Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-17

einInCnt. | believe that strong and grNNlCS
l,ubEc sentiment demands Immediate ucaSary, ter
securing ami entcnsng the highest possible
efficiency in the civil service AMI its protection
from recognized ahu>r>. and that the experience
referred Il has demonstrated ihS feasibility y,
such measures.
The examinations in the custom houses and
post ethees have been held under many cnbSrlS
meats aai without provision ter compensation
for the extra labor performed hy the officers who
have conducted them, and whos,' comendahlc in
tcreSt IN the imprN Yemen, Of the publie service
has induced pceuniary reward. 4 continuance Ut
these lahors cratuiously ought not q be expected,
and without an appropriation by cougn'S> tor
compensation, il is not practicable 70 ,NteNd the
system 81 examinations generally throughout the
civil service. Il is also highly important that all
such examinations should be conducted upon Il
uniform system and under general SuperNisiun
Section l.1lS of the Revised statutes authorizes
the president Ia prescribe the regulations tor al
mission IL the civil service ot the United States
and for this purneSe To employ suitable persons
to conduct the requisite inquiries with refer
cn1c 10 the fitness VI each eauddatS IN respect
10 age health, character, know ledge aud ablntNs
! tor the branch ii service into which lie seeks ~
enter but the law is practically imperative Tor
the want ct the requisite appropriation.
| therefore recommend an appropriation "
So 900 per amman Il meet the expenses 1t CONS
mission. IL he appointed by the president IN ne
eorianrc with the terms Of this section whose
1ltN TX Sllhll Nt ~ NCNlSS " ll.SN uullVIl dtl q
icieut system Of cnmptttN examinations, and 10
supervise the application II the same throughout
entire civil service of thu government. | am
persuaded that tho facilities which such comlnis-
sion will afford for testing the fitness Of those who
apply for office win not only he n welcome ne
lief Ia members et congress ~, il will be to tite
president ana heuis u departments but that IL
will also greatly tend 10 remove the causes ut ems
harylSsment which nov inevitably and constantly
attend the conflicting rutns ot patronage between
the legislative and executive departments. Tho
most etcvtual check upon the perniv.ous cnmpe.
tition Of influence and official taNorltisa, IN the
heStuwal Of n.fCe wall be The substitution ~ mi
open competition IL mcrt between the applicants,
| in which every one can make his own rrcorl, with
the assurance that h> success vii, depeud unop
salone
!. la>o recommend ,urh lrgisatienas, while lcrN-
ing every 9,Ncer free rs any other citizen to cN-
press his political opinions an} e. use his means
ion their advancement shall also enable him %
feel aS safe amy private citizen in refusing all
demands upon hs salary forpoltiea purposes \
law which should thus guarantee true liberty and
mstict to an Who are engaged in the public sur-
vice AND likewise contain stringent provisions
against the use Of official authority Ia coenc the
political action 81 private citizens Of oNicial
subordinate Is greatly q hc desired.
rHr spouf SYSTEM.
Tie most serious obstacle however To an in
prov ement Of the ci, service aud especially u 4
| reform IN the inttIlOu uI APPOINTMENT anu w
=, muNal. has been found tu he the practice, under
What Is known Us the spoils system, by which the
appointing power has been so largely cncrOnchci
upon by members " congress The first step in
the reform of tie elyi service must he complete
divorce between ranpryss and the executive m the
matter Of the appointments. The tprruptiua
doctrine thH, To the NlCtors hrlung the Spoll' T.
inscpaabp frum congressional patronage ~ the
established ruiz and practice VI parties III poNcr.
/ comes "a be understood BY applicants tor office
and 10y the people generally that representatives.
and senators are entitled to d-putse the patronage
- their respective districts ni states Il i not
necessary 60 r,cite 1T lcngth the evils resulting
from this invasion OF iheeNceutNe functions. The
true principles 81 government on the subject VI
appointments q 1lirr, h stated il the national
eouy entons Of the lrading parties Of the country,
have again ana again been approved Ivy the
American people and haze MT been called in
question III any quarter. These authentic cNprrs-
SONS of public opinion upon thI, all-lmpcrtaut
subject my thc >tatcmeni OF principles that be-
long tothe constitutional structure Of thu gaNcm
mcnt
Il nder the constitution the president and
heads IF the department are To make nominations
fur Office. The senate il Il advise and eenrcnt O.
appointments and the house Of representatives i
to accuse and prosecute iathless officers The
best interest # the public service demands that
these distinctions NJ respected that senators and
representatives who may be Judges and acclscrs
this end the cooperation Of the legislative depart
mcnt of the government il required, alikr by the
necessities oi the case and by public opinion.
Members Of congress will not be relieved from the
u demands made upon then with reference t. APP
pontmcnts Is ofier until rs legislative enuct-
ment, the perniciou- pmetice is condemned and
forbidden.
it i therefore recommended that an act he
passed defining the relations of members Of con
gress with respect toa appointment 70 office by the
president, aud also recommend that the proys-
ions Of section lihl, and IL the sections following,
Of the revised statutes, comprising the tcnurc-ot-
office act OF March : 1851 be repealed.
Believing TINT 60 reform tie y stem and moth
ods OF the civil service ii on country i one OF the
> highest and most imperative duties of statesman
ship, and taat i can he permanently done only By
the cooperation " the legislative and executive
departments u the government. | again com
mend the Who'll, ,ubjyct "a yoar eonSerate at
tentiun.
PolYGAMY.
II is the recognized duty and purpose of the
, people OF the United States tosupprcss polyguny
where il now exists in our territories and q pre-
vent its extension. Faithful and aealols efforts
have been made BY che United States authorities
in Utah to enforce the laws against il. ENperi-
encc has shown thnt the legislation upon ths sub-
ject to be effective requires extensive modiiica.
ton and amendment. The longer action il de-
lAycd the more difficult i win BE- to accomplish
what i desired. Prompt aud decisive measures
are necessary The Mormon seetatiau organize
G tieI. which uphold> polygamy has the whole pow
~ NJ making and executing thr local legislation
ii The territory, BY its control Of The grand and
and petit iuries it ppssesse. large influence over
the administration u justice. Exercising. a.
thu heads u this sect do the local political power
II The territory they ARE abe 10 mike effective
their hostility to tha law If congress on the sub
eet ot polygamy and, 10 fact d prevent j. en-
tnrcement, Polygamy MIL NOT bo abolished il