Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-12-04

penses Including Salaries iayoiyed in SiscISrgN
ttne Gut!eS OF the coInnliSSion, The report was
april Is, 1874, with the following favorable COM
tanned by congress, l have no doubt the rules can
after the experience gained, he SO improved ana
public service ana relieve tie cutve meh ee
OF congress. and the heads OF departments fr0is
influences preiudicial t? good administration. The
resulted enehciaily as is shown by the opinions
0at 1d sne IN @ OF the cabinet and their subordi
concur" And in the annual message OF December
an ppropriation for continuing the work OF the
commission again advised.
Inc apProprlation was not made. and, conse-
quehce the active work of the commission was
S9Spenued, leaving the commission itself still in
existence Without the means, therefore, of caus-
ing qualifications to be tested in any systematic
advantages of competition upon any extensive
Plaa, P1eda, dec9nmended IN my annual message of
I9r the resumption OF the work of the commits
In the meantime. however, competitive exam
nations under many embarrasslnents have been
conducted within limited spheres in the execu-
1--WE departments in Washington, and in num-
per OF tne custom houses and post offices of the
principal cities of the country, with view to
lurther test their effects and, in every instance
they have been found to be as salutary as they
are stated to have been under the administration
of my predecessor. | think the economy, purity
and efficiency Of the public service would be
greatly promoted by their systematic introduc-
ton. wherever practicable, throughout the entire
civil service or the government, together with
ample provision tnelr general supervision,
order to secure consistency and uniform Justice.
Reports from the secretary of the interior, from
the acknowledgement, 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 lHNhat city, and from the postmaSters
aud collectors IN several of the other large cities
show that the competitive system, where applied.
has, IN various ways, contributed to improve the
public service
The reports show that the results have been sal
utary in a marked degree. and that the general
Application OF similar rules cannot fail to be of
decided benefit to the service.
The reports OF the government officers in tho
| city OF New York especially, bear decided testi-
mony to the utility OF open competitive examina-
! tons In their respective ofliCes, showing that
these examinations, and the excellent quaidca-
! tons of those admitted to the service through
them, have had marked incidental effect upon
the persons previously in the service, and partic
Glarly upon those aspiring to promotion. There
haS been, on the part OF these latter an increased
interest IN the work, and desire TO extend &C
qualntance with 1t beyond the particular desk oc-
cupIed, and thus the morale of the entire force
| has been raised. y The examinations have
been attended by many citizens who have had an
| opportunity to thoroughly investigate the scope
| and character of the tests and the method OF de-
! termining the results and those visitors have
without exception, approved the methods EN-.
ployed and several of them have publicly attest
! ed their favorable riniOn.''
Upon such considerations, deem it my duty to
| renew the recommendation contained in my an
| nual message of December, 1877, requesting con-
| gress to make the necessary appropriation for
! the resumption of the work of the civil service
| commission. Economy Will be promoted by au-
| thoTiZing moderate compensation to persons in
the public service VINO may perform extra labor
upon Or under the commission, as the exc cutive
may direct.
l am convinced that If Just and adequate
St OF merit is enforced for admission to the pub
| lie service and in making promotions euch
abuses as removals without good cause and par
t1san and official interference with the proper
exercise of the appointing power, will in large
measure disappear.
There are other administrative abuses to which
the attention of congress shodld be asked in this
connection. Mere partisan appointments, and
the constant peril of removal without cause very
poeaF c 5ecHa tS IN nReF3&and & a
pointed, which not Only lnterferes with the due
discharge Of official duty, but is incompatible
with the freedom OF elections. Not without
warrant in the views Cf several of my predeces-
sors in the presidential office and directly with
in the law of 1871, already cited, l endeavored,
by regulation, made on the 22d day of June, 1877
to put some reasonable limit to such abuses. 1t
may not be easy, ana 1t may never perhaps be
necessary, to define with precision the proper
officers. But While their right to hold and freely
express their opinions cannot be question ed, it
Is very plain that they should neither be allowed
TO devote to other subjects the time needed for
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 public policy, quito
analogous TO those which forbid the use OF Of
citizen, impose upon the government the duty
of protecting its officers and agents from arbi
tTary ex&ctons. In whatever aspect considered,
the practice OF making leVies, for party purposes,
upon the salaries of officers is highly demoraliz-
lug to the public service and diScredtable to 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 be as free as
any other citizen to refuse to make such gifts. If
salaries are but fair compensation for the time
and labor of he officer, it is a gross injustice TO
levy a tax upon them. If they are made exces-
s,Ne in order that they may bear the tax, the ex-
&c Is an indirect robbery OF the public funds.
l recommend, therefore, such revision and
extension of present statutes rs sShall secure 10
t9oss in every grade of official life or public en-
enlightened nation should guard those who ar
faithful in its service.
OUR RELATIONS. WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES HAVE
CONTINUED PEACEFUL.
With Great Britain there are sttIl unsettled
quesUons, growing out of zae local laws of the
maritime provinces aaJ TIE action of provincial
authorities, deemed to os n derogation of rights
secured by treaty to American fishermen The
United States minister a London has been in.
structed to present 8 demand for s105 3O5 02 in
view OF the damages received by American citi-
Zens at Fortune Bay on the 9th day of January
1873. The subject has been taken into consider,
alton by the British government and an early re-
ply is anticipated.
Upon the completion of the necessary prelim-
inarP examinations, the subject of our participa-
ton In the provincial fisheries, as regulated by
treaty, will at once be brought to the attention
OF the British government with view to an early
and permanent settlement of the whole oneation
wntGn was only temporarily adjusted by the treaty
Efforts have been made to obtain the removal
oL restrictions found Injurious to the exportaton
OF cattle TO the United KINGDOM.
Some correspondence has also occurred with
regard 10 the rescue and saving of life and prop-
erty upon the lakes, which has resulted in i'm
portant notifications Of the previous regulations
of the Dominion government On the sibiact in
the interest OF humanity and commerce.
In accordance with the joint resolution of the
ON
pointed to represent the United States at the two
international exhibitions in Australia, one OF
whlch is now In progress at Sydney and the other
to be held next year st Melbourne. A dersire has
been expressed by our merchants and manufac-
turers interested in the important and growing
trade with Australia. that an increased provision
should be made by congress for the Representa-
ton OF our industries at the Melbourne exhibit
t3n 3 next year. and the subject is respectfully
submitted 80 your favorable consideration.
THE FRENCH CABLE,
The assent of the government has been given to
the landing, on the coast of Massachusetts, of
France, by way of the French island of ST. Pierre
and this country subject any future legislation of
before allowing this connection with our shores
to be eStaRShe are such as to secure its compe
cable, and preclude arlalgamatfon Herewith, TO
meat and people with those of France in use OF the
sable and prevent any exclusive possession Of the
tsge of any future cable communication between
EnSe a and the United states at which may be pro
poltsnt reduction OF the present rates of cable
communication with Europe felt to be too burden
some 10 the interests of our commerce. must nee
essarily flow from the establishment of this COM
! peting line.
The attention of congress was drawn to the pro-
priety of some general regulation by congress of
| the whole subject of tranSmariue cables by my
predece sSor in his message of December 7th 1875
! and respectfully submit to your consideration
/ the importance of congressional action in this
matter.
OTHER FOREIGN MATTERS.
The question of grave Importance with SDafD
growing out OF the incidents of the Cuban inslr,
| recIion have peen for the most part happily and