York Tribune writes the fol-
lowing: -. .--.
Civil Service Reform has actually begun at
Washington, and begun, as most great chang
es do, noiselessly. Both in the brief speeches
of the new secretaries on taking Office and in
the proceedings of the 6rst Cabinet meeting.
the principle that removals shall not be made
without cause nor appointments without tit
ness, is clearly made known. Mr. Evarts and
Mr.. Schurz are at work framing a set Of rules
governing ppointments-meant for use this
time, not for shown which the Congress
mans monopoly of appointments will be for
mally and distinctly annulled. Mr.. Schurz,
in his remarks to his new subordinates, plain
" intimated that their terms of Office were
likely, with good behavior, to be longer than
his. Mr.. Key told clamorous applicant for
Office that only the army or the President
could remove postmaster against whom no
charges Of ine6iciency had been made. Veri.
", there is another spirit abroad in the air of
Washington, and it is infectious. 1t is easy,
after all, to do right, and the promptness with
which the President is seconded in his efforts
for reform by those about him, aud the dnan-
imous approval which the country accords,
show that it was only the first step which
needed courage. President Hayes has started
bravely and we'll, and the rest of his way
ought to be easy, the politicians of the country
notwithstanding = s-..... ...