Litchfield enquirer., 1880-12-16

| States and for this purpose to employ suitable
persons to conduct the requisite inquiries with
| reference to ''the fitness of each candidate,
| in respect to age, health, character knowledge,
| and ability, for the branch of service into
which lie seeks to enter - but the law is prac-
| ticaiiy imperative for want of the requisite
appropriation. therefore recommend an ap-
preparation of $25, 900 per annum to meet the
expenses OF a commission, to be appointed by
| the President in accordance with the terms of
| this section, whose duty it shall be to devise a
just, uniform, and efficient system of Compel
| Tive examinations, and to supervise the ap-
| plication of the same throughout the entire
| civil service of the Government am per-
suaded that the facilities which such a COM
mission will afford for testing the fitness of
those who apply for Office will not only be as
welcome relief to members of Cong ss as it
will he to the President and heads of depart
| ments, but that it will also greatly tend to re-
move the causes Of embarrassment which now
inevitably and constantly attend the conflict.
ing claims OF patronage between the Legisla-
tive and Executive Departments. The most
efectual check upon the pernicious c1mpets-
ton of influence and official favoritisln, ia the
bestoWal of office, will be the substitution of
an open competition of merit between the ap-
plicants, in which every one can make his own
record, with the assurance that his success
Will UepenQ upon L0lS alone,
l also recommend such legislation as, while
leaving every officer as free as any other citi-
zen to express his political opinions and to use
his means for their advancement shall also
enable him to feel as safe as any private citi-
zen in refusing all demands upon his salary
for political purposes. A law which should
thus guarantee true liberty and justice to all
who are engaged in the public service, and
| likewise contain stringeit provisions against
the use of official authority to coerce the po-
litica action of private citizens or of official
subordinates, is greatly to be desired.
The most serious obstacle, however, to an
Improvement of the civil service, and espec-
tally to reform in the method of appoint.
ment and removal, has been found to be the
practice, under what is known as the spoils
system, by which the appointing power has
been so largely encroaehed upon by members
of Congress. The first step in the reform of
the civil service must be complete divorce
between Congress and the Executive in the
matter of appointments. The corruptng
doctrine that ''to the victors belong the spoils :"
is inseparable from Congressional patronage as
the established rule and practice CT parties in
power. 1t comes to be understood by appli
cants for Office, and by the people generally
that Representatives and Senators are entitled
to disburse the patronage of their respective
districts and States. 1t is not necessary to
recite at length the evils resulting from this
invasion of the Executive functions. The
true principles of government on the subject
OF appointments to Office, as stated in the Ma
tional Conventions of the leading parties o:
| the country, have again and again been approved
by the American people, and have not been
called in question in any quarter. These au-
| thenic expressions of public opinion upon
this al-important subject are the statement of
principles that belong to the constitutional
structure of the Government.
"Under the Constitution, the Preside ut and
heads of departments are to make nomina
tons for Office. The Senate is to advise and
consent to appointments, and the House of
Representatives is to accuse and prosecute
faithless officers The best interest of the
public service demands that these distinctions
be respected; that Senators and Represent
atives, who may be judges and accusers,
should not dictate appointments to Office"
To this end the cooperation of the Legisla-
tive Department of the Government is re-
CURED alike by the necessities OF the case and
by public opinion. Members of Congress
will not be relieved from the demands made
upon them with reference to appointment to
office, until by legislative enactment. the per-
nlclOus practice is condemned and forbid
den
1t is therefore recommended that an act be
passed defining tho relations of members of
Congress with respect to appointment to of
flee by the President, and | also recommend
that the pro visions of section 1907, and IF
the sections following, of the Revised Stat
uies, comprising the Tenure of Office act, of
March 2. 1857, be repealed. Believing that
to reform the system and methods of the civil
service in our country is one of the highest
and most imperative duties of craftsmanship,
and that it can be permanently done only by
the evaporation of the Legislative and Execu-
tive Departments of the Government, again
commend the whole subject to your consid-
crate attention
SUPPRESSION OF PoLYGAMY
1t is the recognized duty and purpose of the
people of the United States to suppress polvg-
amy where it now exists in our Terrific and
to prevent its extension. Faithful and Jealous
efforts have been made by the United States
authorities in Utah to enforce the laws against
1t. Experience has shown that the legislation
upon this subject to be effective requires ex-
tensive modification and amendment. The
longer action is delayed the more difficult it
will be to accomplish what is desired. Prompt
and decided measures are necessary. The
Mormon sectarian organization which upholds
polYgamy has the whole power of making and
executing the local legislation ofthe Territory.
BY its control of the grand and petit juries it
possesses large influence oyer the administra-
ton of justice. Exercising, as the heads of
sect do, the local political power of the Terri
tory, they are able to make effective their hos
tility to the law of Congress On the subject of
polygamy, and, in fact dc prevent its enforce
ment Polygamy will not be abolished if the
enforcement of the law depends on those who
nd no II
be suppressed by taking away the political
power Of the sect which encourages and sus
tains it. The power of Congress to enact
suitable laws to protect the Territories is am
pie. It is not q case for halfway measures
The political power of the Mormon sect is in
creasng; it controls now one of our wealth
lest and moot populous Territories. Wherever
it goes it establishes polygamy and sectarian
political power. The sanctity of marriage
and the family relation are the corner-stone of
our American society and civillzation Re
ligious liberty and the separation of Church
and state are among the elementary ideas of
free Institutions. To reestablish the interest
and principles which polygainy and Mormon
ism have imperiled, and to fully reopen to in
telligent and virtuous Immigrants of all creeds
that part OF our domain which has been in
great degree closed to general immigration by
intolerant and immoral institutions it is re-
commended that the government of the Ter
ritory of Utah be reorganized.
recommend that Congress provide for the
government of Utah by a Governor and Judg
es, or Commissioners, appointed by the Pres
ident and confirmed by the Senate-a govern
ment analogous to the provisional govern
ment established for the territory north west
of the Ohio. by the ordinance of 1857 1t,
however, 1t Is deemed best to continue the ex-
isting form of local Government, recom-
mend that the right to vote, hold Office, and
sit on jurles in the Territory of Utah be con-
tinned to those who neither practice nor up
hold polygamy. If thorough measures are
adopted, it is believed that within few
years the evils which now aff1ict Utah will be
eradicate.i. and that this Territory will in
good time become one of the most prosperous
and attractive of the new States of the Union
z36 FINANCE.
The debt of the United States, less cash in
the Treasury and exclusive of. accruing inter-
est, attained its maximum of 80, 756. a., 81. 40
in August, 1865. and has since that time been