River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-04


thing. and carry with them unchallenged security
and respect. i earnestly appeal To the inte.lt-
gence and patriotism OF oil good citizens OF every
part of the country, however much they may be
divided in opinions on other political subjects TO
| unite in compelling obedience to existing laws
aimed at the protection OF the right OF suffrage
| / respectfully urge upon congress TO supply any
| defects in these laws which experience ms SHOWN
| and which it is within its power TO remedy:
! again invoke the cooperation OF the executive
and legislative authorizes of the states in this
| great purpose. / fully convinced that II the
public mind can be set at rest on TINS paramount
| question of popular rights, no serious oDs1acls
| will thwart delay the complete paclhcation OF
the country, or retard the general diffusion of
| prosperity.
| CIVIL SERVICE.
| In former message invited the attention of
congress TO the subject OF the reformation OF the
| civil service OF the government, and 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 considerable
| period the government OF Great Britain has been
| dealing with administrative problems ana
| abuses in yasi0Ga particulars analogous TO those
| presented in this country, ana that IN recent
| years the measures adopted were understood 10
| have been effective and in every respect highly
satisfactory thought IL desirable to have ruler
! information upon the subject ana accordingly re-
| quested the chairman of the civil service com
\ mission To make It thorough investigation ior
| this purpose. The result has been an elaborate
| and comprehensive report.
The report sets forth the history or the partisan
! spoils system in Great Britain, and OF the rise
| and fall of the parliamentary patronage snd OF
official interference with the freedom OF elections
IL shows that after long trials OF various kinds OF
| examinations, those which are competitive ana
| open equal terms to all and which arc carried
on under the superintc ndence OF single commits
sion, have, with great advantage, been establish
| ed as conditions of admission TO almost every
official place in the subordinate administration OF
! that country and OF British India. The compile
ton of the report, owing 70 the extent 1.-THE labor
involved in lts preparation. and the omission OF
| congress to make any provision either for the
| compensation or the expense Of the commission,
! has been postponed until tho present time. 1t is
herewith transmitted to CONGRESS.
| While the reform measures sg another govern
ment are ofno authority for us. rhey are entitled
to influence, TO the extent TO which their intrinsic
| wisdom and their adaptation tn institutions
and social life may commend them 10 oar consld-
Grafton.
| The views have heretofore EXPRESSED concern
ing the defects and abuses in our civil administra-
enlarged experience has deepened my sense of
| the duty both of officers and of the people them
| selves TO cooperate for their renewal The grave
evils and perils OF partisan-epoils system of APP
| pointment to office and Of onlce tenure, are now
| GENERALLY recognized. In the resolutions of the
great parties, in the reports of departments In the
debates and proceedings OF congress IN 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 meas
ure of reform must be based on common right and
JUSTICE and must be compatible with the healthy
existence OF great parties, which are inevitable
a
When the people have approved policy at
national election, confidence on the part of the
officers they have selected, and Of the advisers
WHO, In accordance with our political Institutions
should be consulted, in the policy which it is their
duty to carry into effect, is Indispensable IL is
emnently proper that they should explain it be-
fore the people, asi well as illustrate its spirit in
the performance of their official duties
| Very different considerations spply to the
| greater number of those IAo I'LL the subordinate
places in the civil service hr,r responsibility
4 10 N hGTP
| their duty TO obey the ieg -trncuons OF those
| upon whom that authorn, eyolved, and their
| best public service con-i the discharge of
their functrons irrespec' IL psrtisan politics,
| their duties are the sam e.ateyer party IS in
| power ani whatever Pc r. walls AS con-
4 sequence it follows t1af or tenure OF once
| should not depend prevalence OF any
| policy the supremacy oil any party but shou
| be determined by Their capacity 10 serve the
| people most usefuIly quite irrespective Of parti-
| san interests. The same considerations mat
should govern the tenure. should also prevail IN
| the appointment discipline, and removal OF
| these subordinates The authority of appoint.
mcnt and iemoval is not peIquisite, which may
| be used 10 aid friend or reward partisan, out
is trust to be exercised in the public interest,
! under all the sanctions which attend the oblga-
! ton to apply the public funds only for public
purposes.
Every citizen has an equal right to the honor
| and profit of entering the public service OF MS
| country. The only just ground ofdiscrimfnatloD,
| is the measure of character and capacity ne nss
/ to make that service most useful TO the people;
| Except in cases where, upon just and recognized
|
and promotions are bestowed as rewards Tor pact
services, their bestowal upon any theory which
disregsrds personal merit, is an act OF injustice
| to the citizens, well az breach of that trust
subject to which the appointing power is held
| In the light of these principles, 1t becomes OF
! great Importance to provide Just and adequate
| means especially for every department, and large
administrative office, where personal discrimina-
ton the part of its head Is not practicable for
| ascertaining those qualifications TO which APP
| pointments and removals should have reference.
TO fail to provide such means is not only to deny
| the opportunity of ascertaining the facts upon
which the most righteous claim TO office depends,
but, of necessity, to discourage all worthy aspl-
rants, by handing over appointments ana rem9 l
ale, to mere influence and tavor1tism Ii IL is inc
| right of the worthest claimant 10 gain the APP
pointment, and the interest of the people to be
| stow il upon him, it would seem clear that wise
and Just method of ascertaining personal fitness
| for office must be an important and permanent
| function Of every just and wise government. II
has long since become impossible, in the great OF
| fees for those having the duty of nomination and
| appointment TO personally eXamsne INTO Inc IN
dividual qualifications of more than small pro-
portion Of those seeking office; and, with the en-
largement of the civil service, that proportion
must continue to become less.
In the earlier years of the government, the sub
ordinate Offices were so few in number that 1t was
| quite easy for those making appointments and
promotions to personally ascertain the merits OF
! candidates Party managers and methods had
| not then become powerful agencies of coercion,
| hostile to the free and just exercise OF the ap-
| pointing power.
large and responsible part of the duty of res
toring the civil service t, the desired purity and
| efficiency rests with the president, and it is my
purpose to do what is within my power to adj
| vance such prudent and gradual measures of re-
| form as will most surely and rapidly bring about
that radical change of system essential to make
| our admin srative methods satisfactory to q free
and intelligent people. by proper exercise OF
authority Il is in the power Of the executive to do
much to promote such reform. But 1t cannot
/ be too clearly understood that nothing adequate
! can be accomplished without cooperation on the
part of congress and consderate and intelligent
/ support among the people. Reforms which chal-
lenge the generally accepted theories of parties,
| and demand changes in the methods of depart
ments. are not the work of day. Their perma-
nent foundations must be laid in sound principles
! and in an experience which demonstrates their
| wisdom and EXPOSES the errors of their a.versar-