The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-12-11

largement Of administrative service, rs the
growth OF the country In population increases
the number Of officers and placemen EN-
ployed.
The reasons are Imperative for the ador-
tion Of fixed rules for the regulation OF ap-
pOintment, promotions and removals, estnll-
fishing a uniform method, having exclusively
I'm view, In every instance, the attainment OF
the best qualifications for the position In ques
tlon. Such n method alone is consistent with
the equal rights Of all citizens, and the most
economical and efficient administration OF
the public business.
ConpetItive examinations In aid Of Impair
tialappointments and promotions have been
conducted for some years past in several OF
the Executive Departments, and by my d.
rectiOn this system has bean adopted in the
Custom Houses and POst-ollices Of the larger
cities Of the country. In the city of New
York over two thousand positions in the civil
service have been subject, in their appoint
ments and tenure Of place, to the operation OF
published rules for this purpose, during the
pnst two years The results OF these practical
tria's have been very satisfactory, and nave
confirmed my opinion in favor Of this system
in selection. All are subjected to the same
tests and the result is free from prejudice by
personal favor or partisan influence. 1t Sc
cures for the position applied for the best
qualifcatiO among the competing
applicants. 1t is an effectual protection from
the pressure of impunity, which, under any
other course pursued, largely exacts the time
and attention Of appointing officers, to ihelr
ficlal duties, preventing the abuse Of the SER
vice for the mere furtherance Of private or
party purposes, and leaving the employe OF
the Government. freed from the obligations
imposed by patronage, to depend solely upon
merit for retention and advancement, and
with this constant incentive TO exertion and
improvement.
COMPETITIVE ExAMINATIoNs.
These invaluable results have been attained
in high degree in the offices where the rules
for appointment by competitive examination
have been applied.
A method which has so approved itself by
experimental tests at points where such tests
may be fairly considered conclusive, should
be extended TO all subordinate positions under
the Government. / believe that strong and
growing public sentiment demands immedt-
ate measures for securing and enforcing the
highest possible efficiency in the civil service,
aud its protection IRON recognized abuses, and
that the experience referred to has demon
stratcd the feasibility of such measures.
The examinations in the custom-houses and
post Offices have been held under many en-
barrassments and without provision for COM
pensatiOn for the extra labor performed by
the officers who have conducted them, and
whose commendable interest in the improve
ment OF the public service has Induced this
devotion of time and labor without pecuniary
reward. A continuance Of these lab0rs gra-
tuitously ought not to be expected, and with
out an appropriation by Congress for compen-
sation, 1t is not practicable to extend the sys-
the civil service. 1t is also highly important
| that all such examinations should be conduct
| ed upon uniform system and under general
| supervision. Section 1853 of the Revised
| Statutes authorizes the President to prescribe
| the regulations for admission to the civil SER
vice of the United States, and for this purpose
| to employ suitable persons to conduct the re-
| quisite inquiries with reference to 1.-THE htness
| of each candidate, In respect to age, health,
character, knowledge and ability for tho
branch of service into which he seeks to en-
ter;" but the law is practically imperative
| for want oil the requisite appropriation.
| I, therefore, recommend an appropriation
| of s25 900 per annum to meet the expenses OF
| a commission, to be appointed by tine Presl-
| dent in accordance with the terms OF TINS sec
| tion, whose duty it shall be to devise Just,
| uniform and efficient system OF competitive
| examinations, and to supervise the applica.
| tion of the same throughout the entire civil
| service of the Government. L am persunueu
| that the facilities which such commission Will
| afford for testing the fitness OF those who ap
| ply for Office will not only be as welcome a
| reilel to members of Cong ess as 1t Will be tC
| the President and heads of depart mems, bul
| that it will also greatly tend TO remove the
| causes of embarrassment which now newt
| ably and constantly attend the conflicting
| claims of patronage between the Legislative
and Executive Departments. The most et
fectual check upon the pe'nicious colnpeu
tion of influence and official favoritism In the
/ bes.owal of office will be the substitution o.
an open competition of merit between the ap
plicants in which every one can make his owl
record with the assurance that MS success
will depend upon his alone
also recommend such legislation as, while
leaving eve officer as free as any other citi'
| zen to express his political opinions aud e
| use his means Tor their advancement, shal
also enable him to feel as safe as any private
citizen in refusing ali demands upon ms sal
4 ary for political purposes law whlci
should thus guarantee true liberty and justice
to all who are engaged in the public service
n ftANu
| against the use OF official authority TO coerc'
the political action Of private citizens or
official subOrdinates, is greatly TO Dc desired
DIVORCE BETWEEN CONGRESS AND THE EX
ECUTlyE AS TO APPOINTMENTS.
/ The most serious obstacle, however, to al
| tmprov ement Of the civil service, and espec
ally to a reform IN the method ofappointmen
and removal, has been found to be the prac
tice, under what Is known as the spOils system
by which the appointing power has been 81
largely eucTOached upon ly members OF Con
gress The first step In the reform of the civ
4 il service must be a complete divorce bctweei
Congress and the Executive In the matter o
appointments. The corrupting doctrine tina
ito the victOrs belon, the spoils" is INSOFAR
able from Congressional patronage as the es
tablshed rule and prac, ice o parties in power
1t comes TO be understood by applicants 70
office, and by the people generally, that Re
presentatives and senators arc entitled {
disburse the patronage of their respective dis
, triets and States. 1t is not necessary to re
cite at length the evils resulting from this IN
vason of the Executive functions. The tru
principles of Government on the subject q
, appointments TO Office, as stated In the Ma
tiOnal Conventions OF the leading parties {
the country, nave again and again been ap
proved by the American people, and hav
not been called in question in any quarter
These authentic expressions Of public Opintu
upon this nll-impOrtant subject are the state
ment Of principles that belong to the cOnst
tutiOnal structure of the Government.
"Under the Constitution, the President an
} Heads of Departments are to make nomini
tions for Office. The senate Is to advise an
consent to appointments, and the House Q
} Representatives is to accuse and prosecut
faithless officers. The best interest OF tn
{ public service dema nds that these distinction
r be respected; that Senators and Represents
tives, who may bejudges and aecusers, shonl
$ not dictate appointments to otice." TO IN
end the cooperation of the Legislative De
partment of the Government is required
alike by the necessities of the case and b
: public opinion. Members Of Congress wi
not be relieved from the demands made upo
4 them with reference to appointments TO othc
' until, by legislative enactment, the perniciou
practice is condemned and forbidden.
1t is therefore recommended that an act
q passed defining the relations Of members
4 Congress with respect to appointment to o
) ice by the President, and l also recommen
i that the provisions of section 1907, and OF III
. sections following, of the Revised Statute
;. comprising the tenure-ot-ot act, OF Marc
g 2, 1867, be repealed.
Believing that to reform the system an
= methods of the civil service in our country
I one OF the highest and most imperative duti'
. of fstatesmanship, and that 1t can be permi
4 nently done only by the co opel alton Of u
a Legislative and Executive Departments
) tho Government, l again recommend u
o whole subject to your consderate attention.
o MORMON PoLYGAMY.
}, 1t is the recognized duty and purpose Of q
u people of the United states to suppress poly
. amy where II now exists In our HerritOrie
u and to prevent its extension. Faithful AT
jealous efforts have been made by the Unite
= States authorities in Utah TO enforce the Law
y against 1t. Exp, p,rence has shown that q
u legislation upon this subject, TO be etfectiv
y requires extensive modification and amen
) ment. The longer action is delayed, the mo-
y difficult IL will be to accomplish what Is d.
!, sired Prompt and decided measures are nece
y sary. The Mormon sectarian organizati,
~ which upholds polyamy has the whole pow
p of making ana executing the local legslati'
g of the Territory. BY iis control of the graz
: and petit iuries, IL Possesses large inhuen
:, over the administration of Justice. EXerc
le ing, as the heads Of this sect do, the local ,
~ litieal power OF the Territory, they are alb
: to make effective their hostility TO the law
p Congress on the subject of pOlygnmy, and,
10 fact, do prevent IT'S enforcement. POlygau
y will not be abolished ifthe enforcement of q
" law depends ON those who practice ana u
ol hold tie crime, To re establish d
IL interests and principles which pOlygamy al
MOrmonsm have imperllled, and TO fully
opan IA fntelliupnt and VirtuOus immiurau