Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-02

> Adsses on the part Of he oabcers they hav
0elecsed. aud OF the edvts0rs who, 10 &C
I oordence with QUE political instttutiops
] shenlA DO consulss1. 10 the pulley which
70 thstr duty TO carry Into effect, 10 iadis
pensable. II 10 sntnently proper thst the
should explain Il before the people, q wsl
% illustrate ito spirit In the Performance Q
their ofacial duties.
Very different considerations apply to tn
greater number of those who fill the subor
dinate places In the civil service. Thei
responsibility. 10 TO their slperiorsin oflcia
position. Itsts their duty 10 obey the lego
Instructions OF those upon whom that su
tthortty - 6cvolved, and their best pub1l
service consfsts in the discharge of ihei
functions irrespective OF partisan poiitics
Ihetr duties aro the ssame, whatever party
its 10 power aud whstever policy prevails
AZ Q consequence, t. follows that their ten
ure Of Office should not depend on the pre-
valencs Of anv policy OF the supremacy 81
any party but should be determined by theil
capacity to serve the people most usefully
quite trn soecttve of partisan interests. The
came confederation that should govern the
tenure, should also prevail In the appoint-
ment, discipline. and removal OF these sub
~otdinates. The authority OF ~appointment
and removal 10 not . perquisite, which may
but 10 Q trust to b exercised 10 the public
interest, under all the sanctions which at
tend the obligation to apply the public
funds only for public purposes.
Every citizen bee an equal right to the
honor and profit of entering the public
service Of his country. The only Just
ground of Discrimination, Is the measure Of
character and capacity be has to make that
service most useful to the people. Except
In cases where, upon just and recognized
principles. as upon the theory of pensions.
ofdces and promotions are bestowed as re.
wards for past services, their bestowal upon
any theory which d~isregsrds personal merit,
10 an oct of injustice to the citizen, a. we'll
40 q breach of that trust subject to which
the appointing power is held.
10 the light of these principles, it becomes
of great importance to provide just and Id
equate means, especially for every depart.
mem, and large administrative Office, where
personal discrimination on the part of it's
bead 10 not practicable, for ascertainine
those qualifications to which appointments
and removals should have reference. To
fail to provide such means is not only to de-
ny the opportunity of ascertaining the facts
upon which the most righteous claim TO Of
dce depends. but, of necessity, to discourage
all worthy asptrants. by handing over APP
pointments and removals to mere influence
and favorit.sm. Ii it lie the right Of the
worthiest claimant to gain the appointment,
and the interest of the people to bestow
it upon him, it would seem clear that a wise
and just method Of ascertaining personal
fitness for office must be al important and
permanent function Of every just and wise
government. 1t has long since become i'm.
possible. in the great Offices, for those having
the duty of nomination and appointment, Ia
personally examine into the individual
qualifications of more than a small proper.
ton of those seeking Office; and, with the
enlargement of the civil service, that pro.
portion must continue to become less.
In the earlier years of the government,
the subordinate Offices were so few in num-
bel. that it was quite easy for those making
appointments and promotions to personally
ascertain the merits Of candidates. Party
managers and methods had not then become
powerful agencies of coercion, hostile to the
free and just exercise of the appointing
power.
A large and responsible part of the duty
of restoring the civil service to the desired
purity and efficiency rests upon the president
and it is my purpose to do what is within
my power to advance such prudent and
gradual measures Of reform as will mos,
surely and rapidly bring about that radical
change of system essential to make our ad.
ministrative methods satisfactory to . free
and intelligent people. BY a proper exer.
else of authority, it is in the power of the
executive to do much to promote such q
reform. But it cannot be too clearly under.
stood that nothing adequate can be accom-
plished without cooperation on the part O
congress and considerate and intelligent
support among the people. Reforms which
challenge the generally accepted theories o
parties, and demand changes in the methods
Of departments, are not the work of q day
Their permanent foundations must be laid
in sound principles, and in an experience
which demonstrates their wisdom and ex
poses the errors of their adversaries. Every
worthy officer desires to make his official
action a gain and IN honor to his country
but the people Themselves, far more thar
their officers in public station, are int. estet
in q pure, economical, and vigorous admin
istration.
By laws enacted in 1853 and 1855, ani
now in substance incorporated ii the reviset
statutes, the practice Of arbitrary appoint
ments to the several subordinate grades il
the great departments was condemned, ant
examinations. as to capacity, to be conducted
BY de partmental boards of examiners, wer,
provided for and made conditions of admis
sion to the public service. These statutes
are q decision by congress that examination
Of some sort, as to attachments ane
capacity, are essential to the we'll
being of the public service. The i'm
portant questions since the enactment oil
these laws have been as to the character o
these examinations, and whether oficia
favor and partisan influence, OF, commo,
right and merit, were to control the acces
to the examinations. In practice, these ex
aminations have not always been open I,
worthy persons generally. who might wisl
~ .>-.-s-1- 0H REHs