Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-12-16

factory. and have confirmed nv opinion in
favor of this system of selection. All are
subjected to the same tests, and the result is
free from prejudice by personal favor or par
tisan influence. II secures for the position
applied for, the best qualifications a,iainable
among the competing applicants. Ii is an
eftectual protection firm the pressure of i'm
portunity which. under any other course pur-
sued. largely exacts the time and attention
of appointing officers. to their great detri-
ment in the discharge Of other official du-
ties. preventing the abuse of the service for
the mere furtherance of private or party
purposes, and leaving the employe of the
government. freed from the obligations i'm
posed by patronage, to depend solely upon
| merit for retention and advancement, and
with this constant incentive to exertion and
| improvement.
These invaluable results have been attain
ed in high degree in the offices where the
rules for appointment by competitive exam
nation have been applied.
\ method which has approved itself by
experimental tests at points where such tests
may be fairly considered conclusive. should
be extended to all subordinate positions un-
der the government believe that a strong
| and growing public sentiment deman Is i'm
mediate measures for securing and entorc-
ing the highest possible efficiency in the civil
service. and its protection from recognized
abuses, and that the experience referred to
has demonstrated the feasibility of such
measures
The examinations in the custom houses
and post offices have been held under many
embarrassmen,s and without provision for
compensation for the extra labor performed
I by the officers who have conducted them,
| and whose cOmmendable interest IN the i'm
! proyemcni of the public service has induced
this devotion of time and labor without pc
/ ouniary reward 4 continuance OF these
I labors graiuiously ought not To be expected.
/ and without an Appropriation 10y Congress
/ for compensation, It = not practicable 10 ex-
I tend the system of examinations generally
| throughout the civil service II is also
/ highly important that all such examinations
/ should be conducted upon q uniform system
and under general supervision. Section
/ 1853 Of the Revised Statutes authorizes the
/ President to prescribe the regulations for
/ admission 20 the civil service OF the United
States, and for this purpose 10 employ suit
I able persons To conduct the rcquisli. lnquIr-
| les with reference 20 the fitness o, each
candidate in respect TO aye, health. charac-
/ ter, knowledge. and ability. for the branch of
service into which he seeks 10 enter" bat
thc Law Is practically imperative for want Of
the requisite appropriation.
| therefore recommend an appropriation Of
so, 900 per anuum to meet the expenses Of
commission. to be- appointed by the PreSi-
dent IN accordance with the terms Of this
section. whose duiy II shall be to devise a
Just uniform. and efficient system Of com
peti,i,c examination, and 20 supcrS i~c the
application Of the same throughout the en-
tire clSil service OF the government am
persuaded that the facilities which such
commission will a;fonl for testing the fitness
Of those who appy for Other wall not only
he a relief to members Oi Congress as IL will
BE- 10 the President and the be al. Of depart
mcnts, bat that It vail also greatly tend to
remove the cause of embarrassment which
now inevitably and constantly attend the
conflicting claims of patronage between the
Legislative and Executive Departments. The
most ciiectual check upon the pernicious
competition Of influence ami official favor
ltlsm, the bestowal of office. will be the
substitution of an open competition OF mer-
It between the applcants,ln which every one
can make his own record With the assur-
ance tina, his success will depend upon this |
alone.
also recommend such legislation as,
while leaving every officer a. free a. any
other citizen 10 express his political opinions !
and To use his means for their Advancement, |
shall also enable him to feel a. safe as
any private citizen in refusing all demands |
upon his salary for political purposes. \ |
law which should thus guarantee true slber- |
" and justice to all who are engaged in the |
public service, and likewise contain stringent /
prov visions against the use OF official author |
ity TO eOeroe the political action of private |
citizens or of official subOrdnates, IS greatly |
10 be desired.
The most serious obstacle. however, TO an |
improvement OF the ciSIl service, and espec.- |
all, 10 a reform in the method Of appoint |
meut and remoNs al has been found to be the |
practice under what Is known a. the spolls |
system. By which the appointing power has |
been so largely encroached upon by mem
bcrs Of Congress. The first step in the re-
form of the civil service must be complete
divorce between Congress and the Executive
in the matter OF appointments. The cor
rupring doctrine that ITO the vieiors belong |
the spoIls, is inseparable from Congression-
al patronage as the established rule and |
practice of parties in power. II comes to be
understood by applicants for Office, and BY
the people generally, that Representatives
and Senators are entitled to disburse the |
patronage OF their respective districts and |
States. Ii 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 National conyeD. |
tions of the leading parties of the country, |
have again and again been approved by the |
American people, and have not been called |
in question in any quarter. These authentic
expressions of public opinion upon this all
important subject, are the statement of prin-
ciples that belong to the constitutional struct
ure of the government.
"Under the consttution,the President 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 10 accuse and prosecute
faithless officers. The best interest of the
public service demands that these distinc-
tions be respected; that Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes, who may be Judges and accusers, 7
should not dictate appointments to Office
To this end the cooperation Of the legisla-
tive department OF the government is requir-
ed alike BY the necessities of the case and
will not be relieved from the demands made
upon them with reference to appointments
to office until, by legislative enactment the
pernicious practice is condemned and for
hidden.
Ii is therefore recommended that an act |
be passed defining the relations of members
Of Congress with respect 10 appointment
to office by the President, and also recon-
mend that the provisions Of section 1867.
and of the sections following of the Revised
Statutes, comprising the tenure of Office act,
of March 2. 1867, 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 cooperation
Of the legislative and executive departments
Of the government, again commend the
whole subject to your considerate attention.
PoLYGAMY.
1t is the recognized duty and purpose of
the people of the United States to suppress
Il :. T.