Sacramento daily record-union., 1880-12-07

cants 1t Is an effectual protection from the press
ure of importantly, which, under any othe
course pursued, largely exaets the time an.
attention Of the appointing office $, to thei
great detriment in the discharge O
other official duties preventing the abus,
OF the service for the mere furtheranee of private
or party purpo es, and having the employee of the
Government freed from the obligation imposed BY
patronage, to depend solely upon merit for retention
and advancement, and with this constant incentive
to exertion and improvement These invaluable re.
suits have been attained in a high degree in the
offices where the rules for appointment by competi.
tive examination have been applied method
which has so approved itself by experimental tests
at points where such tests may be fairly considered
conclusive, should be extended ID all subordinate
positions under the Government believe strong
and growing public sentiment demands immediate
measures for securing and enforcing the highest
possible efficiency IN the civil service and its pro-
lection rom recognized abuses, and that the expe
renee referred to has demonstrated the feasibility
| of such measures. The examinations in the Gus
tom houses and Postofices have been held under
! many embarrassments, and without provision
| for compensation for the extra labor per-
formed by the officers who have con-
Quoted them, and whose commendable interest
| in the public service has induced this devotion
and labor without pecunary reward A continuance
of these labors gratutousy ought to be expected
and without an appropriation by Congress for COM
pensation it is not practicable to extend the system
of examinations generally throughout the civil sery-
ce 1t Is also highly important that all such ex.
aminations shonld be conducted upon uniform
| and a
1888 of the Revised Statutes authorizes the Pres
dent to prescribe the regulations for admission to
the civil service OF the United States, and for this
purpose to employ suitable persons to conduct the
requisite inquiries with reference to the fitness of
each candidate in respect to sge 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 the requisite ap.
preparation. l therefore recommend an appropria
tion of $4,000 per annum to meet the ex.
penses of a committee to be appointed by the
President in accordance with the terms of this sec.
| ton, whose duty it shall be to devise just, uni.
form and efficient sys EN- Of competitive examination
and to supervise application of the same through.
out the entire civil service of the Government
am pe rsuaded that the facilities which such a com.
mittee Will afford for the testing of the fitness of
those who apply for office will not only be as wei.
relief to the members of Congress as it will
be to the President and heads of departments, but
that it will also tend to remove the causes of en-
barrassment which now unayoidably and constantly
attend the conflicting claims of patronage between
the legislative and executive departments. The
most effectual check upon the pernicious competi.
tion OF influence and official favoritism in the be.
stowal 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 also recommend such legislation as, while
leaving every officer as free as any other citizen to
express his political opinion and to use his means
for their advancement shall also enable him to feel
as safe as any private citizen in the refusal Of all
demands upon his salary for political purposes
law which should thus guarantee true liberty and
Justice to all who are engaged in the public service
and likewise certain stringent provisions against
the use of official authority to coerce the political
action OF private citizens Official subordnates ia
greatly to be desired. The most serious obstacle,
however, to an improvement of the civil service,
and especially to reform in the method of appoint
ment and removal, has been found to be the prac-
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 COM
plete divorce between Congress and Executive In the
Nlatter OF appointments. The corruptng doctrine
fat "to the ,ietors belong the spoiso Is INSOFAR.
able from Congressional patronage, as the estab-
lishcd rule and practice OF parties in power 1t
seems to be understood by applicants for Office and
by the people generally, that Representatives and
Senators are entitled to dizburse the patron.
age of their respective districts and States
1t is not here necessary to recite at
length the evil resulting from this usurpa-
ticn OF the executive functions The true
principles of the 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 Ameri-
people, and have not been called in question in
any quarter These authentic expressions cf public
opinion upon this all important subject are the
statement OF principles that belong to the consti
tutional structure of the Government under
the Constitution the President and heads of depart
ments are to make nominations for Office the Sen.
ate is to advise and consent to appointments, and
the House of Representatives is accuse and prose-
ifisiiiSoo
public service demand that these distinctions
be respected that Senators and Representatives,
who may be judges and accusers, should not dictate
appointments to office. To this end the co-opera-
tion of the legislative department Of the Govern
ment requested alike by the necessities OF the case
and by public exigencies. Members of Congress
will not be relieved from the demand made upon
them with reference to appointment to office until
by legislative enactment the perncious practice is
condemned and forbidden. 1t is therefore recon-
mended that an Act be passed defining the relations
of members of Congress with respect appointment
to office by the President, and l also recommend
that the provisions of Section 1767 and of the Sec
tions following, of the Revised Statutes comprising
the tenure of Office Ac. vi March g 1867 be repealed
Believing that the reform OF the system and methods
of the civil service in our country is of the
highest md most imperative duties of statesman.
ship, and that it can be permanently done only by
the cooperation of the legislative and executive de-
partments of the Government, again recommend
the whole subject to your consderate attention.
PoLYGAMY.
1t is the recognized duty and purpose of tn.
people of the United States and States to suppress
polygamy where it now exists in our Territories and
prevent its extension Faithful and jealous efforts
have been ma e by the United States authorities in
Utah to enforce the laws against it. Experience has
shown that the legislation upon this subject to be
effective, requires executive modification and
amendments. 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 uDholds
polygamy has the whole power Of making and ex
ecutng the local legislation OF the Territory By its
control of the grand and petit jures it possesses
large influence over the administration of Justice
Exercising, as the heads of this sect do the local
political power Of the Territory, they able to
make effective their hostility to the law Of Congress
the subject Of polygamy, and in fact to prevent
its enforcement. Polygamy will not be abolished il
the enforcement of the law depends upon those who
practice it and uphold the crime 1t can only be
suppressed by taking away the political power of
the sect which encourages and sustains it. The
power Of Congress to enact a suitable law to
protect the Territories is ample 1t is not
safe for halfway measures. The political
power OF the Mormon sect is increasing
It controls of our wealthest and most pop
uous Territories It is extending steadily into
other Territories Wherever 1t goes 1t establishes
polygamy and sectarian political power. The sane
tity Of marriage and family relations are the