The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-12-10
SOMERSET, PA. WEDNESDAY,, DEC. 10, 1879

aDd patriotism of all good citizens o
every part OF the country, bowevei
much they may be divided ia opin
ions on other poliIica! subjects, t,
: unite il compelling o0edienee 20 ex
isIing laws aimed al the protection O
the right OF suffrage | respectful,
urge upon Congress to supply any
defects in these laws which expert
ence has shown and which it is with
10 its power to remedy. | again in
vote the cooperation of the Execn
tive and Legislative authorities u
the States IN this great purpose
am fully convinced that If the public
mad eau be set at rest on this para.
mount question Of popular rights, nc
serious obstacle will thwart or DELAY
the complete paciicGtion of The couo-
cry, or reEard the general diffusion ol
prosperity
| CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
10 former message invited the
attention Of Congress to the sutjsci
OF the reformation Of the civil service
OF the Government, and expressed
the Intention Of transmitting to Con
gress as early as practicable report
upon this subject By the Chairman OF
the Civil Service Commission.
In view Of the facts teas, during q
considerable period, the Government
of Great Britain has been dealing
with administrative problems ana
abuses, IN various particulars aralo-
gons to those represented ia this
couatry, ana that in receot years the
measures adopted were understood 20
have been effective and ia every re-
specI highly satisfactory, I thought it
aeelraple To nave fuller information
upon the subject, aad accordingly re-
qaested the Chairman Of The Civil
Service Commission TO make thor
01gh Investigation for this purpose
The result has bseu an elaborate and
comprehensive report.
The report sets forth sae history Of
the partisan spoils system in Greas
Britain, and ofthe rise and fall Of The
parliamentary patronage, aud Of olli
cial Interference with the freedom Of
elections II shows that after long
trials OF various kinds of examine
tioGs, those which are competitis q
and open On equal terms to all, and
which are carried on under the 81
perioLendence Of single c0mnissiO 4.
nave with great advantage, been es-
,ablisbed as eoBGitions OF adm miss ion
to almost every Official place in tne
subordinate administration OF that
country aad OF British India. The
completion Of the report, owing to
The extent Of the labor involved in It's
preparation, aud the omission Of Con-
gress to MAKE any provision either
for the compensation or expenses e
the Commission, mas been postponed
until the present time. l. is herewith
transmitted 10 Congress.
While the reform measures Of
another Goverament are of no author.
ity for Us, they are entitled TO iDAu-
ence, TO the extent Of their Intrinsic
wisdom, and their adaptation to our
Institutions and social life may com
mend them 10 our consideration.
Fne views l have hitherto express
ed concerning the defects aad abuses
Ia our civil administration remain
unchanged, except iD so far as an en-
iafgcd experience has depended my
sense of the duty bosh OF oil GERS and
of the people themselves 10 C Cooper
ate for their removal The grave
evils aud perils OF pattisau-spolls
system OF appointment to efiice and Of
ciilce tenure, are now generally rec
ognIzed In the resolutions of the
great parties. in the reports of De-
partments, la the debates aud pro-
ceedings of Congress, 10 the messages
of Executives. The gravity of these
evils have been pointed out aud the
seed of their reform has been admit-
ted
To command The necessary SUD.
port, every measure of reform must
be based on common right and justice,
and must be compatible with The
healthy existence OF greas parties,
which are inevitable and e5.eatial ia
free Stale.
When the people have approved
policy NJ Natioaal election, conf
dence Oh The part Of the officers they
have selected, and Of the advisers
who, IN accordance with our political
institutions, should be consulted, 10
the policy which IL is their duiy TO
carry inLo eiieci, is Indispensable Is
Is eminenily proper that they should
explaio il before The people, Is well
as to illustrate It's spirit Ia toe per
iormauee of ils official duties.
Very different considerations sp-
ply 10 toe grea.er number of these
who iili the subIrdiDsle places 10 the
civil service. Their responsibility is
to their superiors in official position.
IL Is their duty 10 obey the legal 10.
structions Of thvse upon whom that
authority is devolved, and their best
public service consists in the dis.
charge of their functions irrespective
of partisan politics. Their outies are
the same, whatever patty is in pow
er and whatever policy prevails As
q consequence, it follows that their
tenure of office should not depend on
the prevalence of any policy or the
supremacy Of any party, but should
be determined by their capacity to
serve the people most usefully, quite
irrespective OF partisan interests. The
same considerations that should gov
ern the tenure, should also prevail in
the appointment, discipline, and re-
movai of these subordinates The
authority of appointment and removal
is not perquisite, which may be
used to aid friend or reward par
tisan, but trust to be exercised in
the public interest, under all the
sanctions which attend the obligation
to apply the public funds only son
public purposes.
Every citizen has an equal right
to the honor and profit of entering
the public service OF bis country. The
only just ground for discrimination,
is the measure of character and ca
pacity he has TO make that service
most useful to the people. Except