The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-09
comprr1rryx Epuo.r1oy.

tial appointments and promotions, have been
conducted for some years past in several of the
Executive Departments, and by my direction
this system has been adopted in the custom
houses and postoffices 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 appointments and tenure
Of place, to the operation of published rules
for.ths purpose, during the past two years.
The results of these practical trials have been
very satisfactory, and have confirmed my opin-
ion 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. 1t secures for the position ap-
among tine competing applicants. 1t is an ef-
fectual protection from the pressure Of impor-
tunity which, under any other course pursued,
largely exacts the time and attention of ap-
pointing officers to their great detriment in the
discharge of other official duties, preventing
the abuse of the service for the mere further
ance OF private or party purposes and leaving
the employ of the Government, freed from the
obligations imposed by patronage, to depend
solely upon merit for retention and advance
ment, and with this constant incentive, e1ertion
and Improvement. a
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. l believe that q strong and
growing public sentiment demands immediate
measures for securing and enforcing the high
est possible efficiency in the Civil Service, and
the experience referred to has demonstrated
the feasibility OF such measures.
The examinations in the Custom Houses and
Po3toffices have been held under many embar-
rassments and without provision for compensa-
ton for the extra labor performed by the Off
GERS who have conducted them, and whose COM
menable interest in the Improvement of the
public service has induced this devotion of time
and labor without pecuniary reward. A con-
tinuance Of these labors gratuitously ought not
to be expected, and without an appropriation
by Congress for compensation, it is not practic-
BILE to extend the system of competitive ex-
aminations generally throughout the Civil Ser
vice. 1t is also highly important that all such
examinations should be conducted upon
uniform system, and under general
supervision. Section 1,753 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-
1tisite 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 he seeks to enter;"
but the law is practically imperative for want
of the requisite appropriation.
/ therefore recommend an appropriation Of
S25, 900 per annum to meet the expenses of
commission, to be appointed by the President
in accordance with the terms of this section,
whose duty it shall be to devise just, uniform,
and efficient system of competitive examina-
tions, and TO supervise the application of the
same throughout the entire civil service of the
Government. l am persuaded that the facili-
ties which such commission will afford for
testing the fitness of those who apply for
Office will not only be welcome arelief to mem
bers of Congress as it will be to the President
and heads of Departments, but that it will also
greatly tend to remove the causes of embarrass-
tend the conflicting claims Of patronage be-
tween the Legislative and executive depart
ments.
THE "sPoILs SYSTEM"
The most serious obstacle, however, to an i'm
proyement of the civil service, and especially to
a reform in the method of appointment and re-
movm, has been found to be the practice, under
what is known as the "spois system" by which
the appointing power has been 30 largely en-
croached 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 corrupting doctrine that ''to the victors be-
long the spoils" is inseparable from Congress
sional patronage rs the established rule and
practice of parties in power. 1t comes
to be understood by applicants for office,
and by the people generally, that Representa-
tives aud Senators are entitled to disburse the
patronage of their respective districts and
States. 1t isnot 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 Conventions of
the leading parties of the country, have again
and again been approved by the American peo-
pie, and have not been called in question in any
quarter. These authentic expressions of pub
lie opinion upon this all-important subject are
the statement of principles that belong to the
constitutional structure of the Government.
1t is therefore recommended that an act be
passed defining the relations of members Of
Congress with respect to appointment to Office
by the President, and also recommend that
the provisions Of Section /, 767, and of the sec
tions following, of the Revised Statutes, com
prising the tenure-of-office act of March g. 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 perma-
nently done only by the cooperation of the
legislative and executive departments of the
Government / again commend the whole sub
ject to your considerate attention.
PoLYaAMY.
The Mormon sectsrian organization which
upholds polygamy has the whole power of MAX
ing and executing the local legislation of the
Territory. By its control Of the grand and
petit juries, it possesses large influence over
the administration Of justice. Exercising, as
the heads Of this sect do, the local political
effective theT hostility tne to iss sr ssle o5 to
gress on the subject Of polygamy, and, in fact,
do prevent it's enforcement. Poiygamy will not
be abolished if the enforcement Of the law de-
pends on those who practice and uphold the
crime. 1t can only be suppressed by taking
IF fba
courages and sustains it. 1t controls now one
Of our wealthiest and most populous Terrific
ries. 1t is extending steadily into other Terri
tories. Wherever it goes it establishes polyg-
liberty and the separation Of Church and State
are among the elementary ideas of free insti-
tutions. To re-establish the interests and prin-
ciples which polygamy and Mormonism have
imperiled, and to fully reopen to intelligent
and virtuous immigrants of oil creeds that part
Of our domain which has been, in q great de-
gree, closed to general immigration by intoler-
ant and immoral institutions, it is recon-
mended that the Government Of the Territory
Of Utah be reorganized.
recommend that Congress provide for the
Government of Utah by Governor and judges,
and confirmed by the Senate-a government
analogous to the Provisional Government estab-
lished for the Territory northwest of the Ohio,
by the ordinance Of 1887. II, however, it is
deemed best TO continue the existing form of
local government, / recommend that the right
to vote, hold Office, and sit on juries in the
Territory Of Utah, be confined to those who
neither practice nor uphold polygamy. II thor
ough measures are adopted, it is believed that
within few years the evils which now aff1ict
Utah will be eradicated.
FORTUNE BAY INJURIES.
Our relations with all foreign countries have
been those of undisturbed pesce, and have pre-
sented no occasion for concern as to their con-