The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-12-04

OF citizens take in tho progress of tho country
towards moxe general and complete eatablish.
ment, at Whatever cost, Of universal security
and freedom in the exercise of the elective
franchise. While many topics of political con.
Germ demand gteat attention from our people,
both in tho sphere Of national and State an.
thorlty, lind no reason to qualify the opinion
exprcssed in my last annual message, tnat NO
Temporary or administrative intsrests of the
government, however urgent or WeiRhty, will
ever displace tho zeal OF 0ue people IN defense
Of the primary rights of citisenship, and that
the power Of public opinion will override
ali Sectional and state .aa .t..ohnens eeas
in demanding that ali over our wide territory
the name and character Of citizen Of the United
States sha.i mean one and tho sau.e thing and
carry with them unohallenged security and
respect. earnestly appeal to the intelligenoe
and patriotism of all good citizens, Of every
part Of the country, however much they may
be divided in opinion on other political sub
Jets. to onite in compelling obedience to exist
Ing laws aimed at the protection Of
the right of suffrage. respectfully
urge upon Congress to supply any defects in
these laws which experience has shown and
again invoke the cooperation Of the executive
and legislative authorities OF States in this
great purpose. lam fully convinced that il
the public mind can be set at rest on the para
mount qaestion Of popular rights, no seriou
ohstacle will thwart or delay the complete
pacihcation Of the country or retazd tho gen.
eral diffusion Of prosperity.
CIVIL SERVICE RKToRA.
In former message invited the attention
Of Congress to the reformation OF tho civil
service of tho government, and expressed An
intention, transmitting to Congress ~ early ~
practicable. . report upon this subject by the
chairman Of the civil service commission. In
view of tho fact, during = considerable period,
the government of Great Britain haa been deal
ing with the administrative problems and
abuses in various particulars analogous to
those presented in this country, and that in
recent years the measures adopted were under
stood to have been effective and in every re-
spect highly satisfactory, thought desirable
to have fuller information upon the subject.
and accordingly requested the chairman Of the
civil service commission to make q thorough
investigation for this purpose. The result has
been an elaborate and comprehensive report.
The report sets forth the history of tho parti-
san spoil system in Great Britain, and of the rise
and fall of the parliamentary patronage and of
official interference with the freedom Of
elections. shows that after long trials of
various kinds OF examinations. those which are
competitive and open equal terms to all.
and which are carried on under the superin-
tendenco OF single commission, have with
great advantage been established IS the con-
ditlon of admission to almost every official
place in the subordinate administration Of
that country and Of British India. The COM
pictlon OF the report. owixg to the extent of
the labor involved in its preparation, and the
omission OF Congress to mako any provision
either for the compensation or the expenses of
the commission, has been postponed until the
present time, 1t is herewith transmitted to
Congrens. While the reform measures of an
f310rrv ~E
they arc entitled to influence to the extent
wisdom and their adaptation
to ourconstitutions aud social life may CON-
mend them to our consideration. The views l
have heretofore expressed concerning tho de.
fects and abuses in our civil administration,
remain unchanged except in 50 far AZ an en-
larged experience has deepened my sense of
the duty, both of officers and of the people
themselves, to Cooperate for their removal.
The grave evils snd perils of a partisan spoils
system of appointment to Office. aud of the Of
flee tenure, are now generally recognized. In
the resolutions Of the great parties, in repo1ts
Of departments, in the debates and proceed
inRs OF Congrcss, the messages Of executives,
the gravity the evils haa been admitted. To
command the necessary support every measure
ct reform must be based on common right and
justice, and must be compatible with tho
hralthy existence Of great parties which are
When people have approved a policy at a
national election, confidence in the officers they
have selected and the advisers who, in accord
nnce with our political institutions should be
consulted as to the policies which it is their
duty to carry into effect, is unquestionablc. 1t
is eminently proper they should explain to The
people, as we'll ~ illustrate its spirit in the
performance of their Official duties. It hardly
need be pointed out that very different con-
slderatlons apply to tho greater number Of
those who fill the subordinate places in the
civil service. Their responsibility 10 to their
scperiors in official position. 1t il their duty
to obey the legal instructions of those upon
whom that authority il devolved, and their
public service consists in the discharge
1T their functions irrespective of par
tissn politics. Their duties arc the
same whatever party is in power, and what
ever policy prevails. As consequence, it
follows that their terms of Office should not
the supremacy of any party. but should be do
termined BY their capacity to serve the people
most usefully, quite irrespective Of partisan
interests. The same considerations that ahould
govern the tenure, should also prevail in the
appointment, discipline and rsmovOl Of those
subordinate. , , Tho authority Of appointment
and removal 10 not . Perqui'ite which
or reward partisan, but il
trust to be exercised in the public inter
est. The only just ground of discrimination
ia the measure Of character and capacity be has
10 make that service most useful to the peo-
pie. except in cases when upon just and recog-
nized principles. it is upon the theory of PEN
sious, Offices and promotion arc bestowed ~
rewards for past services. Their beatowal up
on any theory which .di<reRsrds personal merit
ie an act Of injustice to the citizen. we'll ~
breech of that trust aubject to which tho ap-
pointing power ia held.
In the light Of these principles, it becomes
of great importance to provide jnst and ade-
quste means, especially for every department,
OF . large administrative office where personal
discrimination ON tho part of tho head il not
practicable for ascertaining those qualifications
, to which appointment and removals should
have reference. To fail to provide ouch means
ia not oIly to deny the opportunity of ascer-
| tanning facts upon which the mont. righteous
claims to office depend, but Of necessity to
| discourage al worthy sspirant. by
banding ta m.x. over .s appointment. and removals
II lit is .hs right of the wo,thiest claimant to
! gain the appointment, and tho interest Of the
! people 10 bestOw it upon him, it would seem
! clear that wise and just method of ascertain.
| ing personal fitness for Office must needs be an
| important and paramount function Of every
! wise and lust government.
great Offices ar those having the duty 0f nom.
| inatlon and appointment to personally enquir.
I into the individual qualifications Of more thar
small proportion of those seeking Office, and
| with the enlargement of the civil service. tha,
| proportion must continue to become less. II
! the earlier years of the government the aubor
| 'dinate offices were 40 few in number that i,
was quite easy for those making appointment,
and promotions to personally ascertain the
merits OF tho candidates. Party managers Of
method" had not then become powerful agen
'ies OF coercion. hostile to tho FREQ and JUS
exercise of the appointing power.
large and responsibio part Of the duty Of
restoring tho civil service to the deaired purity
and efficiency resta ON the President, and it he.
been my purpose to do what il in my power te
advance such prudent and gradual measures ol
reform ~ will most surely bring about the rad
ical change Of system essential to make our .d
ministEatlve methods satisfactory to FREQ ani
intelligent people. By proper exercise of eu
thority it il in the power Of the exeouttve to d,
much to promote auch reform, and 1t cannot
be too clearly understood that nothing adequat,
can be accomplished without cooperate,
On tho part Of Congress, :: aus
considerate and intelligent sun