Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-01

| there any such arduous and thankless labor i'm
| posed on Senators and Representatives as that
| of finding places for constituents. The present
system does not secure the best men. and often
net even nt men, 1or the pubic places. The
elevation and purifcation OF the civil service of
| the government will be hailed with approval by
the whole people OF the United States" Con-
| gleSs accordingly passed the act. approved
March 3. 1877. Ito regulate the civil service of
| the United States and promote the efficiency
thereof" giving the necessary authority to the
Executive to institute a civil service reform.
WORK OF THE COMMISSION.
Acting under this statute. which was inter-
preted as intended to secure system OF Just and
enectual examinations. under uniform Superyi-
sion, number of eminently competent persons
were selected for the purpose. who entered with
zeal upon the discharge OF their duties, prepared
with an intelligent appreciation of the REQUIRE
ments of the service the regulations contem-
plated and took charge OF the examinations, and
VINO, In their capacity as board, have been
known as the civil Service Commission" Con-
gress Tor two years appropriated the money
needed for the compensation and for the expense
OF carrying on the work of the commission. 1t
appears from the report of the commission, sub
mitted to the President in April, 1874, that eX-
aminations had been held in various sections OF
M the country, and that an appropriation of about
$25 coo would be required to meet the annual eX-
penses, including salaries, involved in dischary-
ing the duties of the commission.
The report was transmitted to Congress by
special message OF April Is, 1874, with the fol
lowing favorable comment upon the labors OF
the commissions: If sustained by Congress- |
have no doubt the rules can, after the expert
ence gained, be SO improved and enforced as to
still more materially benefit the public service
and relieve the Executive members of Congress,
and the heads Of departments from influences
prejudictal to good administration. The rules,
as they have hitherto been enforced have re-
suited beneficially as is shown by the opinions
Of the members of the Cabinet and their sub
ordinates in the departments, and in that
opinion concur" And in the annual message
OF December OF the same year, similar views
are expressed, and an appropriation for continu-
ing the work of the commission again advised.
The appropriation was not made, and. as a con-
| sequence. the active work OF the commission was
suspended, leaving the commission itself still in
existence, without the means, therefore, of
causing qualifications to be tested in any sys-
tematic manner, or of securing for the public
service the advantages OF competition upon any
extensive plan. l recommended in my annual
message OF December, 1871 the making of an
appropriation for the resumption OF the work
OF the commission. In the meantime, however,
nina under many emba
spheres, in the executive departments in Wash
ington, and in a number of the crstOm-hou
and post offices of the principal cities of the
country, with view to further test their eff
fects, and in every instance they have been
found to be as Salutary as they are stated to
have been under the administration of my pre-
decessor. think the economy, purity, and ef1i-
cheney of the public service would be greatly
promoted by their systematic introduction,
wherever practicable, throughout the entire
ample provision for their general supervision,
in order to secure consistency and uniform JUS
tice. Reports from the Secretary OF the Inte-
rior, from the Postmaster General, from the
! postmaster in the city of New York, where such
examinations have been some time on trial, and
also from the collector of the port, the naval
officer and the surveyor Of that city, and from
| the postmaster and collectors in several Of the
other large cities, show that the competitive
system. where applied, has In various ways con-
| tributed to improve the public service. The re-
| ports show that the results have been sautary
| in a marked degree and that the general APP
| plication OF similar rules cannot fail to be OF
Of the government officers in the city of New
| York, especially, bear decided testimony to
| the utility of open competitive examinations
| in their respective offices, showing that
| these examinations and the excellent quail
| ifications of those admitted to the service
| through them, have had marked incidental
| and particularly upon those aspiring to promo
| tiOn. There has been, on the part of these lat
! ter; an increased interest in the work, and de-
| sire to extend acquaintance with it beyond
particular desk. and thus the morale OF the en-
| tire force has been raised. The examinations
| have been attended by many citizens, who nave
had an opportunity to thorougly Investigate the
scope and character of the tests and the method
| OF determining the results, and those visitors
| have, without exception, approved the modes
employed and several of them have publicly
| attested their favorable opinion upon such con-
| sideratiOns." deem it my duty to renew the
| Recommendation contained in my annual mes
sage OF December 1877, requesting Congress TO
| make the necessary appropriation for the re-
| sumption of the work of the civil service COM
| mission. Economy will be promoted by author
| Zing moderate compensation to persons in the
| upon or under the commission, as the Executive
| may direct.
| am convinced that if just and definite test
| of merit is enforced for admission to the public
! service and in making promotions, such abuses
| as removal without good cause and partisan and
official interference with the proper exercise Of
| 10 fltf N will in larp
| disappear. There are other administrative
| abuses to which the attention OF Congress
| should be asked in this connection. Mere par
| tisan appointment and the constant peril OF
! removal without cause very naturally lead to an
| absorbing and mischievous political activity on
the part Of 1 hose h thus nus not only
but is Incompatible with the freedom of cleo
| tions. Not without warrant, in the view of
| several OF my predecessors in the Presidential
| office. and directly in accordance with the law
| OF 1871, already cited, endeavored, by reglla-
| ton made on the 22d Of June. 1917, to put some
| reasonable limits to such abuses.
1t may not be easy, and 1t may never per-
hapS, be necessary, to define with precision the
proper limit OF political action on the part OF
| federal officers. But while their right TO hold
| and freely express their opinions cannot be
questioned, it is very plain that they should
neither be allowed to devote to other subjects
the time needed for the proper discharge OF
their official duties, nor to use the authority OF
their Office TO enforce their own opinions or to
coerce the political action of those who hold
different opinions. Reasons of justice and pub
lie policy quite analogous to those which forbid
the use of official power for the oppression OF
the private citizen impose upon the government
the duty OF protecting its officers and agents
from arbitrary eXactiOnS. In whatever aspect
considered, the practice OF making levieS for
party purposes upon the salaries OF officers is
highly demoralizing to the public service and
discreditable to the country. Though an Of
fcer should be as free as any other citizen to
give his own money in aid OF his opinions OF his
party, he should also be as free as any other
citizen to refuse to make such gifts. Ii salaries
are but fair compensation for the time and
labor OF the officers, it is gross injustice to levy
tax upon them. II they are made excessive
in order that they may bear the tax, the excess
is an indirect robbery OF the public funds. l
recommend, therefore, such revision and eX-
tension OF present statutes, as shall secure to
those in every grade of official life Or public
employment the protection with which great
and enlightened nation should guard those who
are faithful in its service.
RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Our relations with foreign countries have con-
tinued peaceful. 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
derogation OF rights secured by treaty to Amerf-
can fishermen. The United States Minister in
London has been instructed to present demand
for sos 5,305.02, in view of the damages re-
ceived by American citizens at Fortune Bay
on the 9th day of January, 1878. The subject
hnC hnRr oil Enr into 1ap