Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-12-16

referred TO has demonstrated the feasibility of
such measures.
The examinations in the custom houses and
post offices have been held under many elnbaras-
ments and without provision for compensation
for the extra labor performed by the officers who
have conducted them, and whose comendable in
terest in the improvement of the public service
has induced pecuniary reward. A continuance of
these labors gratuiously ought not to be expected
and without an appropriation by congress for
compensation. 1t IS not practicable to extend the
system of examinations generally throughout the
civil service. It is also highly important that all
suchreXaminat0ns should be conducted uDnn a
uniform system and under general SUPERVISION
Section ! 153 Of the Revised Statutes authorizes
the president to prescribe the regulations for ad-
mission to the civil service Of the United States
and for this purpose to employ suitable persons
to conduct the requisite inquiries with refer
euee 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 the requisite appropriation.
l therefore recommend appropriation of
S25, 600 per 0nnun to meet the expenses Of Il com
mission, to be appointed by the president in ac-
coriance with the terms of this section, whose
duty it shall be to devise just uniform and eff
fcient system Of competitive examinations and to
supervise the application Of the same throughout
entire civil service of the government. | am
persuaded that the facilities which such q commits
sion viii afford for testing the fitness of those who
apply for office will not only be q welcome a re-
lief to members of congress as it viii be to the
president and heads Of departments but that it
VIII also greatly tend to remove the causes OF EN-
harIassment which now inevitably and constantly
attend the conflicting claims Of patronage between
the legislative and executive deL irtments. The
most effectual check upon the pernicious compe-
tItIon OF influence and official tavoritism in the
bestOwal Of office viii be the substitution of an
Of mont oYr,iiray9tS
in which every one can make lis own record, with
the assurance that his success Will depend upon
iSalone.
Ialso recommend such legislation as, while leay-
ing every officer free any other citizen to eX-
press his political opinions and to use his means
for their advancement shall also enable him to
feel as safe any private citizen in refusing all
demands upon his salary for political purposes. A
law which should thus guarantee true liberty and
justice to all who are engaged in the public SER
vice, and likewise contain stringent provisions
against the use Of official authority to coerce the
political action of private citizens Of official
suborlinates greatly to be desired.
THE sPouLs SYSTEM.
The most serious obstacle, however, to an i'm
provelnen of the civil service and especially to
reform III the method of appointment and re-
mOval, has been found to be the practice under
what is known the spoils system, by which the
appointing power has u.2n largely encrOached
upon by members Of congress, The first step in
the reform of the civil service must be complete
divorce bet1 congress and the executive in the
matter Of the appointments. The corrupting
doctrine that Ito the victOrs belong the spoils is
mseparable from congressional patronage as the
established rule and practice of parties in power.
1t to be understood by applicants for office
and by the people generally, that representatives
and senator's entitled to dspurse the patronage
Of their respective districts and states 1t is not
necessary to recite at length the evils resulting
from this invasion of the executive functions. The
true principles Of government 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 people, and have not been called in
question in any quarter These authentic express
sions Of public opinion upon this ali-important
subject are the statement Of principles that be-
long to the constitutional structure Of the govern
ment.
Under the constitution, the president and
heads OF the departments are to make nominations
for office. The senate is to advise and consent to
appointments, and the house of representatives is
to accuse and prosecute fathless 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 appointments to office" To
this end the cooperation of the legislative depart
ment Of the government is required alike by the
necessities OF the case and by public opinion.
Members of congress viii not be relieved from the
demands made upon them with reference to ap-
pointmcnts to office until, by legislative enact
ment, the peIncious practice is condemned and
forbidden. E 5#t..
1t is therefore recommended that an act be
passed defining the relations of members of con-
gress with respect to appointment to office by the
president and | also recommend that the proviS-
ions of section 1907 and of the sections following
of the revised statutes comprising the tenurcot-
office act of March =, 1867, be repealed.
Believing that to reform the system and meth
ods of the civil service in country of the
highest and most imperative duties of statesman
ship, and that 1t can be permanently done only by
the cooperation of the legislative and executive
departments of the government l again com
mend the whole subject to your considerate at
| tentlOn.
POLYGA1ry.
! 1t is the recognized duty and purpose of the
| people Of the United States to suppress poygamy
where 1t now exists in territories and to pre-
| vent its extension Faithful and jealous efforts
! have been made by the United States authorities
| III Utah to enforce the laws against it. Expert
ence has shown that the legislation upon this sub
ject to be effective, requires extensive modifca-
| tion and amendment. The longer action is de-
layed the difficult it will be to accomplish
| what is desired. Prompt and decisive measures
| are necessary. The Mormon sectaran organiZa-
| ton which upholds polygamy has the whole pow
| er of making and executing the local legislation
of the territory. Byits control of the grand and
and petit iuries, 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 are able to make effective
their hostility to the law of congress on the sub
ject OF pol ygamy, and, in fact do prevent its en-
| torcement. POlygamy viii not be abolished if
| the enforcement of the law depends on those who
practice and uphold the crime. It can only be
suppressed by taking away the political power of
| the sect which encourages and sustains it. The
power OF congress to enact suitable laws to prO-
tect the territories is ample. 1t Is not case of
| halfway measures. The political power of the
Mormon sect Is increasing: 1t controls now one of
our wealthiest and most populous territories. 1t
Is extending steadily into other territories Where
ever it goes 1t establishes polygamy and scctarian
political power. The sanctity of marriage and
| the family relation are the cornerstone of our
| American society and civilization. Religious lib
| erty and the separation of church and state are
among the elementary ideas of free institutions.
/ To re-establiSh the interests and principles which
polygamy and Mormonism have imperiled and tC
! fully reopen to intelligent and virtuous immi-
| grants of all creeds that part of our domain
which has been in great degree, closed to general
| immigration by intolerant and immoral iflstitu-
| tions, it is recommended that the government OF
| the territory of Utah be reorganiZed.
| recommend that congress provide for the gov
enment of tah by governor and judges, OF
commissioners appointed by the president and
| confirmed by the senate-a government analogous
to the provisional government established for the
territory northwest of the Ohio, by the ordinance
| Of 1897. If, however it is deemed best to con-
| tinue the existing of local government, !
recommend that the right to vote, hold Office and
| sit on iuries in the territory of Utah be con-
| fined to those who neither practice nor uphold
| polygamy. If thorough measures are adopted, il
| is believed that in Il few years the evils which
now affct Utah win be eradicated, and that thi:
| territory viii in good time become one of Tho
| F.E -A,.