The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-12-16

ments and without provision for compensation for
extra labor performed by the officers who
have conducted them, and whose commendable
interest In the Improvement Of the public service
has induced this devotion Of time aud labor without
pecuniary reward continuance Of these labors
gratutously ought not to DO expected aud without
no practicable To extend tho system OF examination
throughout the civil service. II Ii highly important
that all such examinatiens should be conducted mp
ON uniform system and under general supervision.
Section 1853 Of the revised statutes authorizes the
president 10 prescribe tho regulations for admission
to the civil service Of the United States, and for
this purpose to
EMPLOY SUITABLE PERSONS
10 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 he seeks TO enter
but the law Is practically imperative Tor the want
of requisite appropriations, ! therefore recon-
meet the expenses Of u commission TO be appointed
by the president, In accordance with the terms Of
this section, whose duty II shall DO TO devise dust
uniform and efficient system Of competitive exam
nation, or to supervise the application OF the same
throughout the entire civil service Of the govern
ment. l am persuaded that the facilities which
tSsA fitness d Of thssS @ who apply for
Office will not only be az welcome
relief To members OF congress, rs II will be to the
president and heads OF the departments but that
IL will also tend to remove the causes Of embarrass
ment which now inevitably and constantly attend
the conflicting claims Of patronage between the
effectua check upon this pernicious competition Of
influence and official favoritisin In the bestowa Of
Office, will DO the substitution Of an open COMPETE
S% of merit between the applicants IN which s
the assurance that his success will
depend uuon this alone ! also recommend
such Legislation as, while leaving every officer Is
free IN any other citizen To express his political
opinions and to use his means for their advancement
shall also enable him to feel safe IN amy private
citizen In refusing all demands on his salary for
nnli A law uhi oh
TRUE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE TO ALL
who are engaged In the public service, and likewise
contain stringent provisions against the Use Of OFF,
cia authority TO coerce the political action Of pri-
vate citizens or official subordnates IL greatly to
be desired. The most serious obstacle, however. TO
an Improvement Of the civil service, and especially
10 reform In the method OF appointment and re-
moval, has been found 10 be the practice under
what Is known Us the spells system, by which the
appointing power has been 80 largely encroached
on by members Of congress. The first step In the
reform OF the civil service must DO complete d.
vorcB between congress and the executive In the
matter OF appointments The corrupting doctrine
that ITO the victor belongs the spoils IL insep-
arabic from congressional patronage. Us
the established rule and practice of parties
In power. II comes to he understood by applicants
for Office and by the people generally, that repre-
seniatives AMI senators entitled to disburse the
patronage Of their respective districts and
States IL IL not necessary tOrecite, ut length the
evils resulting from this invasion Of the executive
functions. The true principles Of government, on
the subject of appointments To Office, 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. These authentic express
sions Of public opinion upon this all-important sub
ject are
THE STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
that belong to tho constitutional structure OF the
government. Under the constitution the president
and heads Of departments are to make nominations
for office, the senate Is to confirm 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 Representatives who
may be Judges and accusers should not dictate ap-
pontments 10 Office. To this end the cooperation
of the Legislative department Of the government IL
required alike by the necessities OF the and by
public opinion. Members Of congress will not be
relieved from the demands made upon them with
reference to appointments to office until by legsla
tive enactment the pernicous practice Is condemned
and forbidden. II 10 therefore recommended that
an act he passed defining the relations OF members
Of with regard TO appointment to Office by
the president, and also recommend that the pro-
vision Of section l,767 and Of the sections follow
ing OF the revised statutes. comprising the tenure
Of office act Of March 2, 1867. DO repealed. Be
lieying that to reform the system and methods of
civil service in our country IL Of the highest
and most imperative duties OF statesmanship, and
that II can be permanently done only by the
operation Of the Legislative and executive DEPART
ments Of the government, j again commend the
whole subject to your considerate attention.