Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-01

fund sufficient to extinguish the public debt
"lthln a limited period, be maintained. If
any chang OF the obje or rates of taxation
Is deemed necessary by Congress it is suggested
experience has shown, duty can be placed on
sSa ana conee, which will not enhance the
price OF those articles to the consumer, and
winch Will add several millions of dollars an
nually to the treasury.
MoRMoNIsM.
The continued deliberate violation by large
number of prominent and idfl rental citizens of
the Territory of Utah, of the laws of the United
States for the prosecution and punishment of
polygany, merits the attention of every de-
| partment of the government. This Territory
mas population sufficient to entitlc it to adj
mission rs a State. This. important change
; Will not. however, be approved by the country
While the citizens of Utah, in very CONSIDERS
bic numbers uphold practice which is cen
| demnsd as a crime by he laws of sll civilized
communities throughout the world. The law
for the suppression OF this offense was enacted
with unanirnity by Congress more than seventeen
years ago, but has remained until recently u
dead letter in the Territory of Utah because
OF the peculiar difficulties attending its Oh
forcelbent. The opinion widely prevailed
among citizens of Utah that tho law was in
! contradiction of the constitutional guarantee
of religious FIRE edom. This objection is now
| removed. Tho supreme Court OF the
| united States has decided the
| law 10 be within the lecisiaSiye
power of Congress-, binding az rule Of action
tor all who reside within the Territories There
is no Longer any reason for delay or hesitation
| IN Its enforcement. 1t should be firmly and eff
tectuaily executed. If not sufficiently strin-
gent IN the provisions, it should be amende
| an q IN AID of the purposes in view, ! recon-
ipend more comprehension and more searching
methods for preventing as we'll as Furnishing
| TINS crime, be provided. If necessary to secure
! obedience to law, the enjoyment aud exercise
OF the n ghts and privileges OF citizenship in
the Territories of the United States may be
Withheld or Withdrawn from those who violate
or oppose the enforcement of law on this sub
! ject.
PROTECTION OF THE BALLOT.
Inc elections of the past year, though occu-
pied only with State Offices have not failed to
| eiiclt IN political discussions which attended
| them all over the country new and decisive evil
! dence OF the deep interest which the great BODY
OF citizens take IN the progress Of the country
towards more general and complete establish
| hent, at whatever cost, of universal security
| ana freedom Ia the exercise of the elective
FRANCHISE While many topics of political con-
Germ demand great attention from our people.
both In the sphere Of national and State an.
thorlty ma no reason to qualify the opinion
expressed in my last annual message, that no
temporary or administrative interests of the
ever dlsplace the zeal Of our people IN defense
OF the primary rights of citizenship, and that
the power of public opinion will override
an political prejudices, and that
all sectional and State attachment
| in demanding that all over our wide Territory
the maine and character of citizen of the United
States shall mean one and the thing and
carry with them unchalleDged security and
respect. l earnestly appeal to the intelligence
aud patriotism of all good citizens, of every
part or the country, however i.i,,ch they NAV
De divided in opinion other political sub
ing laws aimed at the protection of
the right OF suffrage. i respectfully
urge upon Congress to supply any defects in
these laws which experience has shown and
which 1t ia within its power to remedy. |
again invoke the cooperation of the executive
and Legislative authorities Of States in this
great purpose. am fully convinced that if
the public mind can be set at rest on the para
mount question of popular rights, no serious
! obstacle will thwart delay the complete
pacihcatl"n OF the country or retard the gen.
eral diffusion of prosnerity.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In former message invited the attention
os Congress to the reformation of the civil
| service OF the government, and expressed an
INTENT on, transmitting to Congress az early as
practicable, report upon this subject by the
chairman OF the civil service commission. In
view of the fact during a considerable period,
! the government Of Great Britain has been deal
ing with the administrative problems and
abuses in various particulars analogous to
those presented in this country. and that IN
| recent years the measures adopted were under
stood to have been effective and in every re-
| spect highly satisfactory, [ thought 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 ali elaborate and comprehensive report.
The report sets forth the history of the parti-
san spoil system in Great Britain and OF the rise
and fall OF the parliamentary patronage and of
official interference with the freedom of
elections shows that after long trials of
! various kinds of examinations those which are
competitive and open on equal terms to all,
; and which are carried under the superin-
tenGence of a single commission, have with
great advantage been established as the con-
| dillon OF admission to almost every official
! place in the subordinate administration of
that country and of British India. The COM
pletion OF the report, owi:g to tho extent of
the labor involved in it's preparation, and the
omission of Congress to make any provision
either Tor the compensation or the expenses of
the commission, has been postponed until tho
present time. 1t is herewith transmitted to
Congress. While the reform measures of an
other government are of no authority to us,
| they arc entitled to influence to the extent
to which their intrinsic
wisdom and their adaptation
to our constitutions and social life may com.
mend them to our consideration. The views 1
have heretofore expressed concerning the de-
| fects and abuses in civil administ ration,
remain unchanged except in so far as an en-
la!sed experience bias 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 partisan spols
system OF appointment to office. and of the Of
ice tenure, are now generally recognized. In
the resolutions of 6le great parties, in reports
OF departments, in the debates and proceed
lngs of Congress, the messages of executives,
| the gravity f the evils 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 q free State.
When people have approved IL policy at 4
national election, confidence in the officers they
have selected and the advisers who, in accord.
| ance with our political institutions should be
| consulted as to the policies which it is their
| duty to carry into effect, is unquestiouable. It
IS cmlnently proper they should explain to the
| people, as we'll gs illustrate its spirit in the
performance of their Official duties. It hardly
need be pointed out that very different con-
siderations apply to the greater number of
those who fill the subordinate places in the
| civil service. Their responsibility is to their
|
to obey the legal instructions of those upon
whom that authority ia devolved, and their
public service consists in the discharge
of their functions irrespective of par
tisau politics. Their duties are the
same whatever party is in power. and what
ever policy prevails. As consequence, it
follows that their terms of office should not
depend upon the prevalence of any policy or
the supremacy of any party. but should be de-
termined by their capacity to serve the people
most usefully. quite irrespective of partisan
interests. The same considerations that should
govern the tenure should also prevail in the
appointment, discipline and removed Of those
subordinate. The authority of appointment
and removal is not a perquisite which
may be used to aid friend
OF reward partisan, but is
a trust to be exercised in the public inter-
est. The only just ground of discrimination
is the measure of character aud ca pacity he has
to make that service most useful to the peo-
Pile, except in cases when upon just and recog-
nized principles, it is upon the theory of pen
slons, offices and promotion are bestowed AZ
rewards for past services. Their bestowal up
on any theory which, disregards personal merit
is an act of Injustice to the citizen as we'll as h
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