Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-12-11


accordingly requested tho chairman of tho
civil service commission to make thorough
investigation for this purpose. Tho result
bus been an elaborate and comprehensive
report. Tho report sets forth tho history
OF the partisan spoils system in Great Britain,
OF the rise and fall of parliamentary patro--
mage and of official interference with the
freedom of elections. 1t shows that after
long tliuls Of various kinds Of examinations
those which are, competitive aud open OH
equal tcrms to all, aud which arc
carried on under the superintendent of u
single commission, have, with great I'd
Sssistage, been established us conditions Of
admission to almost every official place in
the subordinate administration of that
country and Of British Ipdia. The com.
pIction of the report, owing to the extent of
the labor iryolvcd in its preparation and
the omission OF Congress to make any pro
vision either fer the compensation or the
expenses of the commission, has been post,
poncd until the present time. 1t is here
with transmitted TO Congress. While the
reformed measures of another government
arc OF DO authority fer us, they arc entitled
to influence to tho extent to which their
intrinsic wisdom aud their adoption to our
institutions, aud our social lifo commend
them to our consideration. The views [
have heretofore expressed CONCERNING the
defects and abuses in our civil administra.
ton remain unchanged, except in SO far as
an enlarged experience has opened my eyes
to tho want Of sense of duty on the part
OF officers, and the hesitation OF the people
| hn nl f,,o A., I
A large and responsible part of the duty OF
restoring the civil service to the desired
purity and efficiency rests upon tho Prcsi-,
dcnt, and it has been my purpose to do
what is within my power to advance such
prudent and gradual measures OF reform as
vii! most surely and rapidly bring about
tho radica! changes Of system essen
tial TO mako our administrative meth
ods satisfactory to free and Intelligent
people. by proper exercise of authority
1t IS in the power Of the Executive to do
much to promote such reform, but it
cannot be too Clearly understood that nothing
adequate can be accom- piishcd without
co-opcration Or the part Of Congress, and
considcrato and Intelligent support among
| the people" lie refers to the work Of the
| Civil Service Commission, aud tho failure
or Congress to appropriate money for the
resumption OF the work OF the commission.
On the subject Of competitive examinations
for Office he says: 81 think that the ccouomy,
purity and efficiency OF the public service
would DC grcDtly promoted by their system.
ATTIC introduction, wherever practicable,
throughout the entire civil service of the
government, together with ample provision
for their general supervision in order to
secure consistency and uniform Justice
Reports oi cSaDination.s heretofore made
show that the results have been salutary in
a marked degree, and that Tie general
application OF similar rules cannot fail to be
OF decided benefit to the service deem
1t my d"ty to renew the recommendation
contained in my annual message Of Dcccm.
Der, 1877, requesting Congress to mako
the necessary appropriation for the rcsump
toa Of the work of tho civil service CONS
mission. Economy will be promoted by
authorizing moderate compensation to
persons iu the public service who may
perform extra labor npon or undcr the
commission, as the Executive may direct.
1t may not be easy aud it may never
perhaps &c necessary to dcGno with precis-
ION the proper limit of political action on
the part of Federal officers, but while their
right to hold and freely express their opin-
IONS cannot be questioned, it is very plain
that they should neither be allowed to
devote to other subjects the time Dcrded
for tho proper discharge OF their official
duties, nor use the authority OF their Office
to enforce their cwn options, or to cocrcc
the political action Of those ssho hold dife.
rent opinions Reasons Of justice and
public policy quite analogous to those
which forbid the use Of official power for
oppression Of the private citizen, impose
upon the government the duty of protect.
ing its officers and agents from arbitrary
exactions. La whatever aspect considered
the practice of making levics for party
purposes upon the salaries of officers is
highly dcmoraIizing to the public service
and dlscrcditaEe to the country. Although
an officer should be as free as any other
citizen to give his money in aid of his
opinion or his party, he should also be as
Tree MS any other citizen to refuse to make
such gifts. Their salaries arc but fair
compensation for the time and labor of the
officers, and it is a gross injustice to levy
a tax upon them. II they arc made cxccs-
sivc in order, that they may bcw the tax,
the excess is in an Indirect robbery of the
public funds. recommend, therefore,
such revision and extension Of present
statutes as shall secure to those in every
grade of official life or public employment
| tho protection with which great and en-
lghtcncd nation should guard those who
| are faithful in their service. There is u
gratifying increase of trade with nearly all
European and American countries, and it
is beloved that with judicious action in