Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-07

4 oAtAoho IL euO SASll bcISlC6 nave DtSA ouUJSO1
in their appointments and tenure of
place to the operations of the
published rules for this purpose the
past two years. The results of these practical
trials have been very satisfactory, and have
confirmed my opinion in favor of the system
of 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
| qualifications attainab,e among the competing
applicants. 1t is an effectud protection from
the pressure of importantly, which. under any
other course pursued, largely exacts the time
and attention of appointing offoors, to their
great detriment in the discharge of
other official duties. 1t prevents the abuse of
| the service for the mere furtherenee of private
| or party purposes and leaves the employe of
the government freed from the obligations
imposed by patronage, to depend solely on
merit for retention and advancement and with
this constant incentive to advancement and
| improvement. These invaluable results have
been attained in high degree in the offices
where the rules for appointment by competi-
tive examination have been applied. As
shown by experimental trial it may be fairly
| considered conclusive that the system should
be extended t. all subordinate positions under
| the government. I believe that strong and
| growing public sentiment demands immediate
measures for securing and enforcing the
highest positive efficiency in the civil service
and its protection from recognized abuses,
and that the experience referred to has demon
strated the feasibility of such measures. The
examinations in costom houses and postofices
! have been held under many embarrassments
and without provision for compensation for the
extra labor performed by the officers who have
conducted them, and whose commendable
interest in improvement of the public service
has induced this devotion of time and labor
without pecuniarY reward. A continuance of
these labors gratuitously ought not to be ex-
| pected, and without an appropriation
by Congress for compensation it is
| not practicable to extend the system of
examination throughout the civil service. 1t
| is highly important that all such examinations
should be conducted upon uniform system
| and under general supervision. Section l, 753
of the revised statutes authorizes the President
| to prescribe the regulations for admission to
the civil service of the United States, and for
this purpose to employ suitable persons to con-
slider 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 for
| the want of requisite appropriations
Therefore, l recommend an ap-
preparation of $25,0OO per annum to
meet the expenses of q commission to be
appointed by the President, in accordance
with the terms of this section, whose duty it
shall be to devise a just, uniform and efficient
system of competitive examination and to su-
perv;se the application of the same through
out the entire civil service of the government.
l am persuaded that the facilities which such
commission will afford for testing the
fitness of those who apply for Office will not
only be as welcome relief to members of Con-
gress it will be to the President
and heads of departments, but that
it will also greatly tend to remove the causes of
embarrassment which now inevitably and con-
stantly attend the conflicting claims of patron
age between the legislative and executive de-
partments. The most effectual check upon the
pernicious competition of influence and Off
ciel favoritism in the bestOwal of Office will be
the substitution of an open competition of
merit between the applicants, in which every
one can make his own record with the assurance
that his success will depend upon this alone.
l also recommend such legislation, as, while
leaving every officer free any other citizen to
express his political opinions, and to use his
means for their advancement shall also enable
him to feel as safe any private citizen in re-
fusing demands On his salary for political pur-
poses. A law which should thus guarantee true
liberty and jue--.e no are engaged in
the public SERVICE and likewise contain string
ent provisions against the use of official author
ity to coerce the political action of private cit
izens of official subordinates, is greatly to be
desired.
The most serious obstacle, however, to an
improvement of civil service, and especially TO
a reform in the method of appointment and
removal, has been found to be the practice un-
der what is known as the spoils system, by
which the appointing power has been So largely
encrOached on 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 victor
belong the spoils" is inseparable from Congress
sionsl patronage. As the established rule and
prqctica of RI in II 70 he
derstood by applicants for Offices and by the
people generally that Representatives and Sen
ators are entitled to dlsburse the patronage of
their respective districts and States. 1t is not
necessary to recite at length the evils resulting
from this peryersion of the executive func-
tions. The true principles of government on
the subject of appointments to Office, as stated
| in the national conventions of the leading par
ties 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 state.
ment of principles that belong to the consti-
tutional structure of the government. Under
| the constitution, the President and heads of
departments are to make nominations for Of
hce, the Senate is to confirm the 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, and that Sena-
tors and Representatives who may be judges
and accusers should not dictate appointments
to Office. To this end the cooperation of the
legislative department of the government is
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 legislative enactment the per-
nicious prsctice is condemned and forbidden.
1t is, therefore. recommended that
an act be passed defining the re-
lations of members of Congress
with respect to appointment to office by the
President, and l also recommend that the
provisions of section l767 and of the sections
following of tine revised statutes, comprising
the term-of-office act of March 2, 1867, be re-
pealed. Believing that to reform the system
| and methods of the civil service In our coun-
| try 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 depart
| ments of the government, l again commend
the whole subject to your considerate atten-
| tion.
PoLYGAMY.
1t is the rec ognized duty and purpose of the
people of the United States to suppr ess poly
gamy where it now exists in Utah Territory and
to prevent its extension. Faithful and Jealous
efforts have been made by the United States
officers in Utah to enforce the laws against it.
Experience has shown that legislation upon
this subject, to be effective, requires extensive
| modification and amendment. The longer
action is delayed the more difficult it will be to
accomplish what is desired. Prompt and
decided measures are necessary. The Mormon
sectarian organization which upholds polygamy,
has the whole power of making and executing
the local Legislation of the Territory. By its
control of the grand and petit jurors it possesses
large influence over the administration of JUS
tice. Exercising, the heads of this sect do,
the local political power of the Territory. they
are able to make effective their hostility to the
laws of Congress oDithe subject of polygamy and
in fact do prevent its enforcement. Polygamy
will not be abolished if the enforcement of
law depends those who practice and up.