Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-12-04


executive and legislative authorities OF tn
States in this great purpose. am tuily con
Vinced that If the public mind can be set ~ res
on this paramount question OF popular rights
plete pacifcatiOn Of the country or retard tn
general diffusion Of prosperity.
In former message l invited the attention o
Congress to the subject of the
REFORMATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
of the Government, and expressed the lntentiol
of transmitting to Congress as early as practca
BILE report upon this subject by the Chairman
of the Civil Service Commission.
In view of the facts that during considerable
period, the Government Of Great Britain hal
been dealing with administrative problems RnC
abuses, in various particulars analogous to thos'
presented in this country, and that, IN recenl
years the measures adopted were understood Z
have been effective and in every respect highly
satisfactory, thought it desirable to have fuller
information upon the subject, and accordingly
requested the Chairman of the Civil Service
Commission to make thorough Investigation
for this purpose. The result has been an elabO-
rate and comprehensive report.
The report sets forth the history of the partisan
spoils system in Great Britain, and of the rise
and tall of the parliamentary patronage, and OF
official interference with the freedom OF cleo
tiOns. 1t shows that after long trials of various
kinds of examinations, those which are com,
pettlve and open on equal terms TO all ana
which are carried on under the superintendence
of single commission, have, with great adVan-
tage, been established as conditions of admission
! to almost every official place in the subordinate
administration of that county and of British
| India. The completion Of the report, owing to
the extent of the labor involved in its prepara-
| tiOn, and the omission of Congress to make any
provision either for the compensation or the ex-
penseB of the Commission, has been postponed
until the present time. IL is herewith trans
mitted to Congress.
| While the reform measures of another Govern
ment are Of no authority for us, they are entl-
tied to influence to the extent to which their In
knkd FFF
stitutions and social life, may commend them
| to our consideration.
| The views have heretofore expressed concern
ing the defects and abuses in our civil admins
tratiOn remains unchanged, except in SO far as
an enlarged experience has deepened my sense
Of the duty both of officers and Of the people
themselves to cooperate for their removal. The
grave evils and perils of partiBan-spOils system
of appointment to Office and of Office tenure, are
now generally recognized. In the resolutions of
the great parties, in the reports of Departments
in the debates and proceedings of Congress, in
the, message of Executives. the gravity OF these
evils has been pointed out and the need of their
reform has been admitted.
To command the necessary support every
measure Of reform must be based on common
right and Justice and must be compatible with
the healthy existence of great parties, which are
inevitable and essential in free State.
When the people have approved policy at a
National election, confidence on the part Of the
officers they have selected, and of the advisers
WHO1 III hCCOIOAuGS WIN our pOllLIChl LuBUlIu-
tiOns. should be consulted in the policy which
1t Is their duty to carry into effect, is indlspon
sable. II Is emlnently proper that they should
explain it before the people, as well as illustrate
ITS spirit In the performance OF their otticialdu
ties
Very different considerations apply to the
greater number Of those who fill the subordinate
places in the civil service Their responsibility
i to their superiors in official position. 1t is
their duty to obey the legal instructions of those
upon whom that authority is deyOlved, and their
best public service consists in the discharge of
their functions irrespective of partisan politics.
Their duties are the same, whatever party is in
power and whatever policy prevails. AS cOnse-
quence it follows that their tenure of office
should not depend on the prevalence of any poll
Cy or the supremacy of any party, but should be
determined by their capacity to serve the people
most usefully. quite irrespective of partisan ln-
terests. The same considerations that should
govern the tenure, should also prevail in the ap-
pOlntment, discipline and removal of these SUBJ
ordinates: The authority of appointment and
removal is not perquisite, which may be used
to AID friend or reward partisan, but is
trust to be exercised in the public interest un-
der all the sanctions which attend the obligation
to apply the public funds only for public pur-
poses.
Every citizen has an equal right to the honor
and profit of entering the public service of his
country. The only just ground of discrimina-
ton is the measure OF character and capacity he
has to make that service most useful to the peO-
ple.. Except in Cases where, upon just and rec
ognized principles, as upon the theory of pen |
siOns, offices and promotions are bestowed rs re-
wards for past services, their bestOwal upon any
theory which diHregards personal merit ia an act
of injustice to the citizen as we'll az breach of
that trust subject to which the appointing pow
or ia held.
In tine light of these principles, it becomes of
great Importance to provide Just and adequate |
means, especially for every department. and large
administrative office where personal diBerim- |
ination on the part of its head is not practicable
for ascertaining those qualifications to which APP
pOintments and removals should have reference |
To fail to provide such means is not only to deny
the opportunity of asOertaining the facts upon |
which the most righteous claim to office depends |
but, of necessity, TO discourage all worthy |
by handing over appointments
and removals to. mere influence and favor
ltism n it is the right of the
wOrthiest claimant to gain the appointment, and
lhe interest of the people to bestOw it upon him,
Il would seem clear that u wise and lust method
IF asoertaining personal fitness for office must
be an important and permanent function of
9very Just and wise government. Ii has long
Iinoe become impossible, in the great offices, for
hose having the duty of nomination and ap-
Idual qualifications of more than a small pro-
lOrbiOn of those seeking Offices and. with the en-
argement of the civil service that proportion
must continue to become less
In the earlier years Of the Government the
offices were so few in mum Ger that
was quite easy for those making appointments
md promotions, 70 personally ascertain the
nerita Of candidates. Party managers and
nethOdg had not then become powerful agencies
i coercion, hostile to the free and Just exercise
4 the appointing power.
large and responsible part of the duty of re-
tOring the civil service to the desired purity and
iiiCienCy rests upon the President and it is my
'urpOse To do what ia within my power TO adj
ance such prudent and gradual measures Of re-
orm 49, Will most surely and rapidly bring about
hat radical change Of system essential 20 make
ur administrative methods satisfactory to a
rec and intelligent people. BY a proper exer-
ise Of authority 1t ia In the power OF the Exeou-
i've to do much to promote such reform. But
cannot be too clearly understood that nothing ]
dequate can be accomplished without co-opera-
ion on the part Of Congress and considerate and !
Intelligent support among the people. Reforms +,
'hiOh challenge the generally accepted theories I
parties, and demand changes in the methods
I departments, are not the work of a day 2
heir permanent foundations must be laid In Z
Dund principles, and in an experience which q
emonstrates their wisdom and exposes the
rrora of their adveraares. Every worthy officer l
eaires 20 make his official action gain and an 5
onOr tO his country, but the people themselves, '
" more than their officers in public station are
lteregted N pure, economical and vigorous
ADMINISTRATION. b
BY laws enacted in 1853 and 1866, and now in a
Instance incorporated in the Revised Statutes
iveral subordinate grades in the great Z
apartments WAS condemned, and exami- y
atoms, az ~ capacity, to be CON o
icted by departmental boards Of ex- O
miners, were provided for and made conditions q
admission 10 the public service, These stat b
.es are decision by Congress- that examina-
ons OF some sort, ~ 20 attainments and capaci- o
F, are essential TO the well-being Of the public q
rvioe. The important questions since the en-
tment Of these laws have been az 10 the char z