The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-12-11

predecessor declared that 'there no du,y Which
any SUCH ard1ous and thahSiess aboi on
@ Te dos
not secure the best men, and often not fit men
tion Of the civil service Of the govern@sns viii Se
M the the
se5s s,pp re- r Marcha s1 'cga*te te civil
cheney thereof" giving the necessary authority
Ehe executive to inaugurate civil-service re-
Acting under this statute, which WIS Interpreted
as intended to secure system of just aid efectual
her Sf eminentIy competent persons We're selected
f3 70, the purpose, who entered with zeal upon tho
ye te and took
for A.
tion ana for the expense Of carrying on the work
1t appears from tho report Of the commission.
submitted to the president in April 1871. that ex-
a am had been held in varions sections of
Ss Stss sq
viii sRsG fa7o miGssss ss% Of
tanned congress. have no doubt the rules c can.
as fo s be So and
public service and relieve the executive meMbers
OF congress. and the heads Of departments, from
Influences prejudlclal to good administration The
81 y eG
r. n tse q
OF tne same year similar views are expressed. and
ea sG the Of the
Ts Pro was not and eonse
sSPsnasd lsSyns The !tseif Sim il
mSnar .. Of securing the ths
su;van:ages o. competition upon any extensive
bscenber: 1871 tho making Of an apprpristto ~
Sion. VIC resumption 81 'ne WORK OF the commi'-
I In the meantime. however, competitive exam
nations under many EMBELLISHMENTS have been
conducted within limited spheres in the execu-
tive departments in Washington. and in a num-
Der Of the custom houses and post Offices OF the
principal cities OF the country. with view TO
they have been found to be as salutary as they
arc stated to have been under tho administration
OH Of my pEsds:essor thipk the economy purity
greatly, promoted by their systematic introduce
ton. wherever practicable. throughout the entire
Of the together with
order to secure consistency and uniform justice.
Reports from the secretary OF the interior, from
the Of New YORK 1here sucl
have been some time ON trial, and alao from the
collector of the port, the naval officer, and the
and collectofs in several Of the other large cities,
show that the competitive system, where applied.
has. In various Ways. contributed to improve the
The reports show that the results have been sal
utaEy in a marked degree. and that the general
application Of similar rules cannot fail to be of
decided benefit to the service
The reports OF the government officers, in the
city Of New York especially, bear decided testi.
mony to the utility OF open competitive cxamina-
tlons in. their respective Offices, showing that
+" these examinations. and the excellent auaiiaca-
tlons of those admitted to the service through
them, have had marked incidental effect upon
TIE persons previously in the service. and partic
been, on the part OF these latter, an increased
interest in the work, and desire to extend &C
quaintance with it beyond the particular desk oc-
las been raised. ~ Tie examinations have
been attended by many citizens who have had an
opportunity to thoroughly investigate the scope
termin1ng the results. and those visitors have,
without exception, approved the methods en-.
eloySsd and OF have publicly attest
Upon such considerations. deem it my duty to
renew the recommendation contained in my
nual message of December, 1877, requesting con-
Eeess to make the necessary appropriation for
sue resumption OF the work of the civil service
confmies1on. Economy will be promoted by au-
the public service who may perform extra labor
upon or under the commission, rs the exc cutive
may direct.
1 am convinced that ii just and adequate
st VI Me11I IL enforced LOT aomlSSaon 10 TIE pu1"
lie service and in making promotions sucn
abuses as removals without good cause aud par
tisan and official Interference with tho proper
exercise Of disappointing power, will in large
There are other administrative abuses TO which
the attention of congress should be asked in this
connection; Mel Mere partisan appointments and
naturally lead to an absorbing:and mischievous
political activity. on tho part of those thus ap-
pointed. which not only interferes with the due
discharge Of official 6Utv. HIT fncOnnaffh.A
with the freedom of elections! Not without
warrant, In the views Of several Of my predeces-
in the law Of 1871, already cited I endeavered,
by regulation, made on the 2sd day of June. 1877,
to put some reasonable limit to such abuses. 1t
may noE oe FAY, ana may never perhaps Be
limit Of political action on the part Of federal:
o1ncers. But while their right to hold and freely
express their opinions cannot be questioned, it
is very plain that they should neither be allowed
Sexo 70 otaer the time needed for
tho authority Of their Office to enforce their
OWE opinions. OF to coerco the political action Of
those who hold different opinions.
Reasons of justice and public policy, quite
analogous to those which forbidthe use Of Of
nGial power Tor the oppression OF the private
OF protecting its officers and agents from arbi.
trary exactions. In whatever aspect considered,
me praehce Of making leviea, for party purposes,
Ing to the public service and disereditable to tho
country. Though an officer should be az free as
any other citizen, give his money in aid Of his ,
opinions or his party. he should also be as free as
any 9tner citizen to refuse to make such gifts II
and abor of the officer, it is gross injustice to
levy tax upon them. II they are made excee-
sive IN order that they may bear tho tax, the ex-
cess is An Indirect robbery of the pubhs funds.
I recommend, therefore, euol 4 revision and
extension Of present statutes as lsbail secure to
those in every grade Of odiciallife or public en-
ploymcnt the protection with which great aud
enlightened nation shsuld guard those who ore
faithful In its service.
OUR RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES HAVE
CONTINUED pEACkFUL.
With Great Britain there are still unsettled
Questions, growing out OF the local laws Of the
maritime provinces and the action of provincial
authorities, deemed to be In deroaation Of rights
secured Oy treaty to American hAharmon INA