The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-12-07

| Inc licaoui1 VI Tue Oullcu DlAlCS-
Whatever the government can fairly dc
TO promote free, popular education,
ought to be done. Wherever general
education is found, peace, virtue and
social order prevails, and civil and re-
ligious liberty are secure.
Civil service Reform
In my former annual message have
asked the attention Of congress 10 the
urgent necessity Of a reformation OF
the civil service system of the govern.
lnent. My views concerning the dan
gers Of patronage or appointment for
personal or partisan consideration, have
been strengthened by my observation
and experience in the executive office,
and believe the dangers threaten the
stability Of the government: abuses 50
serious in their nature cannot he perma-
nently tolerated. They tend to be-
come more alarming with the enlarge
ment OF the administrative service,
as the growth of the country In popu-
lation increases. the number Of officers
and plaeemen employed. The reasons
are imperative for the adoption OF liked
rules for the regulation of appoint
ments, promotions. pay and removals,
establishing uniform method, having
exclusively in every instance, the at
tainment Of the best qualifications for
the position In question. such a
method alone is consistent with the
equal rights Of all citizens, and the
most economical and efficient admins
tration of the public business. Com
petitive examinations in aid Of Impair
partial appointments and promotions
have been conducted for some years
past In several of the executive depart
ments, and by my direction this system
has been adopted in the custom houses
and postofiices of the larger cities OF the
country. In the city of New York
over two thousand persons in the civil
service have been subject. ON their ap-
pointments and tenure OF place, 10 the
operation OF published rules. for the
purpose during the past two years. The
results OF these practical trials have
been very satisfactory, and have con-
iirmed my opinion in favor OF this sys-
TEN OF selection. All are subjected TO
the same tests, and the result Is free
from prejudice 10y personal favor or
partisan influence. IL secures for the
position applied for, the best qualiiica-
tions attainable among the competing
applicants; it is an effectual protection
from the pressure OF importantly. which,
under any other course pursued, large
ly exacts the time and attention Of the
appointing officers, TO their great det-
riment In the discharge of other official
duties, preventing the abuse Of the SER
vice for the mere furtherance of private
or party purposes, and having the en-
ploye OF the government freed from the
nhlinlfi tfrnnaanI ~ nat IN de.
pend solely upon merit for retention
and advancement, and with this con-
stant incentive to exertion and improve
ment.
The most serious obstacle. how,
ever, to an improvement of the
civil servic, and especially to reform
in the method Of appointment and re-
moval, has been found to be the prac-
tice, under what is known as the spoils
system, by which the appointing power
has been SO largely encroached upon by
members OF congress. The first step In
the reform Of the civil service must be
u complete divorce between congress
and the executive in the matter of ap-
pointments. The corrupting doctrine
that ito the victors belong the spoils,"
is inseparable from congressional pat.
ronage as the established rule and prac-
tice OF the party in power. II comes
to be understood by the applicants for
Office and by the people generally, that
the representatives and senator's are en-
titled to disburse the patronage Of their
respective districts and state. 1t is not
necessary to recite at length the evil
resulting from this invasion OF the ex-
ecutiye functions.
The true principles Of the gov
ernment on the subject OF appoint
ments TO Office, rs stated in the
national conventions 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. The authentic
expressions OF public opinion upon this
all important subject, are the statement
Of the principle that belong 10 the con-
stitutional structure of the government
under the constitution; the president
and heads Of departments are TO make
the nominations for office, the senate
is TO advise and consent to the appoint
ments and the house Of representatives
Is to accuse and prosecute the faithless
officers. The best interest of the pub
lie service demands that these distinc-
tions be respected; that the senators
and representatives, who may be judges
and accusers, should not dictate the
appointments to Office. To this end
the cooperation of the legislative de-
partment Of the government is request
ed 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 ref
erence to the appointment to office, un-
til, by by legislative enactment, the
pernicious practice is condemned and
forbidden. 1t is therefore recommend
ed that an act be passed defining the
relations OF the members of congress
with respect to the appointment to Of
flee by the president, and | also recon-
mend that the provisions of section
l ,1G7, and of the sections following, OF
the revised statutes, comprising the
tenure Of the Office act of March I'd,
1861, be repealed. Believing that to re.
form the system and methods of the
civil service in our country is one of the
highest and most imperative duties of
statesmanship, and that 1t can be per-
manently done only by the cooperation
OF the legislative and executive depart
ments Of the government, again
recommend the whole subject To your
considerate attention.
Poiygamy.
II is the recognized duty and purpose
OF the people OF the United States to
suppress polygamy where it now exists