Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-12-05

thF country. aHl inst dV apHFhpEialioH ~ ABOUT
pcuscs Inrlntng sltries Involved IN dis re- ng
Il ansinufcd 10 congress by special message 81
hprtl Is. ~ win he f,ltpwiag favorable 9 M
aucd hy congress. have no DOUBT the rules con-.
e. o,c,,l 4s 20 SIN mere inatertaIv bement tie
public service an relieve the executive. members
Of cons,cas aud the hedG5 OF departments, from
inhuences prciudIcial to GOO 4 min sratlon The
RI IS, as th"V i We hitherto beeu cniorced, have
result e, heueacially. rs Is shown W the Opinions
concur" Ana - the annual messaee 81 beet mher
Of tie same year sintit views are EXPRESSED, and
~ appropriation Tor continuing the Sork Of the
commission again advised.
1hc appropriation WAS hYf made. anh. as conse-
qucncc, the act work IL the coninlts ion was
/ suspended, leaving the commission itsef still IN
ins qGalihcaii Ions 10 he tested in any systematic
manller. or of securing for Inc public service tns
advantages ~ comp tittOu bpun any extensive
plan. ! recommended i4 my annial MESSAGE OF
for tho resumption Il the work of the commits
blon.
nations under many tmbGriassinents have been
| conducted within limited spheres IN the eHecu-
tlyc Department. in Washington, and IN num-
Der or the curtom houses and post Offices OF tho
principal cities ~ tha country, with view is
| urthcr test Their fleets and, IN every instance,
they have been i0nni to be as sanitary as they
are stated to have been Gnd,r the administration
of my predecessor. think the economy, purity
anu efficiency II the public service would be
greatly promoted bY their systematic introduce
tiOU. wherever pThCUCHDlt. tHTDH1UOut lUS tutlIC
c wi service Of the government, together with
ample provision for their general supervision, In
order 10 secure consistency aud uniform justice.
Reports from the secretary OF the interior, from
the pOstmuster- general, from the postmaster IN
the city OF New YORK, where such examinations
have been some time on trial, and nj IRON the
collector Of the port, the naval officer, and the
surveyor in that clti. and from the postmasters
and collectors several Of the other large cities,
jhOw that the competitive system, where applied,
nas, in various ways, contributed 10 improve the
| public service.
The reports show that the result. have been sal.
rtary in marked degree. and that tho general
application Of similar Tules cannot fail TO be- VI
decided benefit to the aervice
The reports OF the government officers, in tho
city orhsw York especially, bear decided tesi'
mOny to the utility OF open competitive examine
tons In their respective Offices, showing that
"these examinations. nni the excellent qualihca-
tons of those admitted to the service Thu ongh
them, have had marked incidental effect upon
the persons previously In the service, and paitlc
ularly upon those aspiring to promotion. I here
has been The part OF these latter, an increased
interest IN tho work, and a desire TO extend &C
quaintanCc with il beyond the particular desk oc-
cuped, and thus The morale OF the entire force
has been raised The examinations have
been attended by many citizens who have mad an
opportunity to thoroughly Investigate the scope
and character OF the tests and the method % de-
termining tho results, and those visitors have
without exception, approved the methods en-
plOyed, and several OF them have publicly attest
ed their favorable opinion"
Upon such considerations, deem 1t my duty to
renew the recommendation contained IN my al
nual message of December, 1877, requesting con-
gress to make the necessary appropriation for
the resumption Of tho work OF the civll service
commission Economy Will be promoted by au-
I thOIizing a moderate compensation TO persons IN
the public service VINO may perform extra labor
| upon or under the commission, as the exc cutiye
| may direct
am convinced that II just and adequate
test 0l merit Is enforced for admission to the pub
| lie service and in making promotions, euch
| ubl9pH n renewals without good CnuRp and
tisan and official intei fcTence with tho proper
exercise OF the appointing power, Will IN large
measure disappear.
There ure Other administrative abuses TO which
the attention Of congress shodld he asked In this
connection. Mere partisan appointments, and
the constant peril OF removal without cause. very
naturally lead TO an absorbingand miscnevous
! political nctivity, on tho part OF those thus APP
pointud which not only lnterferes win the due
| discharge of official duty, but Is incompatible
with tho freedom OF elections. Not without
warrant, In the views II several OF my predeces-
sors In the presidential office, and directly with
| In the law OF 1871, already cited. / tndeavored,
ny regulation, made on the 2ld day of June, 1917,
10 put some reasonable limit TO snch abuses. 1t
may not be cay ana 1t may never perhaps he
necessary, ~ dtnue with precision The proper
limit of political action on the part OF federal
officers But while their right to huld aud freely
express thor OPINIONS cannot be questioned, 1t
Is very plan that they should neither be allowed
to devote 10 other subjects The time needed for
proper discharge OF their official duties, TO use
the authority OF tner ollce 10 enforce their
own opinions, or 10 coercc the political action Of
those who hold different opinions.
! Reasons of justice and public policy, quito
analogous TO those which forbid the use OF OIL
| ncial power iuI the oppression OF the private
| ciulcu, impose nlon the government the duty
OF protecting its officers and agents from arbt.
| trary cxactions. In whatever aspect considered.
the practice OF making levios, for party purposes,
| upon tho salaries of officers IL highly drmoralZ-
! Ing to the public service and dsoreditahle 10 the
country. Though an officer should be as free as
any other citizen, give his money in aid of his
opinions or his party, he should also he Hs II ZEE Ms
any other citizen to refuse to make such gifts. II
salaries are but a far compensation for the time
rnd LABOR OF The officer, II is gfosf injustice to
i levy a tax upon them. If thay are nude excess
ave In order that they may bear the tax, tho ex-
&C = Is an indirect robbery OF the public funds.
! recommend, therefore, such revision and
extension OF present statutes as lshali secure TO
those in every grade OF official life or public EN-
ployment the protection with which great and
enliphlensd nation shoHli guard those who ~ .
| faithful In It's service.
Oun RELATIONS WIN PusEtaN COUNTRIES have
CoNriSuEp rc.cEfuI.
With Great Britain thee are still unsettled
questions, e owing out oil the local laws of tn,
maritime provinces ami the acton Of prov meta
| authorities, deemed TO he III dcro2aton of right
secured bY Treaty to American nshprmrn. Tht
United states minister IN Lon ton hns been in
sUnCted 70 present 6emand tor SlO5 Nl5.02 II
view OF the damages received by American citi
Eens at FOltune bay OH the Il laY uf January
! 1873 Two subject has been taken intu consider
alton by the Biltsh government, ana an early ~,
ply 10 anticipated
| Upon the completion Of the necessary prelim
| mar, examinations, the subject of our pafticp
| ton IN Tho provincial nshtrles as regulated b,
| treaty, will at once he brought 10 the aticntiop
OF the British government with avtew to AN early
| and permanent settlement OF the whole que' ton
| which was only temporarily adjusted by tue treat,
| Of Wash nGton.
Efforts have been mnde 10 obtain the remova
OF restrictions fuunu Injurious 10 the exportati OF
Of cattle 10 tho United KINGDOM.
some cOrrespundcnco huS also occurred With
regard 10 the rescue and saving OF lite aud prop
crty upon the lakes, whlrh has resulted in i'm
pnitaht notifications az tho psevious regulation,
~ the Dominion government on tho subject, IN
| the interest OF humanity ard commerce,
In accordance with the joint resolution or the
| last session OF congress, commissioners were mp
pointed tn represent tho United States at the 1--WE
| International exhibitions III Australia, Que Oh
VIII oh ia nav IN progress ut sydney, aud the olhei
! To be held next Year nj Melbourne. A dcrsire has
been expressed by our merchants and manuiac
| turrls Interested in the Important and growing
| Trade with Australia. that All Increased provision
should be made Ivy congress FIR the representa-
tinn Of our Industries NJ the Melbourne EXHIBIT
ton Of next year, and tho subject ~ respectfully
submitted u your favorable consideration.
THE rRGscH cAnLE,
Tho assent OF tho government has boon given 10
the landing, On the coast ot Massachusetts OF a
new and Jude penIent transatlantic able between
! Franco A. way of French Island OF st. Pierre