Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-01-16

be asked by the executive department
and accordingly since the incoming
Of the present administration have
endeavored consistently and steadily
to abstain from doing 80, and be-
lieve ] have kept my purpose. Ihave
thought it consistent with this posi-
tion, when applications or recommen.
dations for place were sent me, to for.
ward them to the proper Office with .
written statement or memorandum of
the character and standing of the sigu-
ers, If known to me, and have
thought 1t right and indeed q duty
whenever any of my constituents in
employment of the executive depart
ments have complained of it's action
~ unjust, In respect to him, to make
necessary inquiries and endeavor to
-ectify what should appear to be
wrong. These think ought to be
clear and positive boundaries in res.
pect Of appointments between mem.
bers Of the two branches Of governs
ment. am gratified In believing
that this course 10 satisfactory to my
constituents and in feeling that neith-
or my official course nor that Of the
executive department, so far as am
concerned, can be affected by the in
fluence to which have alluded. But
to have proper and fair effect what
ever course is pursued ought to be
uniform, constant and universal.-l
Any system will be radically vicious
and will fail that opens candidacy for
duties and honors of public trust 70
citizens OF a State or section, only up-
on previous knowledge of an execu.
tive branch or the simple recommen-
dations Of private persons, while
there is brought to bear for the candi-
dates Of other states and sections the
powerful and personal solicitations of
Senators and Representatives, whose
gratitude for success may be drawn
upon In an emergency, or whose dis
appointment in failure may prejudice
them against some necessary measures
recommended by the executive. II
can be easily seen too that there would
be NO gain to public welfare if the
practice Of following volunteer rec
concentrations Of Senators and Rep
resentatives were to give place to the
influence of private cliques, or to q
business Of brokerage in Offices, as it
10 said has sometimes happened. III
10 not probable that the fitness of per-
sons appointed would be increased
BY such change as this and 1t is clear
hist the responsibility of the promo
'ers of such appointments would be
ess, % they would be less easily as
and would not have so
'trong motives to satisfy public opin-
on % those who have been elected to
he House or Senate by their fellow
citizens and who are generally sup
posed to desire fresh proofs Of public
With the vast extent of
,ur territory and population, the num-
Der of place holders has of necessity
become very great and the means Of
PERSONAL or other definite knowledge
II men by the executive branch has
,roportionally decreased and in the
anne degree the evils Of patronage, in
whatever hands, is tospractically in.
:reased. think these can be greatly
by an entire cessation by
senators and Representatives from
whatever advice or solicitations res
,ecting appointments, and by the es-
by law of definite regu-
ations respecting selections for many
,ffcers and employments and the
erms upon which they shall be held,
10 that the executive branch and the
legislative department may be and
EEL perfectly free in their respective
Ipheres, and so that the holders of Of
Ice may feel also that they are the
of the law and not the per-
'oual tenants at will in their places,
II either heads of departments, or Of
am respectfully
yours, GEORGE F. EDMuNDs.