Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-12-05

! me deep lHIerySt WHICH tUt titat '''iN ~
citizens take in the prOgr2ss of tn conn
try toward Il more general and cah- p!et
establishment. at whatever cost, "t UNI
p vers;l security ana freedom in I'll, exer
- else of the elective franchise. Will
: many topics Of political concern { man,
! great attention from our peoplg, boil
I in the sphere of national and ST. an
70 thority, lind no reason to qua! v tn
. opinion | expressed in my last nnua
9 Message, that no temporary or 'lmin
: istratiye interest Of Government. Il we've
= urgent OF weighty, will ever displ, - tn
? zeal OF oar people in defence of t'.e PR
. mary rights Of citizenship, and I; at tn
= power Of public opinion will override al
political preiudices and all sectional an,
: State attachments, in demanding tAGt al
7 over our wide territory the nali . AM
character Of citizen of the United ate'
shall mean one and the same thing, anc
carry with them unchallenged security
) and respect. / earnestly appeal t. tn,
Intelligence and patriotism Of all 5000
citizens, of every part of the caa;,iry
however much they may be- dIvii7i IL
opinions on other political suhIca. :, t
) unite in compelling obedience to casting
laws aimed at the protection Of the riSh
Of suffrage | respectfully urge upor
Congress to supply any defects in thcs,
laws which experience has shown, art
which il is within lis power to remedy
/ again invoke the cooperation of "a;
Executive and Legislative authorities o
The States i'll this great purpose. | an
fully convinced that Il the public m;i1
can he sci at rest On tins paramount
qeustion Of popular rights, no serious Oh.
stacla vii, thwart or delay the complete
pacitication Of the country, OF Tetard the
general diffusion of prosperity.
REFORMING THE CIVIL SERVICE
In former Message | invited the at
tention of Congress Ia the subject of The
reformation of tlie civil service Of the
Government. md expressed the intention
of transmitting to Congress, as early as
practicable. report upon this subject
by the Chairman of the Civil Service
Commission. In view of the facts that
during a considerable period the Govern
ment Of Great Britain has been dealing
with administrative problems and
abuses, in various particulars analogous
to those presented in this country. and
that, in ecentyoars, themeasJres adopted
were understood to have been effective
v.
| thought il desirable to have fuller infor-
nation upon the subject, and accordingly
requested the Chairman of the Civil Ser
vice Commission to make thorough in
/ ycsiiy1.ti1n iar this purpose. The result
has be,A IN elaborate and comprehensive
report The /, port Sc 10 forth the history
Of The partisan spoils system in Great
! Britain and 81 the us aiid fall Of the Par
] 9 III
interference with the Freedom Of elections
1t shows that, after long trials Of various
! kinds of examinations. those which are
competitive and open on equal terms pail.
4 and which are carried on under the super
! inten'leGca of a single commission. have
| with great advantage been established as
/ conditions Of admission IL almost every
official place in the subordinate admins
1 tration of that country and OF British
1 India. The completion of the report,
owing to the extent Of the labor involved
in its preparation, and the omission of
| Congress 10 make any provision either
for the compensation or the expenses of
the commission, has been postponed until
the present time 1t is3herewith trans
mitted 10 Congress While the reform
measures OF another Government are of
no authority for us, they are entitled 10
influence to the extent to which their i'll
trinsic wisdom and their adaptation to our
institutions and social life may commend
them TO our consideration.
The views have heretofore expressed
concerning the defects and abuses in our
civil admins ration remain unchanged ex-
cept in SO far as an enlarged experience
has opened my sense of .he duty, both of
officers and Of the people themselves, to
cooperate for their removal. The grave
evils and perils of 4 partisall-spoilss 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, i'll the Mes
sages 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 OH com
mon right and Justice, and mast be com
patible with the healthy existence of great
parties, which are inevitable and essen
tial in free State. When tho beople
have approved policy at q national cleo
ton, confidence on the part Of the officers
thev have sci, cted and of the advisers
who, i'll accordance with our political
institutions, should be consulted i'll the
policy which it Is their duty To carry into
effect is indispensable. 1t is cminentiv
proper that they should explain it before
the people as well as illustrate its spirit
in the performance Of their official duties
Very cpnsiderationsapply 10 the
greater number Of those who ill the
subordinate piaccs in the civil service.
Their responsibility is to their superiors
il official position. II is their duty to
obey the legal instructions Of those upon
whom that authority is dcyolved, and
their best public service consists iii the
discharge of their functions irrespective
Of partisan politics Their duties are the
same whatever party iA Ii power, and
whatever policy prevails As conse-
queHcr, it follows that their tenure of
Office should not depend upon the pre-
yalcnce of any policy, or the supremacy
of any party, but should be determined
hy their capacity to serve the people most
usefully, quitc irrespective of partisan
interests. Til" same considerations that
should govern the tenure should also
prevail in the appointment, discipline,
and removal of these suborlinates. The
authority of appointment and removal Id
not Il pcrquisite which may be used to
uid - friend or reward Il partisan, but is II
trust t. he exercised i'll the public interest
under all ihc sanctions which attend the
obligation 70 apply the public funds only
Tor PGhlir purposes. Every citizen has
an equal righ; Ia the honor aud profit Of
entering the public service of his country
The only Just ground Of discrimination il
the measure ui character and capacity he
has to make that service most useful to
the people. Except in eases where, upon
Just and recognized principles, as upon
the theory of pensions, oiiir.s ami promo
tons are bestowed us rewards for past
services, their hestowal upon any theory
which disregards personal merit is an net
OF injustice To the citizen. Is well as IL
breach "f that trus: subject to which the
appointing power IS held.
ri:"rEc METHODS OF ExiuINArI"S.
In tl,' light Of these principles, it becomes
OF great Importance 10 provide Just and ale
qunl" mrIIis especially for every depart
mcut and lrrer administrative office where
personal discrimination on the part of its
/ head is not practicable. for asccrtainine
ih"sr qualifications To which appointments
and removals should have reference. To
I fail to- provide such means is not only to
deny the opportunity of ascertaining the
facts upon which the most righteous claim
b to office depends. but of necessity tn dis
courage all worthy aspirants hy handing over
appointments and rcmOvulsto mere influence
md 1ayoritisu. Ii il is the right of the
worthirst claimant To gain tine appointment,
ami III" interest of the people to hestOw it
upon him, it would socm clear that a wise
and jus method of nsccriaining personal iii
ness for iuiiicr must hr an important and
permanent function of every lust and wise
government. Ii has long since become in
possible in the great Offices, for those having
the duty of nomination and appointment To-
personally examine into the individual quail
ticalion, of more than a small proportion Of
those srcku" office, and with the enlarge
nIrut Of tlir civil service that proportion must
continue t" become less. In the earlier
years of the government, The subordinate Of
lic.s were 50 few in uunh.r that it was easy
! for thus" making appointments and promo
tiuns 10 personally ascertain the merits of the
,.nuIitI.ttg Ii4rtV tttutst,r,4Tl and methods